Lailoken

Who is Lailoken?

Lailoken was a semi-legendary madman and prophet who lived in the Caledonian Forest in the late 6th century. The Life of Saint Kentigern mentions "a certain foolish man, who was called Laleocen" living at or near the village of Peartnach within the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Laleocen prophesied the death of King Rhydderch Hael.

As a wild man and seer living in the forests of what is now southern Scotland, Lailoken is often identified with Myrddin Wyllt, the Welsh forerunner of the Arthurian wizard Merlin. Myrddin is particularly associated with the Battle of Arfderydd in Cumberland and the area just to the north, over the border in modern Scotland; Myrddin fought for the losing side and after the battle went insane. There was also a late 15th-century story Lailoken and Kentigern which states: "...some say he was called Merlynum".

Lailoken may be a form of the name Llallogan, which occurs in the Welsh poem Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer, where Gwenddydd refers to Merlin as Llallawg and its diminutive, Llallogan.