In ''Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed'', the
first branch of the ''Mabinogi'', Hefeydd Hen (or Heyfedd the Old) was the father of
Rhiannon.
Hefeydd Hen, according to legend, tried to force his daughter Rhiannon to be married against her will to
Gwawl. She met
Pwyll of
Dyfed and fell in love, planning to marry in one year and one day at his court on his estate. In accordance with the plan, they tried to marry but were thwarted by Clud and his son Gwawl. They put the wedding off for a further year. Pwyll and Rhiannon then went to Hefeydd's court; he dressed as a beggar, asking for food. By a trick, Gwawl was captured and killed and Hefeydd was forced to allow Rhiannon to marry Pwyll in his court and then let her to return to
Arberth
Narberth ( cy, Arberth) is both a town and a community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was founded around a Welsh court and later became a Norman stronghold on the Landsker Line. It became the headquarters of the hundred of Narberth. It was onc ...
.
Heyfedd Hir (''Hir'' meaning "long" in Welsh, but also referring to distance in time
), is mentioned as one of the Seven Knights left to take charge of the Island of Britain when Bran went to rescue his sister in the
second branch of the Mabinogi.
He is also to be found in the 6th century epic poem ''
Y Gododdin'' where the word "''Hir''" is used to describe no less than seven individuals.
References
Welsh mythology
Mabinogion
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