Cor Tewdws

Cor Tewdws or Bangor Tewdws (College of Theodosius) was a monastery and school in what is now Llantwit Major, Glamorgan, Wales. It was reputedly burnt down in AD 446 before being refounded (after an elapse of 62 years) by St Illtyd in AD 508 and flourished into the 13th Century during the Middle Ages.^[1] Said to have been established by Roman Emperor Theodosius I, for whom it is named, it was one of the earliest schools in Britain. It reputedly burned down in the 5th century, but was re-established under Saint Illtud as part of his monastic complex of Llanilltud Fawr. It became a great center of learning, and it flourished until the Norman conquest of the 11th century, after which point it went into decline. It was finally closed down under King Henry VIII of England.

History

Cor Tewdws is said to have been founded by Theodosius, who proscribed Roman paganism and established Nicene Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire. This early school was supposedly attended by notable students such as Saint Patrick and Pelagius, founder of the doctrine known as Pelagianism which was later denounced as heresy.^[1] This early school was destroyed in the 5th century, supposedly burnt down by Irish pirates in the same raid that Patrick was taken to Ireland.^[1]

After the school's destruction, the site was visited by Germanus of Auxerre on his mission to combat Pelagianism. He decided to rebuild the school with a more orthodox foundation, and placed his pupil Illtud in charge. It was at this time that the school gained prominence. The school grew under Illtud's guidance, eventually accommodating 2000 students, 400 apartments and seven colleges.^[1] Among Illtud's distinguished pupils were Saints David, Samson of Dol, Paul Aurelian, and Gildas. Cor Tewdws was supposed to have been the primary learning center of Britain until the Norman conquest, after which point the English schools surpassed it. It was finally closed down by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.^[1]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Lewis, Samuel (1849). "Laleston - Lawrenny". A Topographical Dictionary of Wales: 459–473. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=47840. Retrieved January 14, 2007. 

References

• Guinness Book of Records 1982 Edition
• Lewis, Samuel (1849). "Laleston - Lawrenny". A Topographical Dictionary of Wales: 459–473. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=47840. Retrieved January 14, 2007.