Gildas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gildas
Statue of Saint Gildas near the village of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys (France).
Abbot
Born	c. 450-500 Kingdom of Strathclyde
Died	570 (traditional) Rhuys, Brittany
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church; Roman Catholic Church; Anglican Communion
Major shrine	Glastonbury Abbey (destroyed) Rhuys Church
Feast	29 January
Attributes	Monk holding a Celtic bell or writing in a book
Patronage	Welsh historians; bell founders

Gildas (born around 450-500 AD, died 570 AD) was an important British monk from the 6th century. He is also known as Gildas the Wise. He is most famous for his strong religious writing called De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae. This book tells the history of the Britons before and during the arrival of the Saxons.

Gildas is one of the best-known figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during this time. He was admired for his deep knowledge of the Bible and his writing style. Later in his life, he moved to Brittany, a region in France. There, he started a monastery known as Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys.

The Life of Saint Gildas

Different stories exist about the life of Saint Gildas. However, most agree he was born in what is now Scotland, near the River Clyde. They also agree he came from a royal family. These stories were written much later, in the 11th and 12th centuries. Because of this, historians don't always consider them fully accurate.

Gildas himself said he was born in the same year as the Battle of Mount Badon. He was educated at a monastery, possibly in South Wales. There, he chose to give up his royal background to become a monk. He became a famous teacher, helping many people become Christians. He also founded many churches and monasteries across Britain and Ireland.

It is believed he traveled to Rome before moving to Brittany. In Brittany, he first lived alone as a hermit. But soon, students came looking for him, asking him to teach them. He then founded a monastery for these students at Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys. There, he wrote his famous book, De Excidio Britanniae. In this book, he criticized British rulers and urged them to stop sinning and follow Christian faith. He is thought to have died and been buried in Rhuys.

Stories from Rhuys

The first story about Gildas was written by a monk at the monastery Gildas founded in Rhuys, Brittany. This was in the 9th century. According to this story, Gildas was the son of Caunus, a king in northern Britain. He had four brothers, and one of them became king after their father died. The others became monks.

Gildas was sent to a college in Wales when he was a child. He studied under Saint Illtud and was friends with other saints. He chose to study only holy teachings and live a religious life.

After his studies, Gildas went to Ireland. There, he became a priest. He returned to northern Britain as a missionary, teaching people about Christianity. Later, the high king of Ireland asked him to help bring order back to the church there. Gildas traveled across Ireland, building churches and starting monasteries.

He then traveled to Rome and Ravenna. In Rome, he was said to have performed many miracles, including slaying a dragon. He planned to return to Britain but instead settled on an island off Brittany. He lived a quiet, simple life there. Eventually, people sought him out to learn from him. He then built a monastery in Brittany, now called Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys. He died in Rhuys on January 29, 570 AD. His body was placed on a boat and allowed to drift. Three months later, his body was found and buried in Rhuys.

Gildas and King Arthur Legends

A second story about Gildas was written in the 12th century by Caradoc of Llancarfan. This version is likely not historically accurate. It includes many elements of popular legends, like those involving King Arthur, Guinevere, and Glastonbury Abbey. This makes it less reliable than the earlier story.

In this story, Gildas is the son of King Nau. Gildas studied in Gaul (modern-day France) for seven years. He returned with many books and became a famous teacher in Britain. He was a subject of the legendary King Arthur.

Gildas's brother, Hueil, often fought against King Arthur. During one of these raids, King Arthur killed Hueil. Gildas was very sad but forgave Arthur. He then met Arthur and prayed for his forgiveness, which Arthur accepted.

Later, Gildas went to Glastonbury. This area was ruled by Melvas, the King of the 'Summer Country'. Melvas had taken Queen Guinevere. King Arthur came to rescue her. Gildas helped make peace between the two kings, and Guinevere was released. Gildas then built a small hermitage at Glastonbury. He died and was buried at Glastonbury Abbey. This story is one of the earliest to mention Guinevere being taken away, a common theme in later King Arthur tales.

De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae

Gildas is most famous for his book, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae. This book tells the history of Britain during the time after the Romans left. It is the only major source from that period written by someone who lived at the time. However, it is not meant to be a simple history book. Instead, it is a strong sermon criticizing the people of his time.

The book has three main parts. The first part explains why Gildas wrote the book. It also gives a short history of Roman Britain, from its conquest to Gildas's time. He describes the actions of the Romans and the pleas of the Britons for help after the Romans left. He strongly criticizes his fellow Britons for their sins. But he also praises heroes like Ambrosius Aurelianus, who led the fight against the Saxons. Gildas mentions the victory at the Battle of Mons Badonicus. Later stories say King Arthur led this battle, but Gildas does not mention who was in charge.

The second part of the book criticizes five British kings: Constantine, Aurelius Conanus, Vortiporius, Cuneglas, and Maelgwn. This part is very important to historians because it is the only information we have about these kings from that time. The third part is a similar attack on the church leaders of the time.

Honoring Saint Gildas

Gildas's relics (parts of his body or belongings kept as holy objects) were honored at the abbey he founded in Rhuys. They were moved several times over the centuries. In the 18th century, they were hidden during the French Revolution. Luckily, they survived and have since been returned to Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys. They are now kept in a special "treasury" in the village. The main part of Saint Gildas's body is buried behind the altar in the church of Saint Gildas de Rhuys.

Some of the gold and silver-covered relics of Saint Gildas include:

• A special container for parts of his skull.
• An arm-shaped container holding bone pieces, with a blessing hand on top.
• A container for his femur (thigh bone) and knee.

An embroidered mitre (a special hat worn by bishops) that Gildas supposedly wore is also kept with these relics. Gildas is the patron saint of several churches and monasteries in Brittany. His feast day is celebrated every year on January 29.

Other Stories and Beliefs

Gildas is also believed to have written a hymn called the Lorica, or Breastplate. This is a prayer asking for protection from evil. In some old Welsh writings, a proverb is also linked to Gildas.

In an old text called Bonedd y Saint, Gildas is said to have had three sons and a daughter. Their names were Gwynnog, Noethon, and Dolgar. Another son, Tydech, is named in a later document.

Some scholars also suggest that Gildas was the teacher of Finnian of Moville. Finnian, in turn, was the teacher of Saint Columba of Iona, another very important saint.

See also

• Gildas the Albanian
• Procopius

Images for kids

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  The spring of St Gildas in Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys, Morbihan