Angharad
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Angharad (/æŋˈhærəd/, ang-HARR-ad;[1] or /æŋˈhæræd/[citation needed]; Welsh: [aˈŋ̊arad] ⓘ) is a feminine given name in the Welsh language, having a long association with Welsh royalty, history and myth. It translates into English as much loved one. In Welsh mythology, Angharad Golden-Hand is the lover of Peredur in the myth cycle The Mabinogion.[2][3]
Other Welsh spellings of the name have been recorded, including Acgarat and Ancarat[4]. There have been a number of variations of the name Angharad in medieval English, including Anchoretta, Ancret, Ancreta, Ancrett, Ankaret, Ankerita, Ingaretta, Ingaret, Anchoret, Ancoretta, Ancharita, Ancret, Ancarett, and Ankeret[5][6][7].
Mythology & Fiction
The name Angharad appears in various mythological, folktale, and fictional works, including the medieval Welsh romance Peredur son of Efrawg, in which Angharad Golden-Hand is the lover of the knight Peredur [8].
Historical figures
There have been a number of historical or semi-historical Angharads, most notably the daughter of Owain Gwynedd (1100–1170), King of Gwynedd, who married Gruffydd Maelor. Other historical Angharads include (ferch signifies 'daughter of'):
- Angharad ferch Meurig, wife of Rhodri the Great (820–878)
- Angharad ferch Llywelyn, daughter of Llywelyn the Great (1173–1240), Prince of Wales
- Angharad ferch Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor, sister to Gruffydd II ap Madog, Lord of Dinas Bran
- Angharad ferch Maredudd ab Owain, wife of Llywelyn ap Seisyll, King of Gwynedd and of Deheubarth
- Angharad ferch Rhys ap Gruffydd (1132–1197)
- Angharad ferch Gruffydd II ap Madog, Lord of Dinas Bran
- Angharad of Brittany, wife of Idwal Iwrch
- Angharad, daughter of Rhydderch Hael, a 6th-century king of Strathclyde
- Ankarette Twynho, a 15th-century lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of Clarence, falsely accused of the Duchess's murder