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'''Brychan Brycheiniog''' was a |
[[File:Brychan (straightened) Eglwys Aberhonddu (Brecon, Wales) 02.jpg|thumb|right|Brychan depicted in a window of the church in [[Brecon, Wales]].]] |
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'''Brychan Brycheiniog''' was a [[legend]]ary [[5th-century]] king of [[Brycheiniog]] (Brecknockshire, alternatively Breconshire)<ref>Richard Morgan & R. F. Peter Powell, ''A Study of Breconshire Place-Names'', ( Llanrwst Wells: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1999).</ref> in [[South Wales]]. |
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==Life== |
==Life== |
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{{See also|Uí Liatháin}} |
{{See also|Uí Liatháin}} |
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[[Celt]]ic [[hagiography]] tells us that Brychan was born in Ireland, the son of a Prince Anlach, son of Coronac, and his wife, Marchel, heiress of the [[Wales|Welsh]] kingdom of Garthmadrun (Brycheiniog), which the couple later inherited. Upon his father's death, he returned to Garthmadrun and changed its name to Brycheiniog.<ref>Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: a historical encyclopedia'' Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio (15 March 2006) {{ISBN|978-1-85109-440-0}} p. 301</ref> Brychan's name may be a Welsh version of the Irish name Broccán and that of his grandfather Coronac may represent Cormac.<ref>Thornton, "Brychan Brycheiniog (''fl''. c. 500)." ''[[ODNB]]''.</ref> The ''Life of St. [[Cadoc]]'' by Lifris (''c''. 1100) portrays Brychan fighting [[King Arthur|Arthur]], [[Sir Kay|Cai]] and [[Bedivere]] because of King [[Gwynllyw]] of [[Gwynllwg]]'s abduction of his daughter St. [[Gwladys]] from his court in [[Talgarth]]. |
[[Celt]]ic [[hagiography]] tells us that Brychan was born in [[Ireland]], the son of a Prince [[Anlach]], son of [[Coronac]], and his wife, Marchel, heiress of the [[Wales|Welsh]] kingdom of Garthmadrun (Brycheiniog), which the couple later inherited. Upon his father's death, he returned to Garthmadrun and changed its name to Brycheiniog.<ref>Koch, John T. ''Celtic Culture: a historical encyclopedia'' Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio (15 March 2006) {{ISBN|978-1-85109-440-0}} p. 301</ref> Brychan's name may be a Welsh version of the Irish name Broccán and that of his grandfather Coronac may represent Cormac.<ref>Thornton, "Brychan Brycheiniog (''fl''. c. 500)." ''[[ODNB]]''.</ref> The ''Life of St. [[Cadoc]]'' by Lifris (''c''. 1100) portrays Brychan fighting [[King Arthur|Arthur]], [[Sir Kay|Cai]] and [[Bedivere]] because of King [[Gwynllyw]] of [[Gwynllwg]]'s abduction of his daughter St. [[Gwladys]] from his court in [[Talgarth]]. |
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==Portraiture and veneration== |
==Portraiture and veneration== |
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He is occasionally described as an undocumented saint<ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1849 Catholic Online, "St Brychan"]</ref> but the traditional literature does not call him a saint, referring to him as a [[patriarch]] instead, and he has no |
He is occasionally described as an [[ Pre-congregational saint|undocumented saint]]<ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1849 Catholic Online, "St Brychan"]</ref> but the traditional literature does not call him a [[saint]], referring to him as a [[patriarch]] instead, and he has no [[church Building|church]]es named for him.<ref>Orme, Nicholas (2000) ''The Saints of Cornwall'' [[Oxford]]: [[Oxford University Press]] (6 January 2000) {{ISBN|978-0-19-820765-8}} p. 77</ref> A 15th-century [[stained glass]] window in the [[parish church]] at [[St Neot, Cornwall|St Neot]] in Cornwall, supposedly depicts Brychan, seated and crowned, holding in his arms eleven children. This, however, has been described by a standard modern guide as "God with Souls in his lap".<ref>Pevsner, N. (1970) ''Cornwall''; 2nd ed., revised by Enid Radclife. Harmondsworth: Penguin; p. 198</ref> |
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==Children of Brychan== |
==Children of Brychan== |
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According to Christian tradition, Brychan was married three times – to Prawst ferch Tydwal, Banhadlwedd ferch Banadi, and [[Gwladys]] – and had a very large family. These wives are mentioned in several |
According to Christian tradition, Brychan was married three times – to Prawst ferch Tydwal, Banhadlwedd ferch Banadi, and [[Gwladys]] – and had a very large family. These wives are mentioned in several [[manuscript]]s, including those by [[William Worcester]], [[John Leland (antiquary)|John Leland]], and [[Nicholas Roscarrock]]. The number of children attributed to him varies from twelve to sixty-three, the number most frequently encountered being twenty-four. There are two main lists however, one of Welsh origin and one of Cornish origin. Most of his children appear to have travelled from [[Brecon]] to evangelise [[Cornwall]] and North [[Devon]], where they are now venerated, but there is little agreement between the two lists. Some are referred to as being "in Manau", which has led to associations of Brychan with [[Manaw Gododdin]] in modern [[Scotland]]; although the [[Isle of Man]] seems more likely.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} |
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The number of Brychan's children may have grown over time, as more and more secular people as well as saints wished to claim descent from one of the "Holy Families of Britain". Listed below are children from [[Welsh language|Welsh]], [[Cornish language|Cornish]], Irish, and [[Breton language|Breton]] sources: |
The number of Brychan's children may have grown over time, as more and more secular people as well as saints wished to claim descent from one of the "Holy Families of Britain". Listed below are children from [[Welsh language|Welsh]], [[Cornish language|Cornish]], Irish, and [[Breton language|Breton]] sources: |
Brychan Brycheiniog was a legendary 5th-century king of Brycheiniog (Brecknockshire, alternatively Breconshire)[1]inSouth Wales.
Celtic hagiography tells us that Brychan was born in Ireland, the son of a Prince Anlach, son of Coronac, and his wife, Marchel, heiress of the Welsh kingdom of Garthmadrun (Brycheiniog), which the couple later inherited. Upon his father's death, he returned to Garthmadrun and changed its name to Brycheiniog.[2] Brychan's name may be a Welsh version of the Irish name Broccán and that of his grandfather Coronac may represent Cormac.[3] The Life of St. Cadoc by Lifris (c. 1100) portrays Brychan fighting Arthur, Cai and Bedivere because of King GwynllywofGwynllwg's abduction of his daughter St. Gwladys from his court in Talgarth.
He is occasionally described as an undocumented saint[4] but the traditional literature does not call him a saint, referring to him as a patriarch instead, and he has no churches named for him.[5] A 15th-century stained glass window in the parish churchatSt Neot in Cornwall, supposedly depicts Brychan, seated and crowned, holding in his arms eleven children. This, however, has been described by a standard modern guide as "God with Souls in his lap".[6]
According to Christian tradition, Brychan was married three times – to Prawst ferch Tydwal, Banhadlwedd ferch Banadi, and Gwladys – and had a very large family. These wives are mentioned in several manuscripts, including those by William Worcester, John Leland, and Nicholas Roscarrock. The number of children attributed to him varies from twelve to sixty-three, the number most frequently encountered being twenty-four. There are two main lists however, one of Welsh origin and one of Cornish origin. Most of his children appear to have travelled from Brecon to evangelise Cornwall and North Devon, where they are now venerated, but there is little agreement between the two lists. Some are referred to as being "in Manau", which has led to associations of Brychan with Manaw Gododdin in modern Scotland; although the Isle of Man seems more likely.[citation needed]
The number of Brychan's children may have grown over time, as more and more secular people as well as saints wished to claim descent from one of the "Holy Families of Britain". Listed below are children from Welsh, Cornish, Irish, and Breton sources:
The sons listed in the Cognacio Brychan, De Situ Brecheniauc and the genealogies of Jesus College MS 20 are Cynog, Rhain Dremrudd, Clydwyn, Arthen, Papai, Dingad, Berwyn and Rhydog. Also listed, but not in all three, are Cynon, Pasgen, Cylflifer, Marthaerun and Rhun. Other Welsh sources claim the following additional sons: Caian, Cynbryd, Cynfran, Cynin, Dogfan, Dyfnan, Dyfrig, Hychan, Llecheu, Neffei, Rhawin, Llofan, Llonio, Heilin, Afallach, Gwynnen and Gwynnws.
The De Situ Brecheniauc lists: Eleri, Hunydd, Gwladys, Ceingar, Tudglid, Nyfain, Gwawr, Marchell, Lluan, Gwrygon Goddeu, Arianwen, Bethan, Ceinwen (Keyne), Cerddych, Clydai, Cynheiddon (identified with Saint Endelienta), Dwynwen, Eiliwedd, Goleudydd, Gwen, Lludd, Tudful, Tudwystl and Tybie. Other Welsh sources claim the following additional daughters: Beiol, Tydieu, Eufail, Hawystl, Edwen, Gwenrhiw, Tudwen, Callwen, Gwenfyl, Gwennan and Mwynwen.
Listed in the Life of Saint Nectan are, by his wife, Gwladys:
Adwen, Canauc (Cynog), Cleder (Clether), Dilic (Illick), Endelient (Endelienta), Helie, Johannes (Sion), Iona, Juliana (Ilud), Kenhender (Cynidr), Keri (Curig), Mabon (Mabyn), Menfre (Menefrewy), Merewenne (Marwenna), Morewenna (Morwenna), Nectanus (Nectan), Tamalanc, Tedda (Tetha), Wencu (Gwencuff, Gwengustle, name of Saint Nennocha), Wenheden (Enoder), Wenna (Gwen), Wensent, Wynup (Gwenabwy) and Yse (Issey).
According to Robert Hunt, of the holy children that settled in Cornwall, we learn that the following gave their names to Cornish churches
The Book of Leinster lists the following sons by Brychan's wife, Dína daughter of the King of the Saxons: Mo-Goróc, Mo-Chonóc (Cynog), Diraid, Dubán (Dyfnan), Cairinne (Caian), Cairpre, Iast, Ellóc (Dilic), Paan, Cáemán and Mo-Beóc,
Breton tradition says that Brychan married Menedoc daughter of Constantine, King of the Scots. Together they were the parents of Saint Nennocha.