The grave of Vortigern at Ystvacheu

Vortigern Studies Index

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The Grave of Vortigern
Robert Vermaat

Ystyfacheu
Grave
Dyfed?

Nearest town: unknown
Nearest village: unknown
Map reference: unknown

The Stanzas of the Graves (Englynion y Beddau) from the Black Book of Carmarthen (c. 1200) speak of Vortigern’s grave in the unlocated Ystyvacheu or Ystyfacheu, though the poet comments that everyone doubts this:

Stanza 40
The Grave in Ystfacheu (or Ystyvacheu),
on which all look askance,
the grave of Gwrtheyrn Gwrtheneu.

I have as yet not been able to locate this place. Maybe the 'Ystyf'-part is connected to a modern 'Steph(an)'-name, such as Llanstephan, but that is pure speculation on my part.

The region where this Ystyvacheu or Ystyfacheu may have been located would possibly be found in Southwest Wales, possibly the area between Lampeter and Carmarthen, especially the Teify valley, where the stories about Vortigern seem to have been located even before the early Middle Ages. My favourite however is the area further West, Carmarthenshire or Ceredigion, especially the Nevern area.

For a possible solution to the problem of Ystfacheu, read the guest article by August Hunt: The Grave of Vortigern at Ystyuacheu

Bibliography

Kirby, D.P.: Vortigern, in: The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies XXIII, 1970, pp. 37-59.*