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Vortigern Studies > Vortigern > The Realm of Vortigern > Nevern |
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Three views of the Vitalinus stone:
Discovery and history The Vitalinus stone was first mentioned in 1695 by Gibson, who mentioned that it was recorded in Camden, but he was unable to find it. This may have been because the stone was no longer in it's original position on the north side of the church of Nevern. Only in 1873 is was (re-)discovered by Rhys, who recounted in his books how he rediscovered this stone whilst on his epigraphic tour of the region: `Mr. Jones and I
have rediscovered the stone of Vitalianus in the
neighbourhood of Nevern'. Westwood, who had previously searched in vain for this stone as stated in the Archaeologia Cambrensis (1860), where it was described as standing on the north side of the church of Nevern. However, 'it was added that some years previously a cross had been moved from Nevern to Cwm Gloyn, a farm two miles distant, by a Mr. Owen. Here ten years later it was discovered by Prof. Rhys, who has placed in my hands the rubbing from which my figure is drawn...The stone is now used a gate-post as you turn from the Cardigan road to go to Cwm Gloyn farm, and I respectfully submit that it ought to be restored to Nevern churchyard, from which it had been sacrilegiously stolen, notwithstanding Prof. Rhys's doubt that the stone had ever stood in Nevern churchyard'.
`In Gibson's time this stone stood in the churchyard on the north side of the Parish Church. It had disappeared in Gough's time, presumably because it had already been removed to the farm called Cwm Gloyn, about two miles away, where it served as a gatepost. It was then lost to sight, and in 1860 its whereabouts was apparently unknown. It was re-discovered by Rhys, and deciphered by him; and has now been restored to the churchyard where it now stands on the south side, just to the east of the porch'. The exact description of
the stone is: The inscription Ogam: VITALIANI Dr. Ferguson, who had also visited the stone, stated in 1874 that the VITALIANI of the Latin text is certainly echoed by an Oghamic FITALIANI. Westwood, in 1879, noted that an Ogham inscription most accurately cut and spaced, reading VITALIANI, exists on the angle on the right, near the top of the stone. However, in 1884 Westwoodwent on with a more fanciful reading: `Along the upper angle of the stone runs an ogham inscription, for the first time represented in the accompanying Plate...The inscription occupies 21 inches, and is composed as follows, reading from below, as usual. First are three short strokes to the right (T), then four dots on the angle of the stone (E), then three short strokes to the left (F), then an obscure dot on the angle (A), and two straight strokes to the right (D), then five marginal dots with about three-quarters of an inch between them (I), followed at a little distance (1 1/4) by a single dot (A), then five straight strokes to the right (Q), and at the top are five dots (I) on the angle of the stone, which is somewhat obliquely truncated. The three terminal letters, AQI, would seem to imply the previous M to make the word (M)AQ(U)I=MAC of the usual formula; but although there is a space between the last of the five dots=I, and the dot representing the second A (which should be a single oblique stroke crossing the angle of the stone, and extending on both the right and left sides of the angle), yet our various rubbings and drawings, as well as in Mr. Brash's notice, there is no trace of such a stroke. The oblique fracture at the top of the stone may have possibly broken off some more of the ogham characters, which might have been the letters of the father's name'. Rhys, in 1918, harshly criticised Westwood's reporting of the Ogham in as a `marvellous muddle' and stating that Mr. Allen's sketch (now lost) is better and more correct.' Macalister observed the distance between both inscriptions: 'The scribe has, with apparent perversity, chosen the roughest part of the angle to receive the Ogham scores: was this in the hope that these would escape the attention of possible destroyers -- or if they should be noticed by them, that the Roman inscription might be at a safe distance away?'.
VITALIANI EMERETO which means: 'of Vitalinus Emereto(s)'. Most translations are: the stone or the monument of Vitalinus. Some translations have: 'To the well-earned honour of Vitalianus'. The interpretation of the RCAWM is 'To the memory of Vitalinus'. The Roman capitals are of uneven height, but neatly incised in a good style with one ligature (A-L). The N is reversed, betraying a less than perfect command of the Latin script. The stone is dated to the later fifth century or the early sixth century. 'Emereto' is presumably a Celticized form (according to Nash-Williams) of the Latin Emeritus, but he was unsure whether it was used here as a name or an epithet. Macalister noted: `the second word...[is] unexplained. We may compare Ilvveto (342) at Trallwng; it is possibly a territorial adjective, like Saliciduni at Llywell'. Such an epithet might mean that the deceased 'finished his service' here on earth, like a veteran or like a very old man. The word was also used as an epithet, of one who had `finished his service here on earth (cf. ibid. i, no. 435---Fortunatus in pace bene emeritus vet(e)ranus)''. Charles Thomas: `The name [VITALIANI] is continuing-Roman, probably of an early sixth-century cleric, emeritus implying 'having deserved (his eternal reward)'. It might also have been a not uncommon early Christian name: the single-name epitaph, suggestive of a priest and from a very early Christian location. Likewise, Vitalinus is a name of Roman derivation.
Vitalinus The stone has long been used as a gatepost of a farm in Cwm Gloyne. Could this stone have been the memorial stone of Vitalinus, i.e. Vortigern? The critics, who will immediately jump up and call that this does not mean in the least that this memorial stone should therefore represent the grave of Vortigern, are of course correct. I have defended the identification of Vortigern with Vitalinus elsewhere), but we do not know for sure that Vortigern was buried in Nevern. But there is circumstantial evidence that may point in that direction. Who was the person commemorated here? Vitalianus may seem different from Vitalinus, but it is exactly that name in the genitive. Even if one would presume that this stone represents the name of Vitalianus, this is no real problem. Vitalinus was a fairly rare name, even in the rest of the empire, but I know of no other British example from this period apart from that of the family of Vortigern. (There are a few later stones with this name in Ireland). The names derive from the same Latin root, and the letter A was dropped or added in other cases. An example is the sixth-century Vitalianus (fl. 503x520), who was adressed in a letter from the Burgundian king Sigismund as Vitalinus. Vitalianus was very famous (he marched on Constantinople no less than three times) and held high positions. Such mistakes apparently happened.
Secondly, the geographical route of his flight as expressed in the sources becomes even more obvious: Historia Brittonum, chapter 42
Historia Brittonum, chapter 47
Historia Brittonum, chapter 48
We see Vortigern running, driven from London and the east of the province, first to his own hills west of Gloucester (Little Doward, Ganarew), then even further west to his own estates (Gwrtheyrnion), and at last to the territory of the Irish in Dyfed (Craig Gwrtheyrn on the river Teifi). If we continue this westward-bound course, keeping in mind that not one account of his final demise was completely sure about the manner of his death, we arrive at the coast of Ceredigion, and then at Nevern. The Stanzas of the Graves from the Black Book of Carmarthen (c. 1200) speak of Vortigern’s grave in the unlocated Ystyvacheu, though the poet comments that everyone doubts this: Stanza
40 The region where this Ystyvacheu may have been located would possibly be found in West Wales, possibly Carmarthenshire or Ceredigion. Could this be in the Nevern area? Was Nevern the final resting-place of Vortigern? One can almost envisage the old man, left by all but a small retinue or just a handful of loyal retainers, worn out by grief and having fled yet another violent destruction of a hiding place. We won’t know if he died alone, surrounded by only friendly yet uncaring Irish immigrants, or that any of his family were there. It would certainly explain why he was not buried under his acquired name of Vortigern, but under his family name of Vitalinus. The ‘chief lord’ had laid his office to rest, and maybe that name would have attracted vandalism by those seeking his destruction even after his death. The Emereto seems also very apt for an old man, that had seen his country change from a fairly prosperous Roman province to an independent nation and finally into a war-torn battlefield. He had indeed ‘finished his service' on earth. Several pictures used with kind permission of Chris Tolley.
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