The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Bendigeid Vran
Bendigeid Vran answers a broken crossing by saying that whoever would be chief must be a bridge. He lies across the river so that his followers can pass upon him. Mortally wounded, he directs the survivors to carry his head to London and bury it facing France. The journey includes prolonged feasting before that final burial.
Also known as Bran the Blessed
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryBendigeid Vran answers a broken crossing by saying that whoever would be chief must be a bridge. He lies across the river so that his followers can pass upon him.
Further detail
LiteraryMortally wounded, he directs the survivors to carry his head to London and bury it facing France. The journey includes prolonged feasting before that final burial.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the narrative in Charlotte Guest’s 1877 collection, including its particular spellings and arrangement of tales. Characters, enchantments and explanations of place names are presented as features of these stories; the translation alone does not establish their historical reality or a single original religious meaning.
Original passages
Source 1
The Mabinogion
none," said he, " except that he who will be chief, let him be a bridge. I will be so," said he. And then was that saying first uttered, and it is still usedOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 403
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0403
- Original scan leaf
- 404
- Recorded leaf number
- 404
- Current Reader position
- 395
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
"and bear it even unto the White Mount, in London, and bury itOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 406
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0406
- Original scan leaf
- 407
- Recorded leaf number
- 407
- Current Reader position
- 398
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Evnissyen
The destructive brother whose final act breaks the cauldron of renovation.
Shared source pageThe Cauldron of Renovation
The vessel that returns slain warriors to life while withholding their speech.
Shared source pageThe Head of Bendigeid Vran
The severed head that accompanies the survivors’ feasts before its protective burial.
Same subject and traditionThe Salmon of Llyn Llyw
The ancient fish that carries Arthur’s searchers to Mabon’s prison.