32 Facts About Gildas

Gildas is one of the best-documented figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during the sub-Roman period, and was renowned for his Biblical knowledge and literary style.

Differing versions of the Life of Saint Gildas exist, but both agree that he was born in what is Scotland on the banks of the River Clyde, and that he was the son of a royal family.

Gildas is thought to have his origins farther south.

Gildas was educated at a monastic centre, possibly Cor Tewdws in South Wales under St Illtud, where he chose to forsake his royal heritage and embrace monasticism.

Gildas became a renowned teacher, converting many to Christianity and founding numerous churches and monasteries throughout Britain and Ireland.

Gildas is thought to have made a pilgrimage to Rome before emigrating to Brittany, where he took on the life of a hermit.

Gildas eventually founded a monastery for these students at Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys in Brittany, where he wrote De Excidio Britanniae, criticising British rulers and exhorting them to put off their sins and embrace true Christian faith.

Gildas is thought to have died at Rhuys, and was buried there.

The First Life of Gildas was written by an unnamed monk at the monastery which Gildas founded in Rhuys, Brittany in the 9th century.

Gildas had four brothers; his brother Cuillum ascended to the throne on the death of his father, and the rest became monks.

Gildas was sent as a child to the College of Theodosius in Glamorgan, under the care of St Illtud, and was a companion of St Samson of Dol and St Paul Aurelian.

Gildas was supposed to be educated in liberal arts and divine scripture, but elected to study only holy doctrine, and to forsake his noble birth in favour of a religious life.

Gildas returned to his native lands in northern Britain where he acted as a missionary, preaching to the pagan people and converting many of them to Christianity.

Gildas was then asked by Ainmericus, high king of Ireland, to restore order to the church in Ireland, which had altogether lost the Christian faith.

Gildas obeyed the king's summons and travelled all over the island, converting the inhabitants, building churches, and establishing monasteries.

Gildas then travelled to Rome and Ravenna where he performed many miracles, including slaying a dragon while in Rome.

Gildas was eventually sought out by those who wished to study under him, and was entreated to establish a monastery in Brittany, which he did at a place now known as Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys.

The second "Life" of Gildas was written by Caradoc of Llancarfan, a friend of Geoffrey of Monmouth and his Norman patrons.

Gildas studied literature as a youth, before leaving his homeland for Gaul, where he studied for seven years.

Gildas became the most renowned teacher in all of the three kingdoms of Britain.

Gildas was a subject of the mythical King Arthur, whom he loved and desired to obey.

Gildas then travelled to Britain, where he met Arthur face to face, and kissed him as he prayed for forgiveness, and Arthur accepted penance for murdering Gildas' brother.

Gildas died, and was buried at Glastonbury Abbey, in the floor of St Mary's Church.

Gildas is best known for his polemic De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, which recounts the sub-Roman history of Britain, and which is the only substantial source for history of this period written by a near-contemporary, although it is not intended to be an objective chronicle.

Gildas describes the doings of the Romans and the Groans of the Britons, in which the Britons make one last request for military aid from the departed Roman military.

The works of Gildas, including the Excidio, can be found in volume 69 of the Patrologia Latina.

Gildas' relics were venerated in the abbey which he founded in Rhuys, until the 10th century, when they were removed to Berry.

The body of Saint Gildas is buried behind the altar in the church of Saint Gildas de Rhuys.

The embroidered mitre supposedly worn by Gildas is kept with these relics.

Gildas is credited with a hymn called the Lorica, or Breastplate, a prayer for deliverance from evil, which contains specimens of Hiberno-Latin.

In Bonedd y Saint, Gildas is recorded as having three sons and a daughter.

The scholar David Dumville suggests that Gildas was the teacher of Finnian of Moville, who in turn was the teacher of St Columba of Iona.