Week 13 Reading Notes: Why the Red Dragon is the Emblem of Wales, Part B

Link to story.

Title: Why the Red Dragon is the Emblem of Wales

Publication: The Welsh Fairy Book, 1908

Author: W. Jenkyn Thomas

Notes: William Jenkyn Thomas (July 5, 1870—March 14, 1959) was a Welsh author, lecturer and teacher best known for The Welsh Fairy Book, published in 1908. The illustrations were made by William Andrew Pogány, or Willy Pogány (August 24, 1882—July 30, 1955), a Hungarian illustrator known for his pen and ink drawings of myths and fables.

Characters:
King Vortigern
12 wise men
The Saxons
Myrddin Emrys (Merlin)
Aurelius Ambrosius

Places:
Eryni Mountains, Gwynedd (Wales)
Dinas Emrys Summit (previously Dinas Ffaraon Summit)

Events:
King Vortigern calls for his wise men
The wise men suggest fortifying a new city
Though the city is supposed to be built in Dinas Ffaraon Summit, materials go missing
The wise men advise the king to find a fatherless child and use his blood on the citadel
A boy from Bassaleg named Myrddin Emrys is brought to the king
Myrddin, upon learning his fate, calls for the king’s wise men
Myrddin reveals a hidden tarp illustrating a red dragon defeating a white dragon
Myrddin explains that the red dragon represents the king, a symbol of strength
The white dragon represents the English, who will be driven out by the Welsh
The King realizes the wise men’s deceit and orders them to death
Myrddin is spared, and the new summit is named after him
Myrddin eventually leaves the summit with Aurelius Ambrosius
They hide a golden cauldron with treasure in a sealed cave
The cauldron is left for an unnamed youth of yellow hair and blue eyes

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