BROCHWEL YSGYTHROG, more correctly 'Ysgithrog,' i.e. 'of the tusks' (fl. 550), prince

Name: Brochwel Ysgythrog
Child: Tysilio
Child: Cynan Garwyn
Parent: Cyngen Glodrydd
Gender: Male
Occupation: prince
Area of activity: Military; Politics, Government and Political Movements; Royalty and Society
Author: John Edward Lloyd

He was, according to tradition, the outstanding figure in the older line of rulers of Powys, insomuch that the poets came to call Powys the land of Brochwel. He was the son of Cyngen and the father of Cynan Garwyn and of S. Tysilio, founder of the ancient church of Meifod. As his grandson, Selyf ap Cynan, fell while leading the Welsh in the battle of Chester (c. 613), he cannot be the Brocmail mentioned by Bede as playing a cowardly part on the same occasion. According to the legend of S. Melangell of Pennant, supported by Gerald of Wales, he had a royal seat at Shrewsbury, not yet occupied by the Mercians and bearing the Welsh name of Pengwern; this is variously placed on the site occupied later by the castle and on that of (old) S. Chad's.

Author

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.

Find out more on our sponsorship page.