Prince madoc of wales biography of christopher

Rhos-on-Sea, a charming little town on the North Wales coast, is more than just a pretty seaside spot. It’s home to one of Wales’ most intriguing legends—the story of Prince Madoc, a man who, according to lore, sailed to America over 300 years before Christopher Columbus. Madoc’s story is one of adventure, mystery, and a bit of historical controversy, with Rhos-on-Sea playing a key role as the starting point of his epic journey.

Who Was Prince Madoc?

Madoc (also spelled Madog) was one of the many sons of Owain Gwynedd, the powerful ruler of North Wales in the 12th century. Owain had 19 children, but only six were legitimate, and Madoc, being born out of wedlock, was one of the so-called “bastard” sons. But despite his complicated family status, Madoc wasn’t interested in family feuds or political power struggles.

When Owain Gwynedd died in 1169, things got messy. His sons turned on each other in a brutal fight for control of the kingdom. Madoc, however, was cut from a different cloth—he wasn’t interested in the violence and bloodshed. Instead, he sought adventure and peace, which is where the legend begins.

The Legendary Voyage from Rhos-on-Sea

Fed up with the chaos at home, Madoc and his brother Riryd decided to leave Wales behind. The two brothers supposedly set sail from a quay in Aber-Kerrik-Gwynan, which is the old name for Rhos-on-Sea, in 1170. Their ships, the *Gorn Gwynant* and *Pedr Sant*, sailed westward, far beyond Ireland. And where did they land? According to legend, in what is now Mobile Bay, Alabama, on the southern coast of the United States.

Yes, you read that right—Madoc, a Welsh prince, supposedly reached America hundreds of years before Columbus, and he didn’t stop there. He and his crew liked what they found so much that they decided to stay. One ship returned to Wales to gather more settlers, and soon a fleet of ten ships set sail for the New World, packed with adventure

Who discovered America? It's a simple question and one that usually brings the standard response - Christopher Columbus. But here in Wales we have our own theory. And that theory says that America was actually discovered 300 years before Columbus sailed "the ocean blue" in 1492 - and more importantly, that it was discovered by a Welshman.

The man in question was Prince Madoc, the son of Owain Gwynedd, one of the greatest and most important rulers in the country, and while the legend cannot be corroborated there are many who believe it implicitly. Owain Gwynedd certainly existed, his reign being marred by long and hard-fought disputes with Henry II, king of England.

The story goes that in 1170 Owain died and, almost immediately, a violent and very bloody dispute arose between his 13 children regarding the succession. Madoc and his brother Rhirid were so upset and angered by events that they decided they wanted no further part in what was happening. Indeed, they wanted nothing more to do with their family or their homeland. They duly took ship from Rhos on Sea (Llandrillo) and sailed westwards to see what they could find.

What Prince Madoc found, so the legend runs, was America. He and his brother managed to cross the Atlantic and land on the shores of the New World. Madoc returned to Gwynedd for more men, then sailed off again, this time never to return. His sailors inter-married with a local Native American tribe and for years the rumour of Welsh speaking Native American tribes was widely believed. It is, of course, the stuff of legend but like all good legends it has at least a grain of truth about it.

As America was explored and colonised several Native American tribes were discovered, speaking a language that did actually sound quite like Welsh. That was not the only connection. The Mandan Indians used Bull Boats

IT’S well known that Christopher Columbus was not the first person to find America, but in some circles he still commonly gets the credit.

However, some people in Wales have a different take on the matter – they will tell you that 300 years earlier a Welshman discovered the continent, and you probably haven’t heard of his name.

The man who is behind this supposed feat was Prince Madoc.

Prince Madoc was the son of Owain Gwynedd, one of the greatest and most important rulers in the country, and while the legend cannot be corroborated there are many who believe it to be true beyond a doubt.

Indeed, Owain Gwynedd certainly existed, his reign being marred by long and hard-fought disputes with Henry II, king of England at the time.

So, how does the tale go?

Way back in 1170 it’s reported that Owain died and, almost immediately, a violent and very bloody dispute arose between his 13 children regarding the succession.

Madoc and his brother Rhirid were so upset and angered by events that they decided they wanted no further part in what was happening. Indeed, they wanted nothing more to do with their family or their homeland. They duly took ship from Rhos on Sea (Llandrillo) and sailed westwards to see what they could find.

What Prince Madoc found, so the legend says, was America.

The first voyage of Madoc, it is said, took eight weeks after which he landed in the bay of Mobile, probably during the summer of 1170.

The old tale tells us that Madoc left some 120 people to establish a base camp in the very beautiful and fertile Mobile Bay. He then returned to Wales to recruit more people for his expedition. The original 120 people were lost without trace. This was just the beginning of one of the most romantic and mysterious adventures of mediaeval times.

The Gwenan Gorn and the San Pedr probably landed in Mobile Bay during the summer of 1170. The Prince Madoc was impressed with, to quote Zella Armstrong, “the present and fruitful land, the inhabita

Whilst it was generally believed that Columbus was the first European to discover America in 1492, it is now well known that Viking explorers reached parts of the east coast of Canada around 1100 and that Icelandic Leif Erikson’s Vinland may have been an area that is now part of the United States.

According to Welsh legend, that man was Prince Madog ab Owain Gwynedd.

A Welsh poem of the 15th century tells how Prince Madog sailed away in 10 ships and discovered America. The account of the discovery of America by a Welsh prince, whether truth or myth, was apparently used by Queen Elizabeth I as evidence to the British claim to America during its territorial struggles with Spain. So who was this Welsh Prince and did he really discover America before Columbus?

Owain Gwynedd, king of Gwynedd in the 12th century, had nineteen children, only six of whom were legitimate. Madog (Madoc), one of the illegitimate sons, was born at Dolwyddelan Castle in the Lledr valley between Betws-y-Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

On the death of the king in December 1169, the brothers fought amongst themselves for the right to rule Gwynedd. Madog, although brave and adventurous, was also a man of peace. In 1170 he and his brother, Riryd, sailed from Aber-Kerrik-Gwynan on the North Wales Coast (now Rhos-on-Sea) in two ships, the Gorn Gwynant and the Pedr Sant. They sailed west and are said to have landed in what is now Alabama in the USA.

Prince Madog then returned to Wales with great tales of his adventures and persuaded others to return to America with him. They sailed from Lundy Island in 1171, but were never heard of again.

They are believed to have landed at Mobile Bay, Alabama and then trav