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The Mabinogion was a collection of tales taken from medieval Welsh manuscripts. Based partly on historical events, many recount myths and legends dating from the 11th century.

Two tales in the collection, The Dream of Rhonabwy and Culhwch and Olwen, are notable for featuring Arthurian legends. Of these, the story of Culhwch and Olwen is of particular interest, since it is considered to be the first Arthurian romance.

In the complex tale, Culhwch, the first cousin of Arthur, enlists the king's help in finding the beautiful Olwen. She says she will only marry Culhwch with the permission of her father, Ysbaddaden, king of giants.

Ysbaddaden gives Culhwch a huge list of things to do before he can marry Olwen. Arthur helps fulfil the demands, which include the killing of Twrch Trwyth, an Irish king who had been turned into a boar.

Elsewhere, three tales in the Mabinogion called The Three Romances are Welsh variations of Arthurian tales. The tales are all share similarities to the works of the 12th century poet Chrétien de Troyes, though they are both believed to have been variations of the same Celtic sources.

One man, meanwhile, did more than any other do establish and popularise the Arthurian legend: Geoffrey of Monmouth, writing in the 12th century.