In the Arthurian legends, Mordred is by far the most famous son of King Arthur to modern audiences. He was the figure who instigated a civil war against Arthur, leading to the downfall of Camelot. However, in the earliest traces of the Arthurian legends, Mordred was not Arthurs son but rather his nephew. Early tradition does speak of several sons of the king, sons who are much more obscure today than Mordred. This article will explore what we know about King Arthurs sons from the surviving Welsh traditional sources.King Arthurs Son AmharView from Garway Hill, the possible burial site of Amhar, son of King Arthur. Source: GeographThe earliest reference to Arthur having a son comes from the Mirabilia, a record attached to the 9th-century Historia Brittonum and probably dating from about the same time. One of the wonders of Britain is described as the tomb of a figure called Amr, the son of Arthur. The passage goes on to explain that Arthur himself slew Amr and buried him, although it does not explain why.Amr appears in Geraint and Enid, a Welsh tale from the 12th century, where his name is spelled Amhar. While still described as the son of King Arthur, he is also presented as one of Arthurs chamberlains. Nothing more is said about him.There is another record in which Amhar might be mentioned. This is The Stanzas of the Graves, a long poem about the graves of numerous medieval figures. Here, a certain Meigen is described as fleeing from Amhars host. Although the passage does not confirm his parentage, this name was very uncommon, so this may well be a reference to Amhar, son of King Arthur.LlacheuView of Llandrinio Church, Powys, the alleged resting place of Llacheu, son of King Arthur. Source: GeographProbably the most famous of King Arthurs sons is a figure named Llacheu. He first appears in Pa Gur, a Welsh poem that may date back to c. 900, almost as early as the Historia Brittonum. Like with Amhar, Llacheu is mentioned in association with his death. He is also mentioned by several Welsh poets in later centuries, also usually in connection with his death. For example, a court poet of the 13th century named Bleddyn Fardd mentioned him. He referred to the fact that he died in blue-enameled arms below Llech Ysgar, a location in Powys. It appears that there was a strong tradition about the tragedy of Llacheus death, of which we only have glimpses now.Llacheu is described as being a youth when he died, which is likely what contributed to his death being viewed as a particularly memorable tragedy. It may also be that the circumstances surrounding his death were especially memorable.Pa Gur, a poem describing dialogue between King Arthur and a gatekeeper, Black Book of Carmarthen, MS Peniarth 1, fol. 47r., c. 1225-1275 CE. Source: National Library of WalesPa Gur heavily implies that he died at the same time as Cai, one of Arthurs closest allies. Interestingly, the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen explains that Cai was killed by one of the figures who appears as an ally of Arthur in that tale. Arthur, in response, is said to have killed Cais murderer Cai. The idea of one of Arthurs allies turning against him and killing Arthurs men strongly hints at the Battle of Camlann. The rebellion which culminated in that battle had a strong presence in medieval Welsh tradition and was viewed as a great tragedy. Thus, the evidence from Culhwch and Olwen strongly suggests that Cai died at the Battle of Camlann.Since Pa Gur implies that Llacheu died at the same time as Cai, this suggests that Llacheu, too, died in that same conflict. Interestingly, two medieval manuscripts explicitly say that Llacheu died at Llongborth. The Battle of Llongborth appears in a Welsh poem dating to perhaps the 10th century. Based on the information in that poem, some researchers have identified this battle as the prelude to Camlann, independently of the information regarding Llacheu.GwydreCerrig Meibion Arthur, or the Stones of the Sons of Arthur, marking the traditional grave of Gwydre, son of King Arthur. Source: West Coast PathAnother one of King Arthurs sons who appears in Welsh tradition is Gwydre. He appears in just a single source, Culhwch and Olwen. This may date to about the year 1100. It tells the story of Arthur and his men engaging in a series of adventures, the most notable of which is a hunt for a monstrous boar. In one of the engagements against the boar, Arthurs son, Gwydre, is killed. This is the one and only appearance of this character in the Arthurian legends. It is possible that Gwydre is the source for Thomas Malorys character of Borre, also called Bohart, in Le Morte dArthur.The name Gwydre, in the form Gwydr, is also used for a 10th-century figure, the father of Gwaithfoed of Powys. However, the name of this figure appears in other records as Gwrhydyr, suggesting that this could be another form of the name of King Arthurs son. Interestingly, there was a certain Gwrhityr mentioned in the Book of Llandaff as a member of the medieval dynasty of southeast Wales. He was the son of either Athrwys ap Meurig or Morgan ap Athrwys.DuranThe Death of Arthur, by John Mulcaster Carrick, 1862. Source: Wikipedia CommonsAnother son of King Arthur who only appears in a single source is Duran. He is mentioned in a 15th-century poem found in a document known as Mostyn MS 131. This document presents Arthur as asking a character named Sandde Bryd Angel to drive a crow off the face of his son Duran. The implication is that Duran is dead, having recently been killed, and that crows are trying to feed on his body.No further information is given, but this is generally understood to be a reference to the Battle of Camlann. The reason is that other Welsh texts, such as Culhwch and Olwen, associate Sandde with that battle. Therefore, the fact that Sandde is depicted as present at the battle at which Duran was slain suggests that it, too, may be the Battle of Camlann. If so, it would mean that two sons of Arthur, Llacheu and Duran, both died at about the same time.Morgan the BlackRuins of Margam Abbey, supposedly named after Morgan ap Athrwys and his burial place. Source: GeographArthur is presented as having a variety of sons in non-Welsh sources. However, there is one in particular who is worthy of attention because he might also be identifiable in Welsh sources, albeit not explicitly as a son of King Arthur. This is Morgan the Black. He is mentioned in Le Petit Bruit, an account of the history of Britain written in 1309. This account gives King Arthur three sons, Adeluf III, Morgan the Black, and Patrick the Red. The second son, Morgan, is particularly noteworthy, because it is possible that he appears in Welsh sources.Le Petit Bruit tells us that Morgan lived in South Wales and became the king of Wales after Arthurs death. Interestingly, this sounds very much like the historical Morgan ap Athrwys. He was a king of southeast Wales in the early medieval period. His father, Athrwys, is often presented as a candidate for the historical King Arthur. Or, at least, he is viewed as someone who may have contributed to the Arthurian legends.Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer, The Red Book of Hergest, Jesus College MA 111, fol. 141r, c. 1382-1425. Source: Bodleian LibrariesWith that in mind, it is likely that Morgan the Black is based on the historical King Morgan ap Athrwys. There is also some evidence of this in Welsh poetry. In the poem Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer, dating to before the 14th century, a certain Morgan Mawr is mentioned. This translates to Morgan the Great. He is described as the son of a certain Sadyrnin. There is no known Morgan ap Sadyrnin to be found in any of the medieval Welsh genealogies. Nonetheless, this Morgan is presented as one of the most prominent kings of the Britons in the latter part of the 6th century.We would certainly expect that someone remembered as the son of King Arthur would have been a prominent figure. As it happens, the only Morgan in the medieval period associated with a Sadyrnin is Morgan ap Athrwys. One prominent abbot in his time, with whom Morgan is associated in the Book of Llandaff, is Saturnus. The name Sadyrnin appears to be an alternative form of this. Thus, Morgan ap Athrwys is the most likely candidate for the Morgan remembered as Morgan the Great in Welsh tradition.The Sons of King ArthurHistoria Brittonum with the earliest reference to one of Arthurs sons, MS Harley 3859, fol. 1, c. 1100-1130. Source: British LibraryIn summary, Welsh tradition assigns Arthur at least four sons: Amhar, Llacheu, Gwydre, and Duran. The first of these is said to have been killed by Arthur himself, although the reason for this is never given. The second and fourth both appear to have died at about the time of the Battle of Camlann. Gwydre, for his part, appears in just one source. There, he is shown to have died while fighting a monstrous boar. Llacheu was apparently the most prominent, receiving quite a few mentions within Welsh tradition.Outside of Welsh tradition, Morgan the Black is a particularly notable son. He was very likely based on Morgan ap Athrwys, his father Athrwys being a candidate for the historical King Arthur. This Morgan is likely identifiable with Morgan Mawr ap Sadyrnin, a figure remembered as one of the most prominent kings of the Britons in the late 6th century. This fits in well with the tradition that he was a son of the powerful King Arthur.