Madoc may have discovered the New World before Vespucci

Posted in America, Discoveries, Historical articles, History, Legend on Thursday, 13 February 2014

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This edited article about Prince Madoc first appeared in Look and Learn issue number 550 published on 29 July 1972.

Amerigo Vespucci sighting America,  picture, image, illustration

Amerigo Vespucci sighting America by Severino Baraldi

Who first discovered America? There are many legends of wanderers, princes, Vikings, adventurers, people from many lands crossing the seas and being the first to land in the new world. One such story is that of the Welsh prince, Madoc.

Prince Madoc was one of the three sons of the last independent prince of Wales, Owen Gwynedd. Towards the end of the 12th century, Owen Gwynedd died without declaring which of his three sons, Hywel, Davyz or Madoc, should succeed him on the throne. Within days of their father’s death, the princes Hywel and Davyz entered into bitter argument as to who was their father’s rightful heir.

Prince Madoc felt deeply ashamed by his brothers’ greed and his shame was increased when his brothers’ dispute developed into open conflict. Madoc could not face the disgrace his brothers were bringing on his family name. He decided to leave Wales and relinquish any rights he had to the throne.

The people of Wales watched and waited as Hywel’s and Davyz’s armies fought for the throne. Few saw Prince Madoc’s three tiny ships leave the shore and set their sails for the west.

Many months of hunger and hardship went by before the tiny fleet sighted land. Prince Madoc waded ashore and set foot for the first time in America. This new land was beyond his dreams, rich in all the resources necessary to start a new community. Prince Madoc was so overjoyed that he decided that more of his people should reap the benefits of his discovery, so leaving the majority of his followers behind to begin the work of colonisation, he set sail again for Wales.

Madoc returned to his homeland and travelled from village to village, town to town, telling of the wonders awaiting the people beyond the seas. So powerful were the Prince’s gifts of persuasion that he soon had enough followers to fill ten ships and once more set sail for the New World.

Again Madoc faced the perils of the ocean and led this much larger fleet safely to the new land. He was overjoyed to find his new colony prospering, the original colonists having started to build and to cultivate the land.

The colony under Prince Madoc’s leadership prospered, and in a short time the more adventurous of the Welshmen were exploring deep into the interior, soon making contact with the Indian tribes. They built forts, navigated the rivers, and some say even travelled as far down the Continent as Mexico.

For many years Prince Madoc’s people and the Indian tribes lived in peace. Prince Madoc is said to have spent much of these early years travelling alone from one tribe to another, living much the life of a missionary, telling the Indians of his Christian religion and teaching them his language, whilst attempting to learn much of their many languages.

Not all of Madoc’s followers had the same success of friendship with the Indians as Madoc. Perhaps they met more warlike tribes, or perhaps they did not greet the Indians with the same degree of understanding as their leader. Little is known of the causes of it, but a large battle eventually took place in the Mid-West between Madoc’s people and the Indians. Various tribes banded together and virtually by weight of numbers practically annihilated the Welsh settlers.

Those of Madoc’s people who survived the onslaught of the massed Indian tribes were scattered. Now without leadership they dispersed into isolated communities, soon losing virtually all identity as Welsh people, apart from their white skins and blue eyes, and their memories of language and religion. They became as one with the Indians. No one knows what became of Prince Madoc. Perhaps he died in the battle, or perhaps he too was adopted by one of the many tribes.

Of course this is just a legend or folk tale, one still told around winter firesides in Wales and in homes in America. Or is it? Is there perhaps some evidence, perhaps only slight, to say this might have happened?

Daniel Boone, the American frontiersman, is said to have made contact with white-skinned, blue-eyed Indians. At least one tribe is known to have used until recent years a small round boat almost identical to the Welsh coracle. Then there is the information passed on to us in the writings of 19th century American historians. One such scholar claimed to have found Welsh words in the language of the Shawnee Indians; another tells of the ruins of a 12th century stone fort in New York.

Perhaps the most interesting story along these lines is that of a Welsh minister, the Reverend Morgan Jones, which takes place centuries after the Madoc adventure.

The Reverend Jones was said to have been travelling to South Carolina from Virginia. He was attacked by an Indian war party; he offered little resistance to his attackers and was soon taken prisoner.

The Indian braves found the little Welsh priest a source of much amusement and, after dragging the poor man many miles across very rough terrain they arrived at their village. Up till now the Indians’ fun had been based on curiosity – they had never seen a white man before. But, their curiosity appeased, the Indians’ attitude changed. The Reverend Jones was tied to a stake in the centre of the village, and the squaws and children proceeded to surround him with bundles of sticks and twigs.

Upon realising that his fate was to be burned at the stake, Mr. Jones in despair and fear began to pray and lament aloud in his native Welsh language. Then much to his surprise a brave proceeded to speak to him in Welsh. This act brought about a change of attitude in the rest of the Indians, who immediately released the much relieved reverend gentleman.

Could this tribe of Indians have somehow retained the Welsh language from the 12th century, when perhaps they had given refuge to one of Madoc’s followers, or had Madoc himself taught the language to their ancestors centuries ago?

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