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St. Brychan Brycheiniog was the son of King Anlach of Garthmadrun byMarchel, heiress of that kingdom. Perhaps he was a freckled baby ashis name implies. Brychan was born in Ireland but, soon afterward, hisparents moved Wales, to Y Fenni-Fach, then Marchel's homeland ofGarthmadrun. At the age of four, Brychan was sent to be tutored by aholy-man named Drichan beside the River Ysgir. Seven years, Brychanwas schooled in the ways of the World, before the poor blind Drichanfinally called Brychan to bring him his trusty spear for the lasttime. With it, he pointed to a nearby boar and a stag who came fromthe forest to stand with a fish in the river, by a beech-tree drippingwith honey; and Drichan predicted a happy and abundant future for theyoung Brychan. A few years later, war broke out between Anlach and Banadl, theusurping Irish King of Powys. The fight did not go well for Anlach,and he was forced to send Brychan to Powys as a hostage in order toprotect his lands. Brychan was treated well at the Irishman's court,but he fell madly in love with his host's daughter, Banhadlwedd. Thematch was frowned upon and, overcome with lust, Brychan took the poorgirl by force. Before Brychan was sent back to Gathmadrun at the endof the War, the Irish Princess bore him a son named Cynog. Brychangave his child a golden armilla as a sign of his paternal recognition. Back in Garthmadrun, Anlach eventually died and the nobles raisedBrychan to the Kingship. From Talgarth, His reign was triumphant, asDrichan had predicted, and the people decided to rename the KingdomBrycheiniog in his honour. He was a saintly King dedicated to theChristian Church and its teachings. He married three times and had somany saintly children, they are almost impossible to count. The mostpopular figure is twenty-four sons and twenty-four daughters. Togetherthey are known as one of the "Holy Families of Britain". Depsite his piety, Brychan was not above defending his lands or hisfamily when the need arose. One of his eldest daughters, Gwladys, wasonce abducted by King Gwynllyw of Gwynllwg. Brychan and his armiespursued them for many days and many nights before a horrendous battlewas fought at which many men fell. Luckily, the High-King Arthurintervened and the two Welsh Monarchs were soon reconciled. On anotheroccasion, the King of Dyfed (or Gwynedd) raided Brychan's Kingdom inorder to dispel a boast by one of his countrymen, that no spoil couldever be taken from Brychan's land. When the King of Brycheiniogdiscovered this treachery, he led his armies to a great battlevictory, after which the dismembered limbs of the enemy were collectedas trophies! In old age he is believed to have abdicated the throne of Brycheniogin order to become a hermit. Professor Thomas suggests that his lifeat this period should be identified with that of his so-called son,St. Nectan. He died at a great age in the mid-5th century and wasburied on Ynys Brychan (possibly Lundy Island).
Karl-Heinz
Böttcher
