Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed

Mortal prince of Dyfed; protagonist of the Mabinogion First Branch (named for him: Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed). Earned the epithet Pen Annwn ("Head of Annwn") through a year-and-a-day shape-exchange with Arawn, king of the Welsh Otherworld. Husband of Rhiannon; father of Pryderi. Inflicted the seven-year horse-block punishment on Rhiannon during her false-accusation trial; vindicated when Pryderi was restored to court. Died before the Mabinogion Third Branch, in which his widow Rhiannon marries Manawydan and Pryderi inherits the kingship of Dyfed.

Children

• Pryderi fab Pwyll

Domains

• kingship of Dyfed
• otherworld annwn

Powers

• rules Annwn for a year in Arawn's shape and slays Hafgan at the appointed ford
• traps the rival suitor Gwawl in a magic bag that can never be filled

Epithets

• Pen Annwn

Relations

• spouse: Rhiannon
• father of: Pryderi fab Pwyll
• rival: Gwawl fab Clud
• ally: Arawn

Sources

• Mabinogion First Branch (Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed); Second Branch (passing reference); Third Branch (post-mortem reference); the Triads of the Island of Britain