Walk into any medieval manuscript or early armorial roll, and you might do a double-take: King Arthur’s shield, a harp-bearing King David, or a double-headed eagle for Charlemagne. How could these figures — many centuries before heraldry existed — have a coat of arms? The answer lies in a fascinating medieval practice: attributed arms. What … Continue reading Attributed Arms in the William Blethyn Pedigree Roll, Part I
Tag: William Blethyn Pedigree Roll
Three Paths Through the Same Question
For the past year this site has explored a number of overlapping themes—technology, trust, history, genealogy, and the strange ways information moves through human systems. As the archive grows, a clearer structure has started to emerge. Going forward, posts will generally follow a simple weekly rhythm. Technology and Trust Systems Sunday evenings will focus on … Continue reading Three Paths Through the Same Question
Thomas Morgan of Tredegar: A Tudor Powerbroker
Thomas Morgan's arms (impaled on the right). Every so often, a figure steps out of the Tudor murk with enough documentation to feel almost modern. For me, Thomas Morgan of Tredegar is one of those rare Welsh ancestors who doesn’t exist as a rumor or a scribble on a pedigree roll, but as a man … Continue reading Thomas Morgan of Tredegar: A Tudor Powerbroker
William Blethyn, Bishop of Llandaff: A Welsh Churchman at the Edge of an Empire
Every so often, a figure from the margins of the historical record steps forward with more depth than expected. William Blethyn — Bishop of Llandaff from 1575 until his death in 1590 — is one of those people. He isn’t a household name, but when you tug on the threads of his story, you uncover … Continue reading William Blethyn, Bishop of Llandaff: A Welsh Churchman at the Edge of an Empire
Llandaff Cathedral: A Testament of Welsh Resilience
Llandaff Cathedral. Source: https://www.llandaffcathedral.org.uk Llandaff Cathedral is, in my mind, one of Wales’s most quietly compelling monuments — a place that tells its story not in a single grand flourish, but in layers of survival, damage, and intentional repair. It’s not just a building; it’s a chronicle of Welsh faith, politics, and the tenacity of … Continue reading Llandaff Cathedral: A Testament of Welsh Resilience
Brân the Blessed: A Giant King Between Myth and Memory
A depiction of Brân crossing the Irish Sea (generated by ChatGPT) When I look at the William Blethyn Pedigree Roll, I often think about those ancestors who blur the line between history and legend—people who are part of old records but also live on in stories. One of the best examples is Brân the Blessed(Brân Fendigaid … Continue reading Brân the Blessed: A Giant King Between Myth and Memory
Blazon of William Blethyn’s Armorial Achievements
Arms recorded on William Blethyn's Pedigree Roll A couple years ago I posted the William Blethyn pedigree roll with the promise of transcribing it. I'm a little behind schedule in following through with that, but I would like to make an attempt to blazon the arms attributed to him. Arms: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Gules, three chevronnels argent … Continue reading Blazon of William Blethyn’s Armorial Achievements
