Historic Sources for The Old North

The following primary sources all contain reference to The Old North, varying from those containing passing mentions or tenuous links to those of central importance to the study of the subject.

Histories and Chronicles

• Annales Cambriae (Annals of Wales)
• Annals of Ulster [Transcription from CELT ↗]
• Brut y Tywysogion (Chronicle of the Princes)
• Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons) - Nennius
• Ecclesiastical History of the English People - Bede [Transcription from Fordham University ↗]
• History of the Kings of Britain - Geoffrey of Monmouth [Transcription from Sacred Texts ↗]
• Anglo-Saxon Chronicle [Transcription from Yale Univeristy ↗]

Genealogies

• Harleian Genealogies
• Bonedd Gwyr y Gogledd yw hyn (Hengwrt MS 536)
• Bonedd y Saint (Descent of the Saints, Peniarth MS 45)
• Jesus College 20 Genealogies

Hagiography

• Life of Saint Ninian [A.P. Forbes The Lives of S. Ninian and S. Kentigern at Internet Archive ↗]
• Lives of Saint Kentigern [Transcription from Fordham University ↗]
• Life of Saint Cadog
• Life of Saint Gildas [Transcription at Celtic Literature Collective ↗]

Poetry & Literature

Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin (Black Book of Carmarthen)

(See The Celtic Literature Collective ↗ for transcriptions and translations)

• I. Ymddiddan Myrddin a Thaliesin (Dialogue of Myrddin and Taliesin)
• IX. Trioedd y Meirch (Triads of the Horses)
• XV. Dinas Maon
• XVII. Afalennau (Apple Trees)
• XVIII. Hoianau
• XIX. Englynion y Beddau (Stanzas of the Graves)
• XXX. Llym Awel, Llum Brin (Keen is the Breeze, Bare the Hill)
• XXXI. Pa Ŵr yw y Porthor? (Who is the Gatekeeper?)
• XXXII. Canu Gwallawg (Song of Gwallog)
• XXXIII. Ymddiddan Gwyddno Garanhi a Gwyn ap Nudd (Dialogue of Gwyddno and Gwyn)
• XXXIX. Enwau Meibion Llywarch Hen (Names of The Sons of Llywarch Hen)

Llyfr Aneirin

• Y Gododdin
• Pais Dinogad

Llyfr Taliesin

(See The Celtic Literature Collective ↗ for transcriptions and translations)

• VI. Armes Prydain Fawr (The Great Prophesy of Britain)
• VIII. Cad Goddau (The Battle of the Forest)
• IX. Daronwy
• XI. Canu Gwallawg (Song of Gwallog)
• XIV. Cerdd Feib am Llyr
• XVIII. Cychwedl a'm Dodyw o Galchfynydd (A Rumour Comes to me from Calchfynydd)
• XX. Canu y Cwrw (Song of Ale)
• XXV. 'Torrit Anuyndawl'
• XXXI. Gwaith Gwenystrad (The Battle of Gwenystrad)
• XXXII. Urien Yrechwydd
• XXXIV. Yng Ngorffowys (In Rest)
• XXXIV. Bai Lleas Urien (If Urien Were Slain)
• XXXV. Gwaith Argoed Llwyfain (The Battle of Llwyfain Wood)
• XXXVI. Arddwyre Rheged (Extol Rheged)
• XXXVII. Yspail Taliesin (The Spoils of Taliesin)
• XXXVIII. Canu Gwallawg (A Song of Gwallog)
• XXXIX. Dadolwch Urien (Praise of Urien)
• XLIV. Marwnat Owain ab Urien (Elegy of Owain ab Urien)
• XLVI. Marwnat Cunedda (Elegy of Cunedda)
• XLVII. Armes Prydain Fychan (Lesser Prophesy of Britain)
• LIII. "Yn Wir Dymbi Romani Kar" (Truly I Will Have a Roman Friend)

Llyfr Coch Hergest

(See The Celtic Literature Collective ↗ for transcriptions and translations)

• I. Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd y Chwaer (Dialogue of Myrddin and Gwenddydd his sister)
• XI. "Kynn bum kein vaglawc bum" (A Lament of Llywarch Hen)
• XII. "Dym kywarwydyat unhwch dywal" (The Death of Urien Rheged)
• XVII. Anrheg Urien
• XIX. Moch Daw

Mabinogion

• Peredur son of Efrog [Translation by Sacred Texts ↗]
• How Culhwch won Olwen [Translation by Sacred Texts ↗]
• Rhonabwy's Dream [Translation by Sacred Texts ↗]

Miscellaneous

• The Life of Merlin - Geoffrey of Monmouth
• Peniarth 147, recounting the meeting of Urien Rheged and Modron ferch Afallach