#FolkloreThursday ~ The Cloak of Invisibility #Arthurian #myths #legends

I guess nowadays when we think of The Cloak of Invisibility we automatically think of Harry Potter. But did you know J.K. Rowling borrowed the idea from Folklore?

The Cloak of Invisibility is very common in German and Welsh mythology. I am going to stay with Wales for today's post because in the Welsh stories, the Cloak of Invisibility is owned by King Arthur.

Forget Excalibur, King Arthur's Mantle of Invisibility was one of his most prized possessions. There was no way Arthur was going to part with it. Harry Potter was of the same mind — he dropped the Resurrection Stone, broke the Elder Wand, but he kept the Invisibility Cloak!

The story of Arthur and his Mantle of Invisibility can be found in the Welsh story of Culhwch and Olwen c.1100. This cloak made the man wearing it invisible, although whoever was under the cloak could still see through the magic material. In this story, Arthur helps Culhwch complete his quest. Arthur gives Culhwch many things, but he will NOT part with his cloak!

Culhwch at Ysbadadden's court ~ Wikipedia

In The Dream of Rhonabwy (early 13th Century) the cloak is once again mentioned. This time the cloak goes by the name of Gwenn and it shrouds those who sit on it with invisibility!

The Cloak of Invisibility is one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Briton. This treasure is hidden somewhere on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, North Wales. But don't go getting your spades and metal detectors ready because Merlin is the guardian of the treasures and he takes that role very seriously!

Bardsey Island ~ Wikipedia

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#FolkloreThursday ~ King Leir #history #Britain

King Lear — immortalised by Shakespeare as the mad old King who loses everything. It is nothing short of a tragedy.

But did you know that Shakespeare's King Lear is based on the 'historical' King Leir of Britain? As with many Kings of this era, Leir's stories cannot be found in the history books, but instead, his story resides in folklore.

A watercolour of King Lear and the Fool in the storm from Act III, Scene ii of King Lear ~ Wikipedia

The story of King Leir

 (c. 800 BC)

As King Leir neared death, he feared for his Kingdom — the Kingdom of Briton. To help ease his troubled mind, he decided to split up his kingdom between his three daughters. But first, he wanted to know just how loyal they were to him and more importantly, how much they loved him.

King Leir and his daughters, a marginal illustrationin the Chronica Majora, c. 1250 ~ Wikipedia

His first daughter, Gonorilla flattered her father, she said she loved him more than any precious stone. Leir was pleased with her answer and basked in her words.

His second daughter, Regan, also saw the wisdom of complementing her father. She flattered her father with words of love. Regan promised that she would always love him more than any other man on the face of the earth. This was exactly what Leir wanted to hear.

Feeling blessed, King Leir turned to his third daughter. Cordeilla was his favourite child, and he waited with pleasure for the compliments he was sure his daughter was going to bestow on him. Cordeilla, however, was not one to give any man false flattery, so she simply said...

"I love you just as a daughter should."

Cordelia in the Court of King Lear (1873) by Sir John Gilbert ~ Wikipedia

 

King Leir was left speechless by Cordeilla's response. He thought her response cold and callous. Soon anger replaced the shock. So great was his rage that he decided not to give her a share of the kingdom, neither would she have a dowry, he then unmercifully banished her. He wanted nothing more to do with her. She was dead to him.

Cordeilla fled to France. Here she met King Aganippus, the King of the Franks. Despite Cordeilla having no dowry, Aganippus loved her so much that he married her anyway.

Meanwhile, King Leir gave Gonorilla and Regan half of his kingdom. They would receive the rest once he was dead. It was then that he discovered that his daughters did not love him as much as they had said they did. In fact, they didn't really love him at all.  Gonorilla's husband, Duke Maglaurus of Albany, overthrew Leir and seized power. Leir was a defeated and broken man.

Duke Maglaurus generously allowed Leir to keep a retinue of  60 knights, but this was too many knights for Gonorilla's liking. She banished a further 30 of her father's men.With only 30 knights left, Leir fled to Regan's household, but Regan was no better than her sister and soon Leir was left with only one knight to protect him.

King Lear and the Fool in the Storm by William Dyce (1806–1864) — Wikipedia

It was then that Leir realised what a terrible mistake he had made. Cordeilla had not stroked his ego by offering false flattery. Instead, she had been speaking truthfully and from her heart. With his head hung in shame, he made the arduous journey to France to plead for forgiveness.

Leir's journey was challenging and long for an old man of poor health. He was no King now, and he was not treated with the respect he had once been shown. He realised, too late, that the people were not loyal to a person, but a crown. It was a very sobering discovery.

Leir feared what kind of reception he would receive when he was finally reunited with his estranged daughter. Would she turn her back on him as he had done to her?

Cordeilla, meanwhile, had found happiness in France. She was married to a man she loved and who loved her in return. She was, despite the pain it had caused, thankful that her father had banished her. If he had not, then she would not have met and married the love of her life.

Leir was welcomed to the French court with open arms. His daughter forgave him, and his honour was restored. King Aganippus mustered an army, and they journeyed to Briton together to retake the land. The war was bloody, but Leir was victorious. Leir's daughters and their husbands paid for their treachery with their lives.

King Aganippus restored Leir to his throne, and Leir ruled for three years until his death.

A 1793 painting of King Lear and Cordelia by Benjamin West ~ Wikipedia

Cordeilla buried her father under the River Soar and founded a city nearby in his name. She called this city...

Leir-under-the Soar.

(Leicester)

Cordeilla ruled the Kingdom Of Briton with a tender heart. She is remembered, in folklore, as being a just and beautiful queen.

This story can be found in Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Briton (late 12th Century). Of course, the most famous retelling of the story was by William Shakespeare, and that is how King Lear is now remembered. But as you can see, the story from days of old, is not so much a tragedy, it is a tale of an old man learning that false flattery is no flattery.

Is Leicester really named after King Leir?

Probably not, but it is a great story, isn't it...?

Reference:

All pictures, unless otherwise stated, can be found on Pixabay

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Since When Was History True?

"I made a heap of all I could find." Nennius

I think Nennius hit the nail on the head when he said that. Being a little bit obsessed with King Arthur it is comforting to know that Nennuis felt that same way I do. Researching Arthur is like going on a treasure hunt with no map. There are many fake X's along the way - think Glastonbury Abbey.

 The site of King Arthur's tomb - oh, hang on a minutes, sorry we made that up!

But, for me, that is part of the appeal, and I don't get upset when I cannot fit Arthur into a little box all neat and tidy. Researching the times of Arthur isn't like researching, let's say the Tudors. The documentation just isn't there. We are relying on folklore - which is sometimes a little bit careless with the truth.

So why bother?

Folklore is important - that's why.

I want to talk about folklore today. In particular, I want to take a moment and think about the importance of folklore in Dark Age Britain.

We all love stories. Why else would there be a need for bookshops or television for that matter? It is entertaining, but also informative - think the History Channel. Stories, no matter what format, are important to us.  The news is just someone telling you a story about current affairs. These stories are vital to our well-being, we thrive on them. We are social beings, we need them.

There were no history books about Britain during the Dark Ages - only a few would have been able to read them if there were. So the only way to pass down our ancestor's history was through verbal stories and the problem with verbal stories, is that the one who is telling them has all the control - they can add things, take things out. They can do what the heck they want.

 Wookey Hole and the legendary Witch - a fine example of folklore.

Once upon a time, our ancestors believed in dragons, giants, fairies and elves. You name any mythological creature and at some point, we believed in them. They were real and they were a massive part of folklore. Even now, if you think about it, we still love everything mythological. Why else would stories like Harry Potter be so popular? Harry Potter is dripping with folklore that we have all but forgotten, so it sounds fresh and new. It really isn't.

Poor little birdie by English illustrator Richard Doyle

Which is why I believe, folklore is as vital to understanding the country I come from, as the history that is documented. These stories are our heritage, but nowadays they are overlooked, forgotten - replaced with the truth. Historical accurate facts only please - none of this folklore nonsense.

Have you ever heard of Gogmago? If you are British, then you should have, but I bet you haven’t because these stories aren't told anymore. Did you know the first inhabitants of Britain came from Troy? No? Maybe? You are in need of a good dose of folklore my friend!

I am not going to talk about Gogmago today; I will leave that for another post. But look what we are missing out on. History has become almost scientific in the telling. Read these sources, look at the evidence, this is what it means. - That was my experience with history in school and university. We could argue a case, but there wasn't much leeway. This was the truth, and that's that, get over it. You cannot argue with history unless you want to encourage the wrath of an awful lot of people.

But Folklore, that's a whole new ball game. Anything goes. Stories have been adapted over time, to suit the audience and of course the agenda. They can sway the masses into thinking what you want them to think - sounds like the news channel doesn't it?! These stories, however, not only try and explain the impossible, but they have forged a nation. They are as much a part of our history as well as our heritage, and it would be a shame indeed if we stopped listening.

 The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake - the origins can be found in folklore

That’s it, my rant is over! I hope you have a great day!!