The Welsh Triads (Welsh: Trioedd Ynys Prydein, "Triads of the Island of Britain") are a collection of related writings found in medieval manuscripts. These texts save parts of Welsh stories, myths, and old history by grouping items into sets of three. A triad is a way of organizing information by placing three objects or ideas together, with a heading that explains how they are similar. For example, one triad lists "Three things not easily controlled: the rush of a fast stream, the path of an arrow, and the speech of a foolish person."

Contents

The texts mention King Arthur and other characters from sub-Roman Britain who are partly based on real events, as well as legendary figures like Brân the Blessed. They also include real historical people, such as Alan IV, Duke of Brittany (called Alan Fyrgan), and characters from the Iron Age, such as Caswallawn (Cassivellaunus) and Caradoc (Caratacus).

Some triads list three characters who share a common trait, such as "the three playful bards of the island of Britain." Others include detailed stories. The triad format likely began with Welsh bards or poets as a tool to help remember poems and stories. Over time, it became a common feature in Welsh writing. The Medieval Welsh story Culhwch and Olwen includes many triads within its narrative.

As translated by Rachel Bromwich, two examples of Welsh triads are:

• Three Gormes who caused the destruction of this land, and none of them returned:
• Second, Goemes of the Gwydyl Fychti. And none of them returned.

• Three Great Heroes of the Land of Britain:
• Tonllwyt, the cow of the sons of Eliffer of the Great Warband,
• and Grey-Skin, the cow of the sons of Eliffer of the Great Warband.

Earliest surviving collection

The oldest known collection of the Welsh Triads is found in a manuscript called Peniarth 16, which is now kept at the National Library of Wales. This manuscript is dated to around 1275 and includes 46 out of 96 triads that Rachel Bromwich collected. Other important manuscripts are Peniarth 45, written about 1275, and two manuscripts known as the White Book of Rhydderch (Welsh: Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch) and the Red Book of Hergest (Welsh: Llyfr Coch Hergest). These two manuscripts share a version of the triads that is clearly different from the version found in the Peniarth manuscripts.

Later collections

In the 18th century, a Welsh scholar named Iolo Morganwg gathered a collection of triads, which are groups of three related items or ideas. He said he found these triads in his own collection of old manuscripts. Some of his triads are similar to those in older medieval manuscripts, but others are not found anywhere else. Many people believe these unique triads were created by Morganwg himself. However, because the medieval manuscripts are incomplete, it is hard to be certain whether he truly discovered them or made them up.