User:Bibliosmiaphile/Malgven1

Malgven, or Malgwen(n), is a character introduced in the legend of the city of Ys at the end of the 19th century by Édouard Schuré, possibly based on a local legend from the Cap Sizun. She was made famous by Charles Guyot (Géo-Charles) at the beginning of the 20th century, in his literary adaptation of the legend of Ys. A valkyrie and queen of the "North", Malgven rules over the lands with her ageing husband, King Harold. She meets King Gradlon while on an outing and falls in love with him. She persuades him to kill her husband and to run away with her on her horse Morvarc'h, towards Gradlon's lands in Brittany. The journey last a year, during which time she gives birth to a daughter, Dahut. Malgven dies in childbirth.

Although she may not be an authentic feature in the legend of the city of Ys, Malgven provides her daughter Dahut with a magical origin story and contributes to the dramatic and romantic element of this legend. This character has been represented in a number of more recent productions, notably novels, a play and a comic book.

Etymology
The spelling "Malgven" may be most common, but some recent texts use the spelling "Malgwen" or "Malgwenn". Françoise Le Roux and Christian-J. Guyonvarc'h do not explain the etymology, but clarify that for them, the name is "neither breton, nor scandinavian".

Description
Often named as the wife of King Gradlon, and therefore the mother of the princess Dahut, in the legend of the city of Ys, Malgven was popularised in this role by Géo-Charles at the beginning of the 20th century.