Gwenllian, Welsh National Heroine

Abstract. The article is devoted to the problem of the national myth representation in Welsh historical narratives. Medieval chronicles and works of antiquaries were scrutinized to identify the origins of Gwenllian’s image formation. The Welsh treasure the memory of the warrior princess Gwenllian (d. 1136), the “second Penthesilea”, heroine who died in battle fighting the Norman invaders. Very little is known of her real life. She became a national heroine due to the only mention made half a century after her death by her distant relative. Gerald of Wales in his Journey through Wales narrated the story of the battle of Kidwelly, in which Gwenllian, who led the Welsh forces, was beaten and beheaded by Maurice de Londres. It seems that the myth of the warrior princess was developed much later, taking into account the fact that the battle and Gwenllian’s tragic fate. The resurgence of interest in the story told by Gerald of Wales relates to the period of the Welsh national revival. The romanticized image of the warrior princess, rooted in modern popular culture, was created by T.J. Llewelyn Prichard in his The Heroines of Welsh History.

Keywords: Gwenllian, daughter of Gruffudd ap Cynan, warrior princess, Medieval Wales, Gerald of Wales, battle of Kidwelly, national identity.