Eldol, Consul of Gloucester facts for kids

Eldol was a brave leader from an old book called Historia Regum Britanniae (which means The History of the Kings of Britain). This book was written around 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. In this story, Eldol was known as the Consul or Count of Gloucester.

Eldol is famous for being the only British leader who escaped a terrible event called the "Treachery of the Long Knives." This happened at a peace meeting in Salisbury. A Saxon leader named Hengist invited many British leaders, about 460 of them, to discuss peace. But it was a trick! Hengist ordered his men to pull out hidden knives and kill everyone.

Most of the British leaders were killed, but Vortigern was spared. Eldol, however, was incredibly brave. He grabbed a stick from the ground and fought his way out, defeating 70 men as he escaped!

Eldol's Role After the Massacre

After escaping the massacre, Eldol became a very important supporter of Aurelius Ambrosius. Ambrosius was another British leader who fought against the Saxons. Eldol helped Ambrosius defeat the Saxons in many battles.

One of Eldol's most famous moments was at the battle of Kaerconan, which might be the town of Conisbrough. There, Eldol fought Hengist, the Saxon leader, in a one-on-one combat. Eldol won the fight and captured Hengist, then executed him. Eldol also helped during the siege of Vortigern's tower. Eldol's brother was Eldad, Bishop of Gloucester.

A Historical Account of Eldol

A writer named Thomas Rudge wrote about Eldol in his 1811 book, The History and Antiquities of Gloucester. Rudge described Eldol as a very strong and brave knight. He confirmed that Eldol was at the peace meeting in Ambresbury (Salisbury) where the Saxons tricked the Britons.

Rudge's account says that Eldol used a stake he found to fight off the Saxons. He killed many of them and managed to escape back to his city, Gloucester. Rudge also mentioned Eldol's great courage in a later battle against Hengist, where Eldol captured Hengist and cut off his head.

Eldol in Later Legends

Over time, Eldol became a legendary figure in Welsh stories. He was known as Eidol or Eidiol 'Gadarn', which means 'Mighty'. He was even called one of the three strongest men in Britain. Legends say that at the Salisbury plain meeting, he killed 660 Saxons with a piece of wood!

It's important not to confuse this Eldol with another King Eldol who lived much earlier in Geoffrey of Monmouth's stories.

In Popular Culture

Eldol and his brother Eldad appear as minor characters in the 1970 novel The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart. This book tells a story about the wizard Merlin. After a battle with Hengist, one of Ambrosius's men tells Merlin that "old Eldad laid about him" (meaning he fought well). Merlin humorously replies, "I heard him."