Saint Cadwallader
Saint Cadwallader (also Cadwalader; born c. 634 AD; died November 12, 682 AD in Rome) was King of Gwynedd in Wales and is venerated as a saint for his piety and his supposed death on pilgrimage to Rome. He is the last Welsh king to be recognized as a saint and is regarded as one of the great figures in Welsh history and legend. His feast day is November 12.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Cadwallader
| Saint Cadwallader | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 12 |
| Profession | King of Gwynedd; pilgrim |
| Rel. Affiliation | Celtic Church; Gwynedd |
| Patronage | Wales; Gwynedd; Welsh people |
| Attributes | Crown; pilgrim staff; Welsh dragon |
| Birthplace | Gwynedd, Wales |
| Death Place | Rome, Italy (traditional) |
| Cause of Death | Died on pilgrimage to Rome (possibly plague); natural causes |
| Liturgical Class | Not included (universal calendar) |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Cadwallader was the son of King Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd. His father was a powerful Welsh king who briefly allied with King Penda of Mercia against the Northumbrians, but Cadwallon died in battle in 634 AD. Cadwallader succeeded to the kingdom of Gwynedd and ruled for several decades.
According to the Venerable Bede and Welsh chronicles, a terrible plague devastated Wales and other parts of Britain around 682, and Cadwallader, rather than continuing to rule, decided to make a pilgrimage to Rome to seek the blessing of Pope Sergius I. He died in Rome on November 12, 682, reportedly on the very day he arrived or shortly thereafter.
Cadwallader became an iconic figure in Welsh identity and prophecy. Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136) gave Cadwallader a great eschatological role: an angel was said to have told him that the Britons would not regain sovereignty until the appointed time, and his bones would one day be brought from Rome to inspire a Welsh revival. The red dragon of Wales is associated with his legacy. Henry VII of England invoked Cadwallader's ancestry to legitimize his rule as the fulfillment of Welsh prophecy.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Gwynedd, Wales
Death location: Rome, Italy (traditional)
Notable location: His kingdom; he ruled as King of Gwynedd (Gwynedd, Wales)
Notable location: Where he traveled on pilgrimage and where tradition says he died, 682 AD (Rome, Italy)
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Feast day
November 12
Veneration
Saint Cadwallader is venerated in Wales with a feast day on November 12. He is one of the great national saints of Wales and an iconic figure in Welsh history and legend.
Prayers
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