Elaeth (sometimes recorded as Eleth) was a Christian king and poet in Britain in the 6th century who is venerated as a saint. After losing his territory in the north of Britain, he retreated to

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a Local government in Wales, principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island, Anglesey, Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strai ...

, north Wales, where he lived at a monastery run by St Seiriol at Penmon. Some religious poetry is attributed to him, as is the foundation of

St Eleth's Church, Amlwch St Eleth's Church, Amlwch is a parish church built in the Neo-classical style in 1800 in Amlwch, a town on the island of Anglesey in north Wales. It stands on the site of earlier buildings, with the first church here said to have been established ...

, also in Anglesey.

Life and commemoration

Little is known for certain about Elaeth's life, and his dates of birth and death are unknown. He lived in the 6th century. He is said to have been the son of Meurig ab Idno and his wife Onen Greg, the daughter of

Gwallog ap Llaennog Gwallog ap Lleenog ( Old Welsh ''Guallauc'', Middle Welsh ''Gwallawc''; his father's name is spelled variously ''Lleinauc'', ''Lleynna '', ''Lleenawc'', and ''Llennawc'') was a hero of the Hen Ogledd. He has long been considered a probable sixth-ce ...

. Elaeth was apparently a chieftain in the north of Britain, and is sometimes referred to as "Elaeth Frenhin" (the Welsh for "Elaeth the king"). He was ousted from his land and thereafter travelled to

, an island off the coast of north Wales, and settled there in the monastery run by St Seiriol at Penmon, at the south-eastern corner of the island. His feast day in the Welsh calendars of saints is 10 November; one calendar, apparently by mistake, gives the date as 11 November. Some religious poetry that he is said to have written has been preserved in medieval manuscripts. The

Black Book of Carmarthen The Black Book of Carmarthen ( cy, Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin) is thought to be the earliest surviving manuscript written solely in Welsh. The book dates from the mid-13th century; its name comes from its association with the Priory of St. John the E ...

, from the 12th century, attributes two poems of seven stanzas to his authorship, one of simple construction and the other more complicated. Both "are written in a strain of deepest piety." He is the reputed founder of

, in the north of Anglesey. A holy well near there, known as "" in Welsh, was named after him, and was regarded as having healing qualities and providing a method of divination. A nearby "priest" would interpret the behaviour and activities of an eel kept in the well; on some occasions, the eel would remain out of sight and those seeking answers would have to wait for its re-emergence.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elaeth 6th-century English people Medieval Welsh saints 6th-century rulers in Europe

Life and commemoration

See also

References