Myth and Historiography: One Hundred and Sixty Years of Madog and the Madogwys

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This essay examines texts in both English and Welsh from the period 1580–1740 which present versions of the ‘history’ of Madog, the Welsh prince who was believed to have sailed to America in 1170 and whose venture supposedly led to the creation of a Welsh-American colony or nation.
One main line of inquiry focuses on ways in which early modern writers referenced and adapted various aspects of the medieval Welsh literary tradition, including bardic poetry, prophecy and the historiographical tradition of the Brutiau. Also of concern is the manner in which the Madog legend was used to articulate the relationship between the Welsh language and national identity.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)37-55
Number of pages19
JournalYearbook of English Studies
Volume46
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2016
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