Cross of Neith facts for kids
The Cross of Neith (in Welsh, Y Groes Naid or Y Groes Nawdd) was a very special and holy object. People believed it was a small piece of the True Cross, which is the cross Jesus was crucified on. This important relic was kept at Aberconwy Abbey by the kings and princes of Gwynedd. These rulers were part of the Aberffraw family, who created the Principality of Wales.
The princes of Gwynedd believed the Cross of Neith gave them and their people special protection from God. We don't know exactly when or how it came to Gwynedd. Some think King Hywel Dda might have brought it back from Rome around 928 AD after a special trip. It was passed down from one prince to the next, all the way to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and his brother Dafydd. A picture of the cross was even used as a battle flag.
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How the Cross of Neith Was Taken
After the Welsh principality was defeated in 1283, the English King Edward I of England took control. Llywelyn had died, and Dafydd was captured and killed. This meant the Cross of Neith, along with other important Welsh treasures like Llywelyn's coronet, was taken by the English.
A record from 1283 says that a church leader named Huw ab Ithel gave this "part of the most holy wood of the True Cross" to King Edward I. This happened at Aberconwy. The cross then traveled with the king as he finished his military actions in north Wales.
The Cross Arrives in London
In May 1285, the Cross of Neith was brought to London. It was paraded through the streets in a grand procession. The king, the queen, their children, important nobles, and fourteen bishops were all part of this parade. It was a big show of English power and victory.
Where Did the Cross Go Next?
Years later, in 1352, King Edward III gave the Cross of Neith to the church leaders at St George's Chapel, Windsor. King Edward III had just started the Order of the Garter, a special group of knights. He made St George's Chapel a very important royal place of worship.
The Cross of Neith stayed at St George's Chapel for a long time, until 1552. At that time, King Edward VI ordered that all holy objects and treasures in the Chapel be taken away. The Cross of Neith was moved to the Tower of London. It was supposed to wait there for "the King's further instruction."
The Mystery of the Cross's Disappearance
What happened to the Cross of Neith after 1552 is still a mystery. Some people think it was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell and other Puritans during the English Civil War around 1649. These groups often destroyed religious items they considered too fancy or superstitious. However, other ideas about its fate have also been suggested, and no one knows for sure what became of this ancient Welsh relic.
See also
- Archaeology of Wales
- Wales in the Middle Ages
