The Story
of St Tysilio
In the name Llantysilio, we see the word
enclosure, followed by the name of the saint to which it is
dedicated. Tysilio was the son of Brochwel Ysgythrog, Prince of
Powys in the early 7th century, who is thought to have died at the
Battle of Chester in 613. Tysilio founded a community on Ynys Suliau
by the Menai Straits where he lived for seven years before returning
to Meifod, near Welshpool. It is thus likely that the Church at
Llantysilio is a later dedication to Tysilio, rather than an
original location of an enclosure (llan) occupied by the saint.
One story says that Brochwel was succeeded by
Tysilio’s brother, who then died within two years of his
succession. His widow determined to marry Tysilio and make him
Prince of Powys, but Tysilio, disliking his sister in law maybe more
than the thought of being Prince fled to Brittany and settled near
St Malo.
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