Corgies and Kings

Comparatively recently the scientists from the Cardiff University in the course of archaeological dig in peatbogs of Brecon Beaconslocated between the hills of South Wales have found a dog’s bones similar by all the features to present-day Welsh Corgis. Some time before in this place was located a settlement surrounded from all sides by waters of Llangorse Lake. In IX century, to which relates the above-mentioned discovery, here was the capital of a small Welsh realm named Brycheiniog.

However, there is a more recent evidence of what popularity enjoyed the ancestors of present-day Corgis among crown-wearing persons (besides, this story put some thoughts about the kinship of Welsh doggies with Irish terriers).

In the Irish "Cormac's Glossary " , made up about 900 , are set forth the events connected with the name of Cairbre Musc - the Irish Prince who lived at the beginning of III century. Cairbre was son of King of Ireland, Conaire the Great, and was known in Ireland and abroad as a gallant warrior and a skillful poet (ollaf). According to the "Glossary", Cairbre Musc was the first who "brought a little doggie to Erin from the British land". In those times the Irish begun to settle on the seacoast of the Roman Britain not facing any resistance from the part of Roman forces and the local population. The major region of Irish settlement was the realm Dufed – just those lands of mountainous South Wales (Pembrokeshire), the homeland of the Pembroke Corgis. Local small dogs charmed foreign guests, but what a pity! – their owners loved their pets so much that they ought to settle: "no dog shall pass to hands of the Irish – neither as a fee for a song, nor by friendship, nor for money". But Cairbre being a shifty fellow found a loophole – there was a law according to which an offender caught red-handed should be delivered up to the injured party. Before setting off for a visit to the owner of the dog he liked, the crafty Irishman put stealthily his costly knife "ornamented with gold and silver – a highly refined jewel". This exquisite jewel was abundantly greased, and the contended dog gnawed that "bone" till the very morning when it was caught red-handed. In the morning Cairbre played ably the greatest degree of indignation and grief, and claimed for justice – ashamed hosts were compelled to deliver up the "criminal". The new owner named it Mogh Eihme - "A haft’s servant" in memory of a knife, the haft of which it gnawed to shreds. The news of Mogh Eihme’s arrival to Ireland generated considerable excitement among its rulers. Oilill Flann Bec (King of Munster – the southern part of Ireland, where Cairbre landed) and Cormac mac Art (King of Ireland) demanded it for them. But Cairbre foresaw such a turn – the dog was already pregnant and soon litteredm, for the joy of the whole island, "and both kings took one of puppies, and from that dog generated all the small doggies in Erin". And prior to littering, Mogh Eihme lived by turns at Cairbre, and one of two kings. She never was sorry about that: she was surrounded with such a “royal” attention, about what, many years later, mentioned Irish bards in an inflated style , usual for them:

Sweet was your drink at the house of Eohann’s grandson,
Welcome was meat for you at the house of Conn’s grandson each day,
White was your bred at the house of Cairbre Musc, oh Mogh Eihme!

So, it is not surprising that the present-day Royal family of Great Britain is not indifferent towards these dogs. Queen Elizabeth II is a recognized expert and fancier of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. In 1933 her father, the Duke of York then, later –King George VI, purchased for his daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, a puppy named Rozavel Golden Eagle. The pet so fitted right in court that the crown-bearing family had not satisfied itself with only one dog, therefore Pembrokes settled down in the Buckingham palace forever. It is rumored that Elizabeth II keeps more than 30 Pembrokes.

The interest of Queen of England to this breed contributed considerably to the increase of its popularity not only in Britain, but also in other countries and continents. Appearing of the royal family with several Pembrokes in America at the grand opening of the Farm Journal and the premiere of the Walt Disney film " Little Dog Lost " helped fuel America's love affair with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

At present only few Welsh Corgis continue herding cattle at their homeland. "Small biting dogs" successfully master new professions – for example, they come upon the tracks with pleasure. They have proved themselves excellently in urban environment, where footsteps lay on concrete, asphalt, grass and not on the ground. Corgis are also successfully used for seeking for narcotics.

Added:  Saturday, January 20, 2007
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