Prydein son of Aedd Mawr

Legendary founder of Britain in what is assumed a pre-Brutus tradition.

In "Enweu ynys prydein", it is said that the island of Britain was settled before Prydein, but upon his settlement, the name of the island was changed to Prydein. This is similar to the story of Brutus, of course, since the theme of invasion is endemic (and logical) to founding tales of the British Isles.

In Lebor Gabala Erenn, Prydain is called Britain Mael--"Prince Britain"--and his father is Fergus Red-Side, son of Nemed. The text indicates that the Irish did consider the Britons as related to the Irish, however distantly, as Nemed was ancestor to the Fir Bolg, Tuatha De Danann, and more distantly the Milesians.

No authentic traditions survive regarding Prydein; Iolo Morgannwg invented a number of traditions regarding Prydein's establishment of bardism in Britain, but this is his usual spurious creation.

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