
King Lludd appears in the Mabinogion in the story of Lludd and Llevelys as King of Britain. This is a tale that tells how with the help of Llevelys, his younger brother, he overcomes the Three Plagues of Britain that had caused his people great anxiety and fear. It is thought that Geoffrey of Monmouth in the History of the Kings of Britain refers to him as Lud and it may be the case that the Mabinogion tale owes much to Geoffrey.
After the death of his father Beli the Great, as his eldest son, Lludd became King of the Island of Britain. Lludd was a great and generous king and a mighty warrior and leader of men. He was generous in giving food and hospitality to any who sought it from him and cared for the welfare of his lords and subjects. During the reign of Lludd the island of Britain prospered greatly. Lludd rebuilt the city of London that Brutus the Trojan, the legendary first King of Britain was said to have founded. He surrounded it with strong walls with many towers to defend its citizens and called upon his subjects to built fine houses within those walls and London became the finest and richest city on the island of Britain.
King Llevelys
According to the Mabinogion, Lludd had three brothers and the youngest named Llevelys was his favourite. He was extremely fond of Llevelys who grew up to be a very wise and discreet man whom he could always trust. It so happened that when the King of France passed away and having no male heirs to the throne he had left his kingdom to his daughter. Llevelys sought her hand in marriage and after a successful courtship married her and became the ruler of France. He was to prove to be a good and just ruler who governed with great wisdom for many years and had a long and happy life.
The Three Plagues of Britain
The island of Britain ruled by Lludd continued to prosper as did France ruled by Llevelys. There came a time in Britain when the situation changed for the worse and the people grew fearful and troubled. Three plagues had descended upon the island of Britain that caused the people great distress and anxiety. The first of these plagues was a people called the Coranians, the second was an unearthly Shriek heard throughout the land and the third was the theft of Royal provisions.
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