March 29 St. Gladys

Another in my Welch series…

St. Gladys was the beautiful daughter of Brychan of Brecknock. When King Gwynllyw of South Wales fell in love with her, he asked for her hand in marriage. Her father refused. So King Gwynllyw and his army kidnapped her. From here legend and history mix, but what is known is that the two worked together to lead an army through a bloody and brutal period of Wales history. Reports differ on the number of children, but at least seven became saints. Not bad for a warrior queen in battle for most of her child rearing years.

Their son Cadoc converted both and they retired from military life to a quiet life of fasting, eating a vegetarian diet, and bathing in the cold waters of the river Usk to prove their piety. When their carnal desires became too great (there was reason for their  large family), Gladys moved to a hermitage farther away. Only to find that still too close. Apparently old Gwynllyw was quite the powerful force.