A Faithful Hound
The Legend of Gelert is a very famous story that has been told for hundreds of years. Beddgelert is a small village in North Wales.
The Story
Long ago, the Welsh prince Llywelyn had a favourite hunting dog named Gelert, famous for his loyalty and courage. One day, Llywelyn went out hunting, but for the first time, Gelert did not come running when he was called. Puzzled, Llywelyn set off without him, leaving his baby son asleep in his cradle at home.
When Llywelyn returned from the hunt, Gelert bounded out to greet him as always — but this time, his jaws and paws were stained with blood. Alarmed, Llywelyn rushed inside to find the baby’s cradle overturned, the bedclothes torn, and no sign of his son. Horrified, and believing Gelert had turned on the child, Llywelyn drew his sword in a frantic rage and plunged it into the dog. Gelert let out one dying howl.
As the howl faded, Llywelyn heard a baby’s cry. Searching further, he found his son unharmed beneath the overturned cradle — and beside him, the body of a huge wolf, killed in the struggle. Gelert had not harmed the child at all. He had fought off the wolf and saved the baby’s life.
Llywelyn was overcome with remorse. He had killed his own faithful hound, the very animal that had protected his son. He buried Gelert with great honour, and it’s said he never smiled again. The village that grew up around the grave took the name Beddgelert.
The name Beddgelert means Gelert’s Grave. People can still visit the grave of Gelert today, and the story above is adapted from the version told on the sign next to the grave.
Stories of faithful hounds have been told time and time again in different countries and cultures. Our special relationship with dogs — man’s best friend — can be seen in stories like this.
Vocabulary
- faithful — loyal, reliable and trusted.
- hound — dog.
- unaccountably — not able to explain.
- truant — a person absent from their duty.
- stained — covered in a coloured, usually liquid, substance.
- hastened — hurried.
- frantic — desperate.
- plunge — to push something suddenly into something else.
- heir — a person set to inherit the position, possessions and property of another.
- slain — killed violently.
- remorse — painful regret.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a legend, not verified history. Many historians believe the story was popularised (possibly even invented) in the 18th century by a local innkeeper hoping to attract visitors to the village — similar “faithful hound” tales exist in other cultures too. True or not, it remains a beloved and often-told story.
“Faithful” means loyal, reliable, and trusted, and “hound” is another word for dog — so a “faithful hound” is a loyal, trustworthy dog, exactly what Gelert is remembered as.
“Beddgelert” means “Gelert’s Grave” in Welsh. The name comes directly from the legend, and people can still visit Gelert’s grave in the village today.
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