Where Glasgow Really Began

The rape that led to the birth of a city. Well, there's a strange subtitle for you! And yet, it's true, or as true as we can be when looking at something that took place in the 6th century AD.

But although facts can get a bit fuzzy as the centuries roll by, in general myths and legends develop around a truthful core.

Today's video visits Traprain Law in East Lothian, not far from East Linton.

This rocky hill was was probably occupied from the Bronze Age right through to the early medieval period. And in the Dark Ages, during the time of King Arthur and legends of the Knights of the Round Table, Traprain Law was not just any old defended settlement or fort, it was the home and powerhouse of the King of the Votadini, an ancient Celtic tribe.

Traprain Law contained a large number of Celtic round houses during the Iron Age and into Scotland's Dark Ages, and in the latter period, towards the end of the 5th and beginning of the 6th centuries, it was also home to King Loth, or Lleuddun, who eventually gave his name to the whole area: Lothian.
Indeed, King Loth eventually moved from Traprain Law and settled on the rock on which now sits Edinburgh Castle. In short, he founded Edinburgh, and probably a good part of Central Scotland.

But Traprain Law is much more important than that, especially if you come from Glasgow.

King Loth's daughter, Princess Thenew or Teneu, was raped on or near the hill; raped by her cousin. And rather than blame her cousin, King Loth blamed his daughter. He had her tied to a chariot and thrown over one of the many rocky crags on Traprain Law.

Somehow, she survived, was placed in a small coracle, and set adrift on the wide River Forth. Eventually she reached Culross on the other side of the river, and was taken in by monks.

And it was there, in Culross, that she gave birth to a child named Kentigern, later named Mungo by the monks.

So, as you may see, it is really on Traprain Law, a small hill in East Lothian, that Glasgow began. For Glasgow may never have been a town or city at all if it hadn't been for that rape long long ago, and the eventual arrival of Mungo on a small hill by a stream and a chapel. Saint Mungo: Patron Saint of Glasgow.

But it doesn't even end there. For the name of Mungo's mother, Princess Teneu, lives on in St Enoch Square in Glasgow, the name a slight spelling corruption of Teneu. Indeed, she is actually buried in St Enoch Square, although to look at the square these days you'd never know.

So here, on a small hill in East Lothian, is the very beginnings of the mighty city of Glasgow.

NOTE - The figure used in the video thumbnail and in the video titles was taken from the album cover: 'Argus' by Wishbone Ash. The photo that makes up the album cover was taken by Barry Wentzell.