Geraint / Gereint

Historically, Geraint was a prince of Dunmonia at the time of Arthur ( Dyfeint in Welsh/ Devon in English ). 

The early Welsh poem 'Elegy for Geraint', describes a battle at 'Llongborth', where the men of Dumnonia, 'Arthur's Heroes', fought, and died, beside their leader, Geraint. Both English and Welsh sources date this battle as having been fought before Badon, probably around 480 AD. The place name 'Llongborth', which translates as 'ship harbour /port', has never been identified; but is somewhere in the south-west of Britain

Triad 14  names the 'Three Seafarers of the Island of Britain' 

"Geraint son of Erbin,

and Gwenwynwyn son of Naf,

and March son of Meirchiawn.

Elegy for Geraint

"Before Geraint, the enemy's scourge,

I saw white horses, tensed, red,

After the war cry, bitter the grave....

In Llongborth, I saw the clash of swords,

Men in terror, bloody heads,

Before Geraint the Great, his father's son.

In Llongborth I saw the spurs

And men who did not flinch from spears,

Who drank their wine from glass that glinted....

In Llongborth I saw Arthur's

Heroes who cut with steel.

The Emperor, ruler of our labour.

In Llongborth Geraint was slain.

Heroes of the land of Dyfeint,

Before they were slain, they slew.

Under the thigh of Geraint swift chargers,

Long their legs, wheat their fodder,

Red, swooping like milk white eagles....

When Geraint was born, Heaven's gate stood open;

Christ granted all our prayers;

Lovely to behold, the glory of Britain.

Sources of information on Geraint

The Marriage of Geraint by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Geraint and Enid by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Erec and Enid by Chretien de Troyes

Geraint son of Erbin from the Mabinogion

Elegy for Geraint