King Lud

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Not to be confused with Ned Ludd.
Statues of King Lud (centre) and his sons in the porch of St Dunstan-in-the-West Church in the City of London

Lud (

Nuada Airgetlám, a king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and the Brittonic god Nodens. However, he was a separate figure in Welsh tradition and is usually treated as such.[1]

His name appears in the words Ludgate, Ned Ludd, and subsequently in 'luddite'.

In literature

Lud's reign is notable for the building of cities and the refortification of

Tenvantius, were not yet of age, so he was succeeded by his brother Cassibelanus.[2]

In the Welsh versions of Geoffrey's Historia, usually called

Lludd and Llefelys), is appended into some versions of the Brut. It also survives independently, and in this form was included in the collection known as the Mabinogion. According to this tale, Lludd had an additional brother named Llefelys
, who became king of France while Lludd ruled in Britain. During Lludd's reign, three great plagues befell Britain, but he was able to overcome them with the advice of his brother.

King Lud in the City of London

Lud's name was claimed by Geoffrey of Monmouth to be the origin of Ludgate (named Porth Llydd in the

name of London itself (the true etymology of Ludgate is from the Old English term "hlid-geat"[3][4][5][6][7] a common Old English compound meaning "postern" or "swing gate"[3][4][5][7][8]
).

Crumbling statues of King Lud and his two sons, which formerly stood on the gate, now stand in the porch of the church of St Dunstan-in-the-West on Fleet Street in London. There was a pub at Ludgate Circus called "King Lud",[9] now an outlet of the chain restaurant Leon, and medallions of King Lud may be seen up on its roofline and over the doors.

References

  1. ^ Rachel Bromwich (ed.), Trioedd Ynys Prydein (Cardiff, 1991; 1991), s.v. 'Lludd fab Beli'.
  2. ^ Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia Regum Britanniae 3.20
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-19-726221-X
    , 9780197262214, pp.623-266
  4. ^ a b Geographical Etymology, Christina Blackie, pp.88
  5. ^ a b English Place-Name society, Volume 36, The University Press, 1962, pp.205
  6. ISBN 0-472-01124-3
    pp. 972
  7. ^ a b An encyclopaedia of London, William Kent, Dent, 1951, pp.402
  8. ^ "Surname Database: Ludgate Last Name Origin". surnamedb.com. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  9. ^ "Image: image.jpg, (750 × 422 px)". media.timeout.com. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
Legendary titles
Preceded by King of Britain Succeeded by
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