N I G H T B R I N G E R . S E
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OWAIN
- Owain
French: Yvain
A historical character, the son of King Urien of Rheged, whom he succeeded. He and his father is subsequently passed into the realms of myth and legend, and has countless associations with Arthur. Although he certainly lived later than the traditional Arthurian period - he was said to have heavily defeated the British c. AD 593 - both he and his father have been drawn into Arthurian legend. In this role he is the son of Urien by Arthur's sister, Morgan Le Fay, who appears to have her origins in the goddess Modron, whom some Welsh sources name as the mother of Owain. Welsh tradition made him the husband of Penarwan and Denw, the latter being a niece of Arthur. The Mabinogion story of the Dream of Rhonabwy has Owain and Arthur playing Gwyddbwyll - a type of board game - during which Owain's ravens fought with Arthur's men and were almost defeated. However, Owain ordered his flag to be raised and the ravens set about their opponents with renewed vigour.
French romance gives us the most details about the Arthurian Owain, particularly the French romance Yvain by Chrétien de Troyes. In this Owain learns of a wondrous spring or fountain in the forest of Broceliande, where he goes, defeating Esclados, the knight who protected it. He chased the knight back to his castle and there the latter died of his wounds. Owain tried to follow the knight into his castle, but became entangled in the portcullis. He was rescued by Lunette (Lunete), the sister of Laudine, who was the widow of the slain knight. Owain fell in love with Laudine, and her sister persuaded her that she should marry him. When Arthur and his followers arrived at the castle, Owain went with them, but promised that he would return to his wife within a year. However, he did not keep an eye on the time and failed to honour his promise. When he did return, Laudine rejected him and he went mad, taking to living wild in the forest. His sanity returned only when an enchanted ointment was administered, after which he went to the help of a lion that was fighting a serpent. The lion then became his constant companion and earned Owain his nickname, the Knight of the Lion. He is also named as one of the Twenty-Four Knights of King Arthurs court.
In Welsh tradition Owain is the husband of Penarwan and Denw, the latter being Arthur's niece.
See also
Twenty-Four Knights
Ywaine.
- Owain the Bastard
The half-brother of Owain, whom Urien begot on the wife of his seneschal, or steward. He was a sensible character and a Knight of the Round Table. He was killed in a joust with Gawain who had not recognized him.
- Owain
The original form of Yvain, found in Welsh legends and belonging to the historical character of that name.
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