Elystan was known as "the famous" and "the renowned"
I understand that Glodrydd may mean renowned or praiseworthy.
His first name is sometimes given as Edelstan, Elstan or Ethelystan (from Athelstan)
P C Bartrum maintained that Elystan was born as late as 975 rather than 933, or even as early as 927.
One transcription of Harleian MS 1973, whose author Jacob Chaloner died in 1631, reads:
Elistan Glodrith, or Edelstan the renouned, borne in the Castell of Hereford, anno 933, and in the 9 yeare of Edlistan, K of Saxons, who was his godfather, was Earle of Hereford, and Lord of the countrey above Offa dich, betwene Wy and Severne, in tyme of Edelred, K of Saxons. He dyed & was buried at Cappell Tref Elistan in Causeland (i.e. Trelystan in the hundred of Cawrse).
Further records add that Elystan died in the year 1010 A.D. and is buried either on the site of the present church or on the beacon ring on top of Long Mountain. Bartrum says the story of Elystan’s death on Long Mountain is unsubstantiated, but the place name, many repeated records of this fact over time and local tradition are more than suggestive that the story is correct.
Reportedly of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren (ie Between Wye & Severn). This region (often referred to in later times as a Kingdom) was independent of the Princes of Deheubarth in southern Wales and included the Cantrefs of Maelienydd, Elfael, Buellt, Gwerthrynion, Ceri and Cwmwd Deuddwr.
Elystan has often been referred to as King of Rhwng Gŵy a Hafren or as Prince of Fferllys, another name for the same region, and he is also said to have been Earl of Hereford a title he inherited from his mother; but these titles are not supported any historical evidence, although we can assume that Elystan and his family ruled the region in some way or other during his lifetime and we know that his descendants certainly did so afterwards.
Lord of Melinydd.
He may have been the Godson of Athelstan, but could not have been if he was born as late as 975
He founded the 5th Royal Tribe of Wales.
One record states that he was the son of Ethelystan (the son of Cuhelyn) and Gwenllian, the daughter of Tinon ap Cwbn ap Howell.
He was reportedly aged 83 when he was slain at Cefn Digall in Montgomeryshire, but this would imply that he died in 1016 rather than 1010 as generally reported.
According to Harleian manuscript 1973, Elystan was slain in a civil broil on Long Mountain near Welshpool in Montgomeryshire. In Welsh it is known as Cefn Dugoll (often incorrectly written Digoll), which translated means the ridge we didn’t lose - this is a significant name indicating the importance attached to preserving the ridge of the summit in Wales. Elystan was buried at a a ‘chapel’ in a place subsequently named Trelystan, a tiny settlement on the south east slopes of Long Mountain, inside Wales just across the Shropshire border. In Welsh Tr/Tre means ‘town/home’ - hence Tr-Elystan. Some records (see example below) describe the place as Capel Tref Elystan (or Chappel Trest Elestan), now known as Trelystan. |
