Lailoken (aka Merlyn Sylvester) [1] was a semi-legendary madman and prophet who lived in the Caledonian Forest in the late 6th century. The Life of Saint Kentigern [2] mentions "a certain foolish man, who was called Laleocen" living at or near the village of Peartnach ( Partick) within the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Laleocen correctly prophesied the death of King Rhydderch Hael.
As a wild man and seer living in the forests of what is now southern Scotland, Lailoken is often identified with Myrddin Wyllt, the Welsh forerunner of the Arthurian wizard Merlin. [3] [4] [5] Myrddin is particularly associated with the Battle of Arfderydd in Cumberland (now Cumbria) and the area just to the north, over the border in modern Scotland; Myrddin fought for the losing side and, after the battle, went insane.
There was also a late 15th-century story Lailoken and Kentigern which states: "...some say he was called Merlynum". [6]
Lailoken may be a form of the name Llallogan, which occurs in the Welsh poem Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer (or "The Conversation of Merlin and his Sister Gwenddydd"), where Gwenddydd refers to Merlin as Llallawg and its diminutive, Llallwgan. The name is comparable to Modern Welsh *llallog “brother, friend, lord (as a form of address); honour, dignity”, also "a twin; twin(-like)". [7]
- Myrddin Wyllt
- Suibhne Geilt – parallel figure in Irish legend [8]
- ^ Goldberg, Christine. Turandot's Sisters: A Study of the Folktale AT 851, Routledge, 2019, p.35 ISBN 9781317946830
- ^ Jocelyn of Furness (1989) The Life of St Kentigern Lampeter: Llannerch Enterprises
- ^ Bromwich, R. (1978) (2nd edn.) 'Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Welsh Triads'. Cardiff: University of Wales Press
- ^ Jarman, A.O.H. (1967) 'Ymddiddan Myrddin a Thaliesin'. Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru
- ^ Clarkson, T. (2016) Scotland's Merlin: a medieval legend and its Dark Age origins. Edinburgh: John Donald ISBN 978-1-906566999
- ^ MacQueen, W. and MacQueen, J. (1989) "Vita Merlini Silvestris" Scottish Studies 29: 77-93
- ^ Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru / Dictionary of the Welsh Language, A: Rhan 33., University of Wales, 1984, p. 2091.
- ^ Geilt (Gwyllt in Welsh): "one who goes mad with terror or flees panic-stricken from the field of battle"
Lailoken (aka Merlyn Sylvester) [1] was a semi-legendary madman and prophet who lived in the Caledonian Forest in the late 6th century. The Life of Saint Kentigern [2] mentions "a certain foolish man, who was called Laleocen" living at or near the village of Peartnach ( Partick) within the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Laleocen correctly prophesied the death of King Rhydderch Hael.
As a wild man and seer living in the forests of what is now southern Scotland, Lailoken is often identified with Myrddin Wyllt, the Welsh forerunner of the Arthurian wizard Merlin. [3] [4] [5] Myrddin is particularly associated with the Battle of Arfderydd in Cumberland (now Cumbria) and the area just to the north, over the border in modern Scotland; Myrddin fought for the losing side and, after the battle, went insane.
There was also a late 15th-century story Lailoken and Kentigern which states: "...some say he was called Merlynum". [6]
Lailoken may be a form of the name Llallogan, which occurs in the Welsh poem Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer (or "The Conversation of Merlin and his Sister Gwenddydd"), where Gwenddydd refers to Merlin as Llallawg and its diminutive, Llallwgan. The name is comparable to Modern Welsh *llallog “brother, friend, lord (as a form of address); honour, dignity”, also "a twin; twin(-like)". [7]
- Myrddin Wyllt
- Suibhne Geilt – parallel figure in Irish legend [8]
- ^ Goldberg, Christine. Turandot's Sisters: A Study of the Folktale AT 851, Routledge, 2019, p.35 ISBN 9781317946830
- ^ Jocelyn of Furness (1989) The Life of St Kentigern Lampeter: Llannerch Enterprises
- ^ Bromwich, R. (1978) (2nd edn.) 'Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Welsh Triads'. Cardiff: University of Wales Press
- ^ Jarman, A.O.H. (1967) 'Ymddiddan Myrddin a Thaliesin'. Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru
- ^ Clarkson, T. (2016) Scotland's Merlin: a medieval legend and its Dark Age origins. Edinburgh: John Donald ISBN 978-1-906566999
- ^ MacQueen, W. and MacQueen, J. (1989) "Vita Merlini Silvestris" Scottish Studies 29: 77-93
- ^ Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru / Dictionary of the Welsh Language, A: Rhan 33., University of Wales, 1984, p. 2091.
- ^ Geilt (Gwyllt in Welsh): "one who goes mad with terror or flees panic-stricken from the field of battle"