Lud son of Heli

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lud, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth's legendary History of the Kings of Britain and related medieval texts, is a king of Britain in pre-Roman times. He is the eldest son of King Heli, and succeeds his father to the throne. His reign is notable for the building of cities and the refortification of Trinovantum (London), which he especially loves. Geoffrey explains the name "London" as deriving from "Caer Lud", or Lud's City. When he dies, he is buried at Ludgate. His two sons, Androgeus and Tenvantius, are not yet of age, so he is succeeded by his brother Cassibelanus.^[1]

Welsh versions of Geoffrey's History, where he is called Lludd, include the story of Lludd and Llefelys, a version of which appears in the collection of Welsh tales known as the Mabinogion. While Lludd is king of Britain, his brother Llefelys (not mentioned by Geoffrey) becomes king of France, and helps Lludd to rid Britain of three supernatural menaces.^[2] He therefore appears to be derived from the Welsh mythological figure Lludd Llaw Eraint, earlier Nudd Llaw Eraint, and cognate with the Irish Nuada Airgetlám, a king of the Tuatha Dé Danann.