St. Cadog or St. Cadoc or St. Cadawc was a 6th century British saint, the son of Gwynlliw the Bearded. Cadog was founder of the abbey of Llancarfan.
Cadog’s parents, Gwynlliw and Gwladys, under Cadog’s influence, also became saints and lived together for a time as hermits together before living separately. But Gwynlliw retained his position as king when he became a hermit.
After Gwynnliw’s death, Cadog took over the kingship, but did not change his habits as a churchman, eventually giving rulership of his land to King Meurig of Dyved.
The story of Cadog’s life in the Vita Sancti Cadoci reveals a stern authoritarian whose cursing is always effective. The only connections with Arthur in this life is that Arthur, Kay, and Bedwyr drove off an army who was pursuing Cadog’s father Gwynlliw when Gwynlliw had abducted Cadog’s mother Gwladys and the account of a dispute with Arthur over the return of a refugee who has fled to Cadog from Arthur’s anger. In the end, Arthur is humiliated by a miracle.
Cadog also is recorded in his Vita to have had encounters with Maelgwn Gwynedd and Maelgwn’s son Rhun son of Maelgwn Gwynedd.
Cadog, according to his Vita was carried off by a silver cloud to Beneventum in Italy where he became known as Sophias and was eventually made bishop of that city. Cadog was martyred when performing mass while an unnamed tyrant was pillaging the city.
Cadog is listed as one of the Three Just Knghts in the 15h century list of Twenty-four Knights in King Arthur’s court, supposedly being the one of the Three who preserved justice by the Law of the Church.
Some Name Variations[]
LATIN: Cadocus; WELSH: Cadog, Cadoc, Cadawc.