Lud son of Heli
Encyclopedia
Lud , according to Geoffrey of Monmouth
's legendary History of the Kings of Britain
and related medieval texts, was a king of Britain
in pre-Roman
times. He was the eldest son of Geoffrey's King Heli, and succeeded his father to the throne. He was succeeded, in turn, by his brother Cassibelanus. Lud may be connected with the Welsh mythological
figure Lludd Llaw Eraint
, earlier Nudd Llaw Eraint, cognate with the Irish
Nuada Airgetlám
, a king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
, and the Brittonic god Nodens
. However, he was a separate figure in Welsh tradition and is usually treated as such.
(London
), which he especially loved. Geoffrey explained the name "London" as deriving from "Caer Lud", or Lud's Fortress. When he died, he was buried at Ludgate
. His two sons, Androgeus and Tenvantius, were not yet of age, so he was succeeded by his brother Cassibelanus
.
In the Welsh versions of Geoffrey's Historia, usually called Brut y Brenhinedd, he is called Lludd
fab Beli
, establishing the connection to the early mythological Lludd Llaw Eraint. An independent Welsh tale, Cyfranc Lludd a Llefelys
(The Tale of Lludd and Llefelys
), is appended into some versions of the Brut. It also survives independently, and in this form was included in the collection known as the Mabinogion
. According to this tale, Lludd had an additional brother named Llefelys
, who became king of France while Lludd ruled in Britain. During Lludd's reign three great plagues befall Britain, but he is able to overcome them with the advice of his brother.
Numerous toponyms in England and one in Ireland (Ludden, Limerick) are based on Lud-, Ludden-, Luddes-, or Ludger-. The toponyms range as far north as County Durham, and as far west as Ludgvan, Somerset, but only two are to be found in Wales, Luford, Herefordshire, and Ludchurch, Permbrokeshire.
(named Porth Llydd in the Brut y Brenhinedd), a major gateway into the City of London
(the true origin is, however, generally accepted as being from the Old English term "hlid-geat"a common Old English compound meaning "postern
" or "swing gate"). Crumbling statues of King Lud and his two sons, which formerly stood on the gate, now stand in the porch of the church of St Dunstan-in-the-West
on Fleet Street
in London. There was a pub at Ludgate Circus
called "King Lud", now renamed "Leon", and medallions of King Lud may be seen up on its roofline and over the doors.
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a cleric and one of the major figures in the development of British historiography and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
's legendary History of the Kings of Britain
Historia Regum Britanniae
The Historia Regum Britanniae is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written c. 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons in a chronological narrative spanning a time of two thousand years, beginning with the Trojans founding the British nation...
and related medieval texts, was a king of Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in pre-Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
times. He was the eldest son of Geoffrey's King Heli, and succeeded his father to the throne. He was succeeded, in turn, by his brother Cassibelanus. Lud may be connected with the Welsh mythological
Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology, the remnants of the mythology of the pre-Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest, the White Book of Rhydderch, the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin....
figure Lludd Llaw Eraint
Lludd Llaw Eraint
Lludd Llaw Eraint, "Lludd of the Silver Hand", son of Beli Mawr, is a legendary hero from Welsh mythology. As Nudd Llaw Eraint he is the father of Gwyn ap Nudd...
, earlier Nudd Llaw Eraint, cognate with the Irish
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
Nuada Airgetlám
Nuada
In Irish mythology, Nuada or Nuadu , known by the epithet Airgetlám , was the first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He is cognate with the Gaulish and British god Nodens...
, a king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
, and the Brittonic god Nodens
Nodens
Nodents is a Celtic deity associated with healing, the sea, hunting and dogs. He was worshipped in ancient Britain, most notably in a temple complex at Lydney Park in Gloucestershire, and possibly also in Gaul...
. However, he was a separate figure in Welsh tradition and is usually treated as such.
In literature
Lud's reign is notable for the building of cities and the refortification of TrinovantumTrinovantum
Trinovantum, in medieval British legend, is the name given to London in earliest times. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae it was founded by the exiled Trojan Brutus, who called it Troia Nova , which gradually corrupted to Trinovantum...
(London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
), which he especially loved. Geoffrey explained the name "London" as deriving from "Caer Lud", or Lud's Fortress. When he died, he was buried at Ludgate
Ludgate
Ludgate was the westernmost gate in London Wall. The name survives in Ludgate Hill, an eastward continuation of Fleet Street, and Ludgate Circus.-Etymology:...
. His two sons, Androgeus and Tenvantius, were not yet of age, so he was succeeded by his brother Cassibelanus
Cassivellaunus
Cassivellaunus was an historical British chieftain who led the defence against Julius Caesar's second expedition to Britain in 54 BC. The first British person whose name is recorded, Cassivellaunus led an alliance of tribes against Roman forces, but eventually surrendered after his location was...
.
In the Welsh versions of Geoffrey's Historia, usually called Brut y Brenhinedd, he is called Lludd
Lludd Llaw Eraint
Lludd Llaw Eraint, "Lludd of the Silver Hand", son of Beli Mawr, is a legendary hero from Welsh mythology. As Nudd Llaw Eraint he is the father of Gwyn ap Nudd...
fab Beli
Beli Mawr
Beli Mawr was an ancestor figure in medieval Welsh literature and genealogies. He is the father of Caswallawn, Arianrhod, Lludd Llaw Eraint, Llefelys, and Afallach. In certain medieval genealogies he is listed as the husband of Anna, cousin of the Virgin Mary...
, establishing the connection to the early mythological Lludd Llaw Eraint. An independent Welsh tale, Cyfranc Lludd a Llefelys
Lludd and Llefelys
Lludd and Llefelys is a Middle Welsh prose tale written down in the 12th or 13th century. It has been associated with the Mabinogion since it was collected by Charlotte Guest in the mid-19th century...
(The Tale of Lludd and Llefelys
Llefelys
Llefelys is a character in Welsh mythology appearing in the medieval Welsh tale Cyfranc Lludd a Llefelys. In the tale, Llefelys is king of France while his brother Lludd is king of Britain...
), is appended into some versions of the Brut. It also survives independently, and in this form was included in the collection known as the Mabinogion
Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is the title given to a collection of eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and early medieval historical traditions...
. According to this tale, Lludd had an additional brother named Llefelys
Llefelys
Llefelys is a character in Welsh mythology appearing in the medieval Welsh tale Cyfranc Lludd a Llefelys. In the tale, Llefelys is king of France while his brother Lludd is king of Britain...
, who became king of France while Lludd ruled in Britain. During Lludd's reign three great plagues befall Britain, but he is able to overcome them with the advice of his brother.
Numerous toponyms in England and one in Ireland (Ludden, Limerick) are based on Lud-, Ludden-, Luddes-, or Ludger-. The toponyms range as far north as County Durham, and as far west as Ludgvan, Somerset, but only two are to be found in Wales, Luford, Herefordshire, and Ludchurch, Permbrokeshire.
King Lud in the City of London
Lud's name was claimed by Geoffrey of Monmouth to be the origin of LudgateLudgate
Ludgate was the westernmost gate in London Wall. The name survives in Ludgate Hill, an eastward continuation of Fleet Street, and Ludgate Circus.-Etymology:...
(named Porth Llydd in the Brut y Brenhinedd), a major gateway into the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
(the true origin is, however, generally accepted as being from the Old English term "hlid-geat"a common Old English compound meaning "postern
Postern
A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location, allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege, a postern could act as a sally port, allowing...
" or "swing gate"). Crumbling statues of King Lud and his two sons, which formerly stood on the gate, now stand in the porch of the church of St Dunstan-in-the-West
St Dunstan-in-the-West
The Guild Church of St Dunstan-in-the-West is in Fleet Street in London, England. An octagonal-shaped building, it is dedicated to a former bishop of London and archbishop of Canterbury.-History:...
on Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
in London. There was a pub at Ludgate Circus
Ludgate Circus
Ludgate Circus is a location in the City of London at the intersection of Farringdon Street / New Bridge Street with Fleet Street/Ludgate Hill....
called "King Lud", now renamed "Leon", and medallions of King Lud may be seen up on its roofline and over the doors.