The Witch's and Druids Den

These are the names of Druids that have been written down in History and Myth.

Gaulish

Diviciacus
He is from the Aedui Tribe during the 60s BCE, and his name is thought to mean The Avenger. He is the Only Druid in history whose existence is attested by name. So truly the only Named Druid in recorded history.

You can read more about him in my article HERE.
And over at Cunolugus Drugaisos website HERE.

---

Breton

Gwenc’hlan
Also goes by Guinclaff, a Breton Druid/Bard From around the 6th century. His prophecies are in an old folks song titled “Diougan Gwenc’hlan” (The prophecy of Gwenc’hlan). It was published in 1839 by Hersat de la Villemarque in his works ”Barzaz Breiz” (Bards of Brittany). This is one of the earliest collections of Breton Material. This old folks song talks about how he was imprisoned and his eyes torn out for refusing to convert to Christianity.

Then we have another text called “”Dialogue between King Arthur and Gwenc’hlan” this is a 247-line work written in Middle Breton from around the mid-15th century. What we have now was copied in 1710 by Dom le Pelletier from two different manuscripts.

A legend was created when he cursed the Christians for taking his sight in the “Diougan Gwenc’hlan”. Whenever anything bad happened in Brittany, it was because of him.

I have found that some say that Gwenc’hlan’s name was Kian but I could not find anything in sources stating this. There is uncertainty if this was a real historical person as the legend of this Druid is thought by some to be a creation.

Here is a couple of quotes from him
“Before the end of the world, the worst land will produce the best wheat.”
“The men of Christ will be hunted down and hooted like wild beasts.”
“You will see before it comes The summer and the winter mixed, And you will not know the time in the world.”

---

Welsh

Armes Prydain
Myrddin
So the Arthurian works have been split into two categories. Pre-Galfridian and Post-Galfridian. This is in part because of Geoffrey of Monmouth. As his works in the shaping of the Arthurian myths are of great importance.

There are two phases of the Myrddin/Merlin stories.

The first is the pre-Galfridian Welsh stories.
He is from Welsh legends and is portrayed as a Madman and Prophet living in the Caledonian Forest around 573 BCE.
We do not have a prose version of the Myrddin stories in Middle Welsh. A general idea of its contents can be deduced from several things found in medieval poems when, combined with Scottish and Irish versions of the tale, make possible a reconstruction of its main outline.

These poems are 

• Yr Afallennau (‘The Apple-trees’)
• Yr Oianau (‘The Greetings’)
• Ymddiddan Myrddin a Thaliesin (‘The Dialogue of Myrddin and Taliesin’)
• Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer (‘The Conversation of Myrddin and his Sister Gwenddydd’)
• Gwasgargerdd fyrddin yn y Bedd (‘The Diffused Song of Myrddin in the Grave’)
• Peirian Faban (‘Commanding Youth’)

Most of this material is considered older than what is dated on the stories. There is also a Scottish tale about Lailoken, identical to Myrddin. It is assumed that the Scottish version is older.

The second is the post-Galfridian stories of Merlin.
Most of our stories of him come from Geoffrey of Monmouth around the 12th Century. This Merlin is vastly different from the above. This is the Merlin popularized in pop culture.

He is among the most popular Wizards/Druids, as he has been celebrated in many ways.

Gwydion
Gwydion is never technically mentioned as a druid, but his name means “trees”, “forest”, “weaver,” and “loom.” And the word gwyddonydd,” means “scientist”. Some suggest that gwyddonydd comes from the word Drus meaning Oak. So one who is learned. Gwydion may be derived from *Uidugenos, which then in archaic Welsh is Guidgen meaning One born of Wood.

He is seen as a trickster character in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi.
He makes appearances in The Book of Taliesin.

---

Gaelic

Fenian Cycle

• The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn
  • Bodhmall – This is a Druidess who raised Fionn mac Cumhaill
• The Cause of the Battle of Cnucha
  • Tadg – A Druid to Conn Cétchathach, high king of Ireland

Ulster Cycle

• Táin Bó Cúailnge
  • Cathbad – A druid of Conchobar’s court, according to some accounts, the natural father of King Conchobar
  • Cailitín Dána – Cheif Druid Of Medb and Ailill
  • Genonn Gruadsolus – A druid and poet of Ulster; son of Cathba
  • Imrinn – A druid, son to Cathba
• The Intoxication of the Ulstermen
  • Crom Deroil & Crom Darail

The Mythological Cycle

• The Book of Invasions
  • Fiss, Eolas, and Eochmarc – Three Partholonian druids and brothers
  • Mide – Druid to the sons of Cermad
  • Caicher – Druid to Allot and Lamfhind

The Cycle of the Kings, or, the Historical Cycle

• The Siege of Knocklong
  • Mogh Ruith
  • Tulchinde

Manuscripts

• Book of Lecan
  • Treith
• Adventures of Mogh Ruith/The Book of Ballymote
  • Fiachra Muillethan mac Eogain – He was the High-druide of all Ireland

Sources
Antone Minard – “The Dialogue between King Arthur and Gwenc’hlan”: A Translation.
Yowann Byghan – Modern Druidism: An Introduction
Clayton N. Donoghue – The Mysterious Druids
Nikolia Tolstoy – The Quest for Merlin
Comparing Multiple versions of the stories