Editing Hu Gadarn

{{Short description|Welsh legendary figure}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox deity
| type         = Welsh
| name         = Hu Gadarn
| other_names  = Hu The Mighty, ''Y Llafurwr'' (the Labourer/Ploughman), ''Hugo'', ''Hugun le Fort''
| deity_of     = God of ploughing and agriculture
| image        = Hu Gadarn yn arwain y Cymry i Ynys Prydain.jpg
| caption      = Engraving of Hu Gadarn from ''Ceinion Llenyddiaeth Gymreig (Beauties of Welsh Literature)'', an anthology of 1877
| cult_center  = Wales
| weapon       = [[Yoke]]
| gender       = Male
| equivalent1_type = [[Gauls|Gaulish]]/[[The Celts|Celtic]]
| equivalent1 = [[Esus]]
| equivalent2_type = [[Wicca]]n
| equivalent2 = The [[Horned God]] and/or [[Cernunnos]]
}}
'''Hu Gadarn''' (''Hu the Mighty'') is a supposed Welsh legendary figure who appears in several of a series of [[Welsh Triads]] produced by the Welsh antiquarian and literary forger [[Iolo Morganwg]]. These triads, which Iolo put forth as medieval works, present Hu as a [[culture hero]] of the ancient [[Britons (historical)|Britons]] who introduced [[ploughing]]. However, it is now known that the triads, like all of the so-called "Third Series" of triads, were fabricated by Iolo himself.<ref name=Rejohn>Rejhon, A. C. (1983). "Hu Gadarn: Folklore and Fabrication". In Patrick K. Ford (Ed.), ''Celtic Folklore and Christianity'', pp. 201–12. Santa Barbara.</ref> The name "Hu Gadarn" earlier appeared in a Welsh translation of a French romance about [[Charlemagne]]. Still, Iolo's version of Hu Gadarn was taken up in the 20th century by the poet [[Robert Graves]], who associated him with other Celtic figures; since then he has been popular among [[neopagan]]s.<ref name=HuGadarn>Jones, Mary (2009). [http://www.maryjones.us/jce/hugadarn.html "Hu Gadarn"]. From www.maryjones.us. Retrieved 4 June 2010.</ref>

==Origins==
The name Hu Gadarn first appears in ''Pererindod Siarlymaen'', a Welsh adaptation of the 12th-century French romance ''[[Le Pèlerinage de Charlemagne]]'' (''The Pilgrimage of Charlemagne'').<ref>[http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/charlemagne2.html "The Pilgrimage of Charlemagne"]. ''Selections from the Hengwrt Mss. Preserved in the Peniarth Library''. Williams, Robert, ed. & trans. London: Thomas Richards, 1892</ref> In this story, part of the literary cycle known as the [[Matter of France]], Hu Gadarn (''Hugo'' or ''Hugun le Fort'' in the French) is Emperor of [[Constantinople]] and an enemy of Siarlymaen ([[Charlemagne]]). After Siarlymaen's wife tells him his valor is overshadowed by Hu's, Siarlymaen sets off on a pilgrimage to find the emperor in Constantinople. With the aid of his knights, he bests his adversary and returns to his wife triumphant.<ref name=HuGadarn/>

The story, which may have precedents in Celtic literature, specifically associates Hu with ploughing, a detail later picked up by [[Iolo Morganwg]]. Hu Gadarn is mentioned metaphorically in [[Iolo Goch]]'s ([[floruit|fl.]] 14th century) poem "[[The Ploughman|Y Llafurwr]]", on the ploughman, suggesting the poet knew some version of the story.<ref name=HuGadarn/><ref>Dafydd Johnston (ed.), ''Gwaith Iolo Goch'' ([[University of Wales Press]], 1988), poem XXVIII.</ref> Other early references to "Hu Gadarn" have been cited in poems by [[Rhys Brydydd]] and [[Llywelyn ab y Moel]], both of whom associated him with semi-divine attributes during the 15th century.

==Iolo Morganwg and later use==
Seven of [[Iolo Morganwg]]'s "Third Series" of triads mention Hu Gadarn.<ref>[[Iolo Morganwg]], ''Triads of Britain'' [[Wikisource:Triads of Britain#4|4]], [[Wikisource:Triads of Britain#5|5]], [[Wikisource:Triads of Britain#54|54]], [[Wikisource:Triads of Britain#56|56]], [[Wikisource:Triads of Britain#57|57]], [[Wikisource:Triads of Britain#92|92]], [[Wikisource:Triads of Britain#97|97]]; see also W. Jenkyn Thomas (ed) (1907), ''The Welsh Fairy Book'': [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/wfb/wfb77.htm "Hu Gadarn"]</ref> Here, Hu is presented as a [[culture hero]] who leads the ancient [[Britons (historical)|Britons]] to [[Great Britain|Britain]] from their previous home in ''Deffrobani'', glossed as "[[The Summerland|Summerland]]", and said to be situated "where Constantinople is now" (though the name has also been identified as a Welsh form of ''[[Taprobana]]''). He becomes their first king, teaches them to [[plough]], and creates song to strengthen memory and record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/myths_hu_gadarn.shtml |title= Hu Gadarn |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2014 |accessdate=19 April 2015}}</ref> He uses a [[yoke]], which he invents, to pull a flood-causing monster named the ''[[afanc]]'' out of the water.

Iolo's "Third Series" of triads were initially accepted as authentic, and were published in the influential collection known as ''[[The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales]]''. However, they are now known to be forgeries created by Iolo himself.<ref name=Rejohn/> Iolo wrote further about Hu in his ''[[Barddas]]'', supposedly an ancient collection of [[bard]]ic lore, where he identifies Hu with the [[Gauls|Gaulish]] god [[Esus]] and with Jesus. The 20th-century English author [[Robert Graves]] accepted Iolo's version of Hu Gadarn (and much of the rest of his work), and further identified Hu as a Welsh [[horned god]], a variant of [[Cernunnos]].<ref>[[Robert Graves]], ''[[The White Goddess]]''</ref> In Graves' wake, Hu Gadarn has become a popular figure among [[Neopagan]]s.<ref name=HuGadarn/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Iolo Morganwg}}

[[Category:Iolo Morganwg]]
[[Category:Welsh literature]]
[[Category:Welsh mythology]]