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Rethinking the pillar of Eliseg

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2009

Nancy Edwards
Nancy Edwards*
Affiliation:
Nancy Edwards, School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology, Bangor University, Gwynedd LL57 2DG, Wales.
*
E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The Pillar of Eliseg, originally an ambitious round-shafted cross, stands on a barrow near the Cistercian abbey of Valle Crucis. It was carved with a lengthy inscription, now illegible, but transcribed in 1696 by Edward Lhuyd. Two copies have survived, enabling a reconsideration of the significance of the inscription. This article reassesses the history of the monument, its archaeological context, form and function. The inscription shows that the cross was erected by Concenn, ruler of Powys (d ad 854), to honour his great-grandfather, Eliseg, who had expelled the Anglo-Saxons from this part of Powys. The inscription also links the rulers of Powys with the Roman usurper Magnus Maximus and the sub-Roman ruler Guarthigirn. It is argued that the inscription was intended to be read out loud and that the monument was an important piece of public propaganda erected at a time when the kingdom of Powys was severely under threat.

Résumé

La colonne d’Eliseg [Pillar of Eliseg], à l’origine une ambitieuse croix à fût rond, se trouve sur un tumulus proche de l’abbaye cistercienne de Valle Crucis. Elle avait été sculptée d’une longue inscription, illisible de nos jours, mais transcrite en 1696 par Edward Lhuyd. Deux copies ont survécu, ce qui a permis de porter un nouveau regard sur la signification de cette inscription. Cet article réexamine l’historique du monument, son contexte archéologique, sa forme et sa fonction. L’inscription montre que la croix avait été érigée par Concenn, souverain de Powys (m. 854) dans le but d’honorer son arrière grand-père, Eliseg, lequel avait bouté les anglo-saxons hors de cette partie de Powys. L’inscription établit également un lien entre les souverains de Powys d’une part, et l’usurpateur romain Magnus Maximus et le roi Guarthigirn, client des romains, d’autre part. On soutient que l’inscription avait été conçue pour être lue à haute voix et que le monument servait d’importante propagande publique car il avait été érigé à une époque où le royaume de Powys était extrêmement menacé.

Zusammenfassung

Die Säule von Eliseg, ursprünglich ein anspruchsvolles rundes Kreuz, wurde auf einem Grabhügel in der Nähe des Zisterzienserklosters Valle Cruces errichtet. Es war mit einer langen, inzwischen unleserlichen, Inschrift versehen, die aber im Jahre 1696 von Edward Lhuyd übertragen wurde. Zwei Kopien sind erhalten und ermöglichen eine erneute Überprüfung der Bedeutung dieser Inschrift. Ziel dieses Artikels ist eine Neubeurteilung der Geschichte dieses Denkmals, sein archäologischer Kontext, Form und Funktion. Die Inschrift besagt, daß das Kreuz von Concenn, Herrscher von Powys (+ AD 854) zu Ehren seines Urgrossvaters Eliseg errichtet wurde, der die Angelsachsen aus diesem Teil von Powys vertrieben hatte. Die Inschrift zeigt auch Verbindungen der Herrscher von Powys zu dem römischen Thronräuber Magnus Maximus und dem untergeordneten römischen Herrscher Guarthigirn. Es wird argumentiert, daß die Inschrift zur lauten Vorlesung gedacht war, und daß das Ehrenmal ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Propaganda war, errichtet zu einer Zeit, als das Königreich Powys unter ernstliche bedroht war.

Type
Original Article
Information
The Antiquaries Journal , Volume 89 , September 2009 , pp. 143 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 2009

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