Hafgan is one of the kings of Annwn, the otherworld in Welsh mythology. He appears in the First Branch of the Mabinogi as the main rival of Arawn, the other king of Annwn. The dominions of the two kings sit side by side, and Hafgan is constantly warring against Arawn. In the story Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, Pwyll, in order to gain Arawn's friendship, agrees to switch places with him for one year and one day and to battle against Hafgan in order to rid Arawn of his difficulty. Before they exchange places, Arawn gives specific instructions to Pwyll to kill him with one stroke and no more. In the past when Arawn had battled and had struck Hafgan nearly to his death, Hafgan had begged him to give another stroke, and when Arawn had done so, Hafgan recovered from his injuries and was in good health for battle again the next day."[1]
In one year Pwyll, wearing the guise of Arawn, goes to battle and succeeds in injuring Hafgan nearly to death, breaking through his shield and armor and knocking him to the ground. Just as Arawn had warned, Hafgan pleaded that Pwyll finish the slaughter and kill him thoroughly. Pwyll refuses to do so, saying, “I may yet repent this, but, whoever else may slay you now, I will not do so."[1] Hafgan then tells his lords he has met his death and will no longer lead them. When Hafgan's men see their leader is at his end, they realize there is no other king but Arawn, and consent to be the subjects of the new and only king of Annwn.[1]
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Celtic mythology series
Welsh mythology
Texts and tales
Four Branches of the Mabinogi
Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed
Branwen ferch Llŷr
Manawydan fab Llŷr
Math fab Mathonwy
Arthurian
Culhwch and Olwen
Preiddeu Annwfn
Pa gur
Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain
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Peredur son of Efrawg
The Dream of Rhonabwy
Geraint son of Erbin
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Cross of Neith
Excalibur (Caledfwlch)
Cauldron of rebirth
Llech Ronw
Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain
^ abcThe Broadview Anthology of British Literature, Volume 1: The Medieval Period. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press. 2006. ISBN 978-1-55111-609-9.
Hafgan is one of the kings of Annwn, the otherworld in Welsh mythology. He appears in the First Branch of the Mabinogi as the main rival of Arawn, the...
recompense he exchanges places with Arawn for a year and defeats Arawn's enemy Hafgan, while Arawn rules in his stead in Dyfed. During this year, Pwyll abstains...
recompense, Pwyll swaps places with Arawn for a year and defeats Arawn's enemy Hafgan. Meanwhile, Arawn rules Dyfed. During this year, Pwyll does not sleep with...
Arawn asks Pwyll to trade places with him for a year and a day and defeat Hafgan, Arawn's rival, at the end of this time, something Arawn has attempted but...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
combat against Hafgan, Arawn's rival, and mortally wounds him with one blow, earning Arawn overlordship of all of Annwn. After Hafgan's death, Pwyll and...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
chastely shares the queen's bed for a year. Pwyll defeats Arawn's enemy Hafgan, and is then rewarded with an alliance between his land of Dyfed, and Annwfn...
with Arawn, the ruler of Annwn (the otherworld), defeats Arawn's enemy Hafgan, and on his return encounters Rhiannon, a beautiful maiden whose horse cannot...
combat against Hafgan, Arawn's rival, and mortally wounds him with one blow and earns Arawn overlordship of all of Annwn. After Hafgan's death, Pwyll and...
Dwyn Dylan Ail Don Efnysien Elen Euroswydd Gofannon Gwydion Gwyn ap Nudd Hafgan Lleu Llaw Gyffes Llŷr Lludd Mabon Manawydan Math fab Mathonwy Modron Nisien...
the human Pwyll, prince of Dyfed takes up with his Otherworldly adversary Hafgan in the Mabinogi. In the present work, Greysteil too has the marks of being...
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