Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 567

Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 567

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/567

Some of the Academy's early reports contain errors that we haven't yet corrected. Please use it with caution.

Greetings,

Here's the information we found about your name "Cynan Elystan of Glamorganshire." We also included a little information about Welsh culture in general, which may help with your persona development.

"Cynan" was fairly common from around 1000-1150. It was used as late as 1300, but we didn't find it after then. (1)

"Elystan" is a rare Welsh name--we found only one example from the 10th century. (1) "Elystan" is probably a borrowing of the Old English name "AEthelstan." (King AEthelstan of England was a famous 10th-century ruler who had several ties with Welsh kings). (2)

"Glamorganshire" is actually a later English name, which was only used after the English took over Wales and divided it into shires. During the 11th and 12th centuries, the name for that region of Wales was "Gwlad Morgan" or "Morgannwg."

You mentioned "Cadwgan," so we wanted to add that "Cadwgan" is a common name in the 11th and 12th centuries.

The majority of male Welsh names are formed with <name> ap <father's name>. Using this model, we recommend "Cynan ap Elystan" (Cynan, son
of Elystan) or "Cynan ap Cadwgan," both of which are reasonable names for between 1100-1250.

Welsh people didn't use locative names (names meaning "of <place name>") very often, and those they we have seen usually use the names
of specific places, not of regions. Therefore, a name meaning "of Gwlad Morgan" is unlikely in Welsh. If you like the sound, you could use "Cynan ap Elystan ap Morgan," since it's not uncommon for Welsh names to list both a father and grandfather.

Regarding your persona: you didn't specify a time period, but since your sources concentrate on the 11th and 12th centuries, we looked mainly at that time period for your persona.

In Welsh society, any son of a king (whether of a concubine or a wife) could play an important role. There are numerous sons of "royal concubines" who inherited from their fathers and passed their kingdoms to their own sons. So while it's possible that your persona would go on a crusade, the traditional English image of a "bastard son" with no inheritance going on crusade to make his fortune isn't as likely in Wales. It appears that the Welsh didn't get involved in crusading until the Third Crusade (3), which would place your persona in the late 12th century.

Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Talan Gwynek, and Arval Benicouer contributed to this letter.

We hope this has been helpful, and that we can continue to assist you.

In service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of S. Gabriel

(1) Research by Tangwystl

(2) Brooke, C. "From Alfred to Henry III."

(3) Giraldus Cambrensis, a late 12th-century writer, encouraged Welshmen to

join the Third Crusade. In his writing he gives the impression that the Welsh weren't involved in previous crusades.