Prince Madog

Fairy tale or true story. Myth or history. Explore the enigmatic legend of Prince Madog, a subject of heated historical debate regarding whether the Welshman, Prince Madog, was indeed the first to discover the Americas. The foundation of this captivating legend lies in the Welsh account found in the Chronicle of Madog of Gwynedd, sourced from manuscripts preserved at the Abbeys of Strata Florida and Conway. In 1477, a remarkable fifteen years prior to Columbus embarking on his historic voyage, Sir Meredith ap Rhys penned a poetic tribute to Magog's expedition. Even Montezuma, when conversing with Cortez, alluded to the arrival of a mysterious nation "many years ago from across the seas," asserting that he and his chiefs traced their lineage to these foreign visitors. Subsequent claims arose of Welsh American Indians, identified as Madagwys or Doags, characterized by fair complexions and a language akin to Welsh. Against this backdrop of mythology, Joan Dane weaves a compelling narrative, resurrecting the fascinating story of Prince Madog and his purported journey to the Americas. Hesperus Press is reprinting this classic tale of Prince Madog, that has been out of print since its publication.