Mab Darogan

Y Mab Darogan (English: The Destined or Prophesised Son, or Son of Destiny) is a messianic figure of Welsh legend, destined to force the Anglo-Saxons (later the English) out of Britain and reclaim it for its Celtic inhabitants. A number of figures have been called Y Mab Darogan in history. An extensive corpus of medieval Welsh prophetic verse, beginning with "Armes Prydain" (10th century?), is centred on the figure of Y Mab Darogan.

Historical figures

Arthur

Arthur, the legendary leader of the Britons, was celebrated throughout Wales as the victor of the Battle of Mons Badonicus, which halted the Saxon advance for over a generation. Though his fame eventually would spread throughout Europe, he was not able to reverse the trend of Anglo-Saxon conquest for long or push them back to the coast and force them back to Old Saxony and Angeln. Many centuries after his death, a legend emerged that Arthur was not really dead, but was resting in a cave or – in later accounts stemming from Geoffrey of Monmouth's work – on the Isle of Avalon until the time came for him to return to his people and lead them to victory. In medieval Welsh literature however, Arthur is only occasionally associated directly with Y Mab Darogan.

Owain Lawgoch

In the mid-14th century the mantle of the Mab Darogan passed to Owain Lawgoch (1330 - 1378). It was in this period that a large body of popular prophetic verse about Y Mab Darogan began to circulate, often referring to him as "Owain".

Owain Glyndŵr

Owain Glyndŵr was a prince descended from the Kings of Powys who led a revolt against English rule in Wales. His forces even pushed into England and came close to achieving his goal of Welsh independence. He was called Y Mab Darogan in his own day but was ultimately defeated and subsequently disappeared.

Henry VII of England

In the lead up to the Welshman Henry Tudor seizing the throne of England by defeating and slaying Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485, his supporters and the poets of Wales claimed him as Y Mab Darogan, a move that won the future king many supporters in Wales. He landed in southwest Wales and raised the banner of Cadwaladr, a Welsh king often mentioned in the prophecies as returning with Cynan to free the Brythons - before marching through the country to gather recruits on his way to Bosworth. His reign over England was believed by some to be the fulfilment of the prophecy; a belief that he actively encouraged by naming his firstborn son Arthur Tudor.

Prince Arthur came of age as Prince of Wales in 1501 and after marrying governed the Principality from its "de facto" capital at Ludlow and reversed some of the most oppressive laws established in Wales at the defeat of Owain Glyndwr. However, tragically he died only one year later and Britain never saw another king named Arthur. His younger brother Henry became Prince of Wales but this son had been brought up in London and after he succeeded his father to the throne as Henry VIII largely ignored Wales. The Acts of Union with Wales were passed under his rule between 1536 and 1543 and Wales in legal terms was absorbed by the Kingdom of England.