Illtud
Encyclopedia
Illtyd (died mid-6th century), was a Welsh
saint
, founder and abbot
of Llanilltud Fawr
(Llantwit Major) in the Welsh
county of Glamorgan
. He was also said to have re-established the attached monastery school known as Cor Tewdws
, after it had been destroyed.
' claims that Illtyd was a disciple of Germanus of Auxerre
(although this does not necessarily mean that he was taught by him directly), that he was the most learned Briton
in the study of scripture and philosophy, and that he was the abbot of his monastery in Glamorgan
. He appears to have been married at some stage and may have had a military background
The earliest Life of Illtyd, full of implausible legends, was written about 1140. It claimed that he sailed to Brittany
with some corn ships to relieve the famine. Some Breton churches and villages certainly bear his name. In the Life, Illtyd is the son of a minor Breton prince named Bican Farchog, who begins his career as a skilled warrior, serving his maternal cousin, King Arthur
, and others until his wild ways brought him into conflict with Saint Cadoc
at Llancarfan
Abbey. Illtyd's warband raids the abbey, but the monks pursue them into a bog where the earth swallows all of them except Illtyd. Cadoc reminds Illtyd of his religion, and the humbled warrior takes up the monastic life.
In an age when any schooling was available only to a very few privileged people, perhaps Illtyd's monastic school of Cor Tewdws
was the closest approximation in existence to an institution of higher education. Among Illtyd's pupils were Saints Pol Aurelian, Samson of Dol
, Gildas
and David
, and the future King Maelgwn
of Gwynedd.
, and many churches in Wales are dedicated to him, including St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major
, which stands on what is believed to have been the site of the monastery. The Life tells of Illtyd's bell being recovered from King Edgar
's armies and of Illtyd's protecting his people against the people of North Wales
in the time of William the Conqueror
. His feast day is November 6.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
, founder and abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of Llanilltud Fawr
Llantwit Major
Llantwit Major is a small coastal town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the Bristol Channel coast. A small stream, the Afon Col-huw, runs through the town.-Local government:...
(Llantwit Major) in the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
county of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. He was also said to have re-established the attached monastery school known as Cor Tewdws
Cor Tewdws
Cor Tewdws or Bangor Tewdws was a monastery and school in what is now Llantwit Major, Glamorgan, Wales. It was reputedly burnt down in AD 446 before being refounded by St Illtyd in AD 508 and flourished into the 13th Century during the Middle Ages...
, after it had been destroyed.
Life
The 7th century 'Life of Saint SamsonSamson of Dol
Saint Samson of Dol was a Christian religious figure who is counted among the seven founder saints of Brittany. Born in southern Wales, he died in Dol-de-Bretagne, a small town in north Brittany.-Life:...
' claims that Illtyd was a disciple of Germanus of Auxerre
Germanus of Auxerre
Germanus of Auxerre was a bishop of Auxerre in Gaul. He is a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, commemorated on July 31. He visited Britain in around 429 and the records of this visit provide valuable information on the state of post-Roman British society...
(although this does not necessarily mean that he was taught by him directly), that he was the most learned Briton
Brython
The Britons were the Celtic people culturally dominating Great Britain from the Iron Age through the Early Middle Ages. They spoke the Insular Celtic language known as British or Brythonic...
in the study of scripture and philosophy, and that he was the abbot of his monastery in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. He appears to have been married at some stage and may have had a military background
The earliest Life of Illtyd, full of implausible legends, was written about 1140. It claimed that he sailed to Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
with some corn ships to relieve the famine. Some Breton churches and villages certainly bear his name. In the Life, Illtyd is the son of a minor Breton prince named Bican Farchog, who begins his career as a skilled warrior, serving his maternal cousin, King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
, and others until his wild ways brought him into conflict with Saint Cadoc
Cadoc
Saint Cadoc , Abbot of Llancarfan, was one of the 6th century British Christian saints. His vita twice mentions King Arthur. The Abbey of Llancarfan, near Cowbridge in Glamorganshire, which he founded circa 518, became famous as a centre of learning...
at Llancarfan
Llancarfan
Llancarfan is a rural village and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The village, located west of Barry near Cowbridge, has a pub and a well-known parish church, the site of Saint Cadoc's 6th-century abbey, famed for its learning...
Abbey. Illtyd's warband raids the abbey, but the monks pursue them into a bog where the earth swallows all of them except Illtyd. Cadoc reminds Illtyd of his religion, and the humbled warrior takes up the monastic life.
In an age when any schooling was available only to a very few privileged people, perhaps Illtyd's monastic school of Cor Tewdws
Cor Tewdws
Cor Tewdws or Bangor Tewdws was a monastery and school in what is now Llantwit Major, Glamorgan, Wales. It was reputedly burnt down in AD 446 before being refounded by St Illtyd in AD 508 and flourished into the 13th Century during the Middle Ages...
was the closest approximation in existence to an institution of higher education. Among Illtyd's pupils were Saints Pol Aurelian, Samson of Dol
Samson of Dol
Saint Samson of Dol was a Christian religious figure who is counted among the seven founder saints of Brittany. Born in southern Wales, he died in Dol-de-Bretagne, a small town in north Brittany.-Life:...
, Gildas
Gildas
Gildas was a 6th-century British cleric. He is one of the best-documented figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during this period. His renowned learning and literary style earned him the designation Gildas Sapiens...
and David
Saint David
Saint David was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is still uncertain, as suggestions range from 462 to...
, and the future King Maelgwn
Maelgwn
A number of Welsh kings and princes have borne the name Maelgwn:* Maelgwn Gwynedd , king of Gwynedd*Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd , son of Owain Gwynedd and ruler of Anglesey...
of Gwynedd.
Veneration
An inscription on a cross at Llantwit says "Samson placed his Cross here for his soul, for the soul of Illtud, Samson, Rhain, Sawyl and Ebisar". It is possible that it was erected by Saint Samson himself in the 6th century, although it may be somewhat later. There is no formal evidence for a cult of Illtyd surviving from before the 11th century. However his monastery, reputed to contain hundreds of monks, was one of the most influential in South WalesSouth Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, and many churches in Wales are dedicated to him, including St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major
St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major
St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major, is one of the oldest and best-known parish churches in Wales.The name of the town is an English corruption of the Welsh name Llanilltud Fawr , and on this site Saint Illtud is believed to have founded a teaching monastery or 'llan' during the 6th century.The...
, which stands on what is believed to have been the site of the monastery. The Life tells of Illtyd's bell being recovered from King Edgar
Edgar of England
Edgar the Peaceful, or Edgar I , also called the Peaceable, was a king of England . Edgar was the younger son of Edmund I of England.-Accession:...
's armies and of Illtyd's protecting his people against the people of North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
in the time of William the Conqueror
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
. His feast day is November 6.