The chief references to the historical Owain appear in the poems of
Taliesin, Urien's bard. In one poem, he appears as the victor of the
Battle of Alclud Ford. Another,
Gweith Argoed Llwyfain ("The
Battle of Argoed Llwyfain"), tells of Owain's part in a battle between the men of
Rheged under Urien and the men of Bernicia under "Fflamddwyn" (Firestealer), possibly the Anglian king
Theodric. When Fflamddwyn demands hostages, Owain shouts defiance and inspires the men of Rheged to fight rather than give tribute to the English. Taliesin also composed
Marwnad Owain, an elegy to Owain. In the poem, it is said that Owain slew Fflamddwyn: :Pan laddodd Owain Fflamddwyn Nid oedd fwy nogyd cysgaid :Cysgid Lloegr llydan nifer | A lleufer yn eu llygaid :A rhai ni ffoynt haeach | A oeddynt hyach na rhaid :Owain a'u cosbes yn ddrud | Mal cnud yn dylud defaid :When Owain slew Fflamddwyn it was no more to him than to sleep :The wide host of Lloegr [England] sleeps with the light in their eyes :And those that did not flee were braver than was needed :Owain punished them harshly like a pack of wolves chasing sheep He inherited the kingdom of Rheged when his father was killed, but was immediately beset by his British neighbours,
Gwallawc Marchawc Trin of
Elmet and
Dunaut Bwr; the former attacking Owain's brother Elffin whilst Owain and Pasgen, another brother, fought Dunaut. Owain was slain in battle against his father's old nemesis
Morcant Bulc of
Bryneich after a short reign. His death marked the end of Rheged as an effective power. He is said to be buried at
Llan-Forfael or
Llan-Heledd, which local traditions place in the churchyard of St. Andrew's at
Penrith, though it is possible that the grave is actually that of the later
Owen Cesarius. Owain is said to be the father of
St. Kentigern Garthwys by
Denw, the daughter of "Leuddun", commonly identified with
Lot of
Lothian. Owain is believed to have dressed as a woman and raped
Saint Teneu, the mother of Kentigern. ==Owain of legend==