General Notes

Brychan Brycheiniog, King of Brycheiniog, (Born c.419)
(Latin-Brocanus,English-Brecon). St. Brychan Brycheiniog was
the son of King Anlach ofGarthmadrun by Marchel, heiress of
that kingdom. Perhaps he was afreckled baby as his name
implies. Brychan was born in Ireland but, soonafterward, his
parents moved Wales, to Y Fenni-Fach, then Marchel'shomeland of
Garthmadrun. At the age of four, Brychan was sent to betutored
by a holy-man named Drichan beside the River Ysgir. Seven
yearsBrychan was schooled in the ways of the World, before the
poor blindDrichan finally called Brychan to bring him his
trusty spear for the lasttime. With it, he pointed to a nearby
boar and a stag who came from theforest to stand with a fish in
the river, by a beech-tree dripping withhoney; and Drichan
predicted a happy and abundant future for the youngBrychan. A
few years later, war broke out between Anlach and Banadl, the
usurpingIrish King of Powys. The fight did not go well for
Anlach, and he wasforced to send Brychan to Powys as a hostage
in order to protect hislands. Brychan was treated well at the
Irishman's court, but he fellmadly in love with his host's
daughter, Banhadlwedd. The match wasfrowned upon and, overcome
with lust, Brychan took the poor girl byforce. Before Brychan
was sent back to Gathmadrun at the end of the War,the Irish
Princess bore him a son named Cynog. Brychan gave his child
agolden armilla as a sign of his paternal recognition. Back in
Garthmadrun, Anlach eventually died and the nobles raised
Brychanto the Kingship. From Talgarth, his reign was
triumphant, as Drichan hadpredicted, and the people decided to
rename the Kingdom Brycheiniog inhis honour. He was a saintly
King dedicated to the Christian Church andits teachings. He
married three times and had so many saintly children,they are
almost impossible to count. The most popular figure
istwenty-four sons and twenty-four daughters. Together they are
known asone of the 'Holy Families of Britain'. Despite 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 battle wasfought at which many men fell. Luckily,
the High-King Arthur intervenedand the two Welsh Monarchs were
soon reconciled. On another occasion, theKing of Dyfed (or
Gwynedd) raided Brychan's Kingdom in order to dispel aboast by
one of his countrymen that no spoil could ever be taken
fromBrychan's land. When the King of Brycheiniog discovered
this treachery,he led his armies to a great battle victory,
after which the dismemberedlimbs of the enemy were collected as
trophies! In old age he is believed to have abdicated the
throne of Brycheniog inorder to become a hermit. Professor
Thomas suggests that his life at thisperiod should be
identified with that of his so-called son, St. Nectan.He died
at a great age in the mid-5th century and was buried on
YnysBrychan (Lundy Island). [David Nash Ford, Early British
Kingdoms:Biographies]