BATTLES 2, 3, 4 and 5
Even though the proclaimed Dark Age History of Mainland Britain does not gel together, we in Wales are slightly more fortunate in that we have our own records that, thus far, have been ignored by many researchers. Most of all the records about Arthur were of course written in Wales but in the Latin language. They have readily been translated into English and interpreted so as to form the basis of that which today passes as Dark Age History. The records written in Welsh have almost totally been ignored, as have many written in English about local events. I am making an exceptionally bold claim when I postulate that --'each of King Arthur's Battles were fought in today's Wales and the Border Counties'. When I use the term 'King Arthur' I am cognisant that there are many who dislike the use of the word King alongside Arthur's name, that to me is a petty complaint made by people who are over pedantic. King Arthur is the title by which he has been known for hundreds of years, and that is good enough for me.
In my earlier entry it was suggested that Battle No 1 was fought on Gower, and I believe that to be an absolute fact for which I expect to be severely criticised by those who prefer the traditional view of history. To allow those traditionalists to get their teeth into my tender skin I am further suggesting that the next four battles were also fought locally, i.e. across the Amman Hills. Nennius, the only person to list, in Latin, all twelve of Arthur's Battles, stated that they were fought in the region 'Linuis' at a River called Dubglas. That is all the information upon which our writers have determined where those twentyfour claimed battlesites were, we have an extra four sites that we are now about to examine. But first let us give due regard to the 'Linuis' into which Nennius placed them. The book 'Journey to Avalon' records that Nennius was a South Walian, and we know that he wrote from North Wales; at the time of his writing there was no written Welsh language, only Latin and Greek, so most records of the period were in Latin.
Because everything was thus written the Celtic names became converted to a Latin version of the same sound, the Lynwys of the Brythons, that had formerly been the Glynwys of the Goedels, became the 'Linuis' of Nennius.
Lynwys as explained previously was the range of hills from the River Tywi to the River Cynfig.
So where was this River Dubglas upon which four battles were fought? Fighting four battles on the same River should indicate that it was a serious series of battles, so why were they fought? Traditional history does not offer any clues, lots of names, but no clues as to who was Arthur's adversary/, nor why battles were fought on that, or those, river(s). It is perhaps time for you to come with me on a journey.
We start at St David's in Pembrokeshire where Arthur came ashore after an attempt in Ireland to arbitrate between the Christianised Irish and Pagan Irish pirates under the leadership of one called Twrch Trwyth. Twrch had already destroyed a third of Ireland and was harassing all Christians. Having failed to get Twrch to change his way Arthur was discussing 'next moves' with the Christian chiefs when it was realised that Twrch had slipped away with his large fleet and they were heading for the mainland.
Arthur then followed to arrive at dusk in St David's. It was then too dark to tackle Twrch who had landed on another headland, and had apparently settled in for the night. Next morning Arthur found that Twrch had disappeared.
Setting off in pursuit, Arthur found a trail of death and destruction but it was difficult to anticipate where Twrch was going to appear next. The trail led across West Wales where the various search parties did occasionally catch up with Twrch; that resulted in several skirmishes.
That is a story with which many Welsh people are more than familiar as it appears in the compilation of ancient Welsh stories in the book 'Mabinogion'. To our shame the story is wrapped up in myth and fantasy that allows people to dismiss the reality of the period. We cannot afford to dismiss it because the first place that Arthur comes face to face with Twrch, where battle ensues, was at Llwchwr, today's Loughor .
The River Llwchwr is fed ,a short distance above its mouth, by the River Dulais, a second battle followed at Ammanford , a third in the Amman Mountains between the mouth of the R.Dulas and its source.
The fourth battle against Twrch, but No 5 on Nennius' list, was further east near the headwaters of another River Dulais at a place called Cilybebyll meaning 'the place of the tents at the narrowing of the valley'. From there Twrch disappeared with Arthur in pursuit, he later reappeared near Chepstow, where he drowned.
At the same time his son Gwrych, and the majority of his men, disappeared into the Cardiganshire Hills, to reappear later in history.
As if we were in need of further corroboration Dr Stephens, in his investigation into the Perlesvaus story, by Chretien des Troyes, leads us to link the River Dulais (the 'roaring black') at Pontardulais to the very ancient church of Llandeilo Tal y Bont, the 'Church of St Teilo near the bridge'. This church has been dismantled, re-erected at St Fagan's Folk Museum, restored to its former glory, and is worthy of a visit by one and all.
Above Cilybebyll at the head of the Neath Valley is Pont Nedd Fechan where Arthur, his men,, and their treasures are believed, by folklore, to be waiting until they will be required again. The time is ripe for someone to sound 'Reveille'.
Not far away towards the Dan y'r Ogof Caves is the site of another of Arthur's Battles, but first we have to consider Battle No 6 at Maes Gwaed 'the field of blood'..
Each of the battles on Nennius' list was said to have been fought against Saxons, but as already claimed, not one was against Saxons but some were against second generation Angles, or cross Angles, and as we have now seen also against Scotti from Ireland. Each of the battles so far alluded to were ones where Arthur was attacked by his adversaries, Battle No 6 was one where Arthur went on the attack.
In my earlier entry it was suggested that Battle No 1 was fought on Gower, and I believe that to be an absolute fact for which I expect to be severely criticised by those who prefer the traditional view of history. To allow those traditionalists to get their teeth into my tender skin I am further suggesting that the next four battles were also fought locally, i.e. across the Amman Hills. Nennius, the only person to list, in Latin, all twelve of Arthur's Battles, stated that they were fought in the region 'Linuis' at a River called Dubglas. That is all the information upon which our writers have determined where those twentyfour claimed battlesites were, we have an extra four sites that we are now about to examine. But first let us give due regard to the 'Linuis' into which Nennius placed them. The book 'Journey to Avalon' records that Nennius was a South Walian, and we know that he wrote from North Wales; at the time of his writing there was no written Welsh language, only Latin and Greek, so most records of the period were in Latin.
Because everything was thus written the Celtic names became converted to a Latin version of the same sound, the Lynwys of the Brythons, that had formerly been the Glynwys of the Goedels, became the 'Linuis' of Nennius.
Lynwys as explained previously was the range of hills from the River Tywi to the River Cynfig.
So where was this River Dubglas upon which four battles were fought? Fighting four battles on the same River should indicate that it was a serious series of battles, so why were they fought? Traditional history does not offer any clues, lots of names, but no clues as to who was Arthur's adversary/, nor why battles were fought on that, or those, river(s). It is perhaps time for you to come with me on a journey.
We start at St David's in Pembrokeshire where Arthur came ashore after an attempt in Ireland to arbitrate between the Christianised Irish and Pagan Irish pirates under the leadership of one called Twrch Trwyth. Twrch had already destroyed a third of Ireland and was harassing all Christians. Having failed to get Twrch to change his way Arthur was discussing 'next moves' with the Christian chiefs when it was realised that Twrch had slipped away with his large fleet and they were heading for the mainland.
Arthur then followed to arrive at dusk in St David's. It was then too dark to tackle Twrch who had landed on another headland, and had apparently settled in for the night. Next morning Arthur found that Twrch had disappeared.
Setting off in pursuit, Arthur found a trail of death and destruction but it was difficult to anticipate where Twrch was going to appear next. The trail led across West Wales where the various search parties did occasionally catch up with Twrch; that resulted in several skirmishes.
That is a story with which many Welsh people are more than familiar as it appears in the compilation of ancient Welsh stories in the book 'Mabinogion'. To our shame the story is wrapped up in myth and fantasy that allows people to dismiss the reality of the period. We cannot afford to dismiss it because the first place that Arthur comes face to face with Twrch, where battle ensues, was at Llwchwr, today's Loughor .
The River Llwchwr is fed ,a short distance above its mouth, by the River Dulais, a second battle followed at Ammanford , a third in the Amman Mountains between the mouth of the R.Dulas and its source.
The fourth battle against Twrch, but No 5 on Nennius' list, was further east near the headwaters of another River Dulais at a place called Cilybebyll meaning 'the place of the tents at the narrowing of the valley'. From there Twrch disappeared with Arthur in pursuit, he later reappeared near Chepstow, where he drowned.
At the same time his son Gwrych, and the majority of his men, disappeared into the Cardiganshire Hills, to reappear later in history.
As if we were in need of further corroboration Dr Stephens, in his investigation into the Perlesvaus story, by Chretien des Troyes, leads us to link the River Dulais (the 'roaring black') at Pontardulais to the very ancient church of Llandeilo Tal y Bont, the 'Church of St Teilo near the bridge'. This church has been dismantled, re-erected at St Fagan's Folk Museum, restored to its former glory, and is worthy of a visit by one and all.
Above Cilybebyll at the head of the Neath Valley is Pont Nedd Fechan where Arthur, his men,, and their treasures are believed, by folklore, to be waiting until they will be required again. The time is ripe for someone to sound 'Reveille'.
Not far away towards the Dan y'r Ogof Caves is the site of another of Arthur's Battles, but first we have to consider Battle No 6 at Maes Gwaed 'the field of blood'..
Each of the battles on Nennius' list was said to have been fought against Saxons, but as already claimed, not one was against Saxons but some were against second generation Angles, or cross Angles, and as we have now seen also against Scotti from Ireland. Each of the battles so far alluded to were ones where Arthur was attacked by his adversaries, Battle No 6 was one where Arthur went on the attack.
