Eliseg's Pillar

Eliseg's Pillar

In North Wales, about 35 minutes from Llangollen, near the empty arches of the 13th. century Valle Crucis Abbey along Abbey Road, there sits a stone monument atop a mound. This was a monument to a Welsh prince, and the inscription mentions Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern), who was his ancestor. The inscription also mentions that Vortigern's first wife was the daughter of Emperor Maximus (fl.383 AD) - Magnus Clemens Maximus - who appears in "The Dream of Mascen Wleddig". Magnus Clemens Maximus was proclaimed "king" in Britain in 383 AD. Apparently he gained control of Western Europe, with the help of a formidable army of Britons, and captured Rome. His wife Elen ferch Eudaf is said to have accompanied him, even leading her own troops across the Channel. They were joined by Elen's brothers. Theodosius, who was in control of Eastern Europe, defeated Maximus' troops. A Welsh Triad indirectly speaks of this defeat. This could also explain why the legends of Elen ferch Eudaf were connected with France, notably with the story of St. Martin of Tours.According to the Valle Crucis Pillar, Vortigern married Maximus' daughter Sevira. Geoffrey of Monmouth doesn't mention "Sevira", but says that before Vortigern was king of the Britons, he was the ruler of the Gewissei. But Geoffrey of Monmouth also mentions another ruler of the Gewissei, whose name was "Octavius", the father of Maximus' British wife. Presumably, "Octavius" was Eudaf, the father of Elen. Hence, Vortigern may have inherited his title "ruler of the Gewissei" from Eudav through his marriage with the daughter of Maximus and Elen. Their daughter may have been Sevira, as stated in the inscription on the Valle Crucis Pillar. But as it's commonly assumed that Vortigern reigned from around 428 - 455 AD... "Sevira" would have been quite old when she married Vortigern.Llangollen, in the hills near the English border, is where we find the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran, another important landmark for those interested in Arthurian mythology. King Arthur's Wild Hunt takes place there.Nearby is Croes Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere's Cross) and a footpath leads to the old defensive earthworks called Offa's Dyke, built by the Saxons to keep the Welsh at bay.