Merlin's Oak
An old prophecy said that when the wizard Merlin's oak tree fell, his home town of Carmarthen would fall too. So the townspeople kept the dead tree propped up for over a century.
What was reported
In Welsh legend, the wizard Merlin was born in Carmarthen, whose Welsh name, Caerfyrddin, was later linked to his. In the town stood an ancient oak said to be his, and a prophecy warned: 'When Merlin's Oak shall tumble down, then shall fall Carmarthen town.'
The tree died in the 1800s, but the townspeople kept its trunk standing, propped with concrete and iron. In 1978, it was finally removed to widen a road, and pieces were kept in the town museum. Some noted that Carmarthen suffered serious floods soon afterwards.
Explanations offered
The connection between Merlin and Carmarthen comes from medieval writers, notably Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 1100s, and the tree was probably planted much later. The floods were caused by heavy rain. The prophecy has become a cherished part of local history.
- When
- Prophecy told for centuries; tree removed in 1978
- Where
- Carmarthen, Wales, UK
- Witnesses
- The people of Carmarthen
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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