St Julius Julianus of Caerleon, Update

I cannot post very much today, but am just putting in an update of an exciting find.
I have written to various people and so I am waiting for feedback. I recently dicovered the Jullianus tombstone inside Tredunnock Church. Tredunnock is a village, north of Caerleon but on the banks of the Usk. This stone has only recently been authenticated by the National Museum of Wales.

The Martyrdoms

At some stage during the Roman period in Gwent there was a massacre of Christians at Caerleon. Bede has it in the early fourth century, but historians believe it would have been earlier as persecutions of Christians in Britannia under the Emperor Diocletian did not happen, according to more recent scholars.

SS Julius and Aaron (associated with StAlban)

Julius and Aaron, two Roman soldiers or ex soldiers were at a mass in Caerleon-somewhere-and usually in someone's home in those days, and news was brought that they were to be arrested. Julius and Aaron quickly spirited away the bishop,Amphilabus, a native British bishop, believing it was he whom the Soldiers sought. They sent him to a friend Alban, over in Verulamium (later called St Albans). However all were arrested. Most Christians were put to the sword, when there was not enough space in the prison (300 seems to be the number, but we can't be sure of anything at this period). The legend of Julius and Aaron was they were each given a sword and given a head start before being hunted and mowed down by the soldiers. The spot where Julius fell was said to be in St Julians wood near the River Usk, obviously thickly wooded then, with only the remnants of the wood now . The place where Julius fell became a Martyrum or martyr's chapel (Merthyr in Welsh) and a church built. In later times it reputedly became a convent,where the anciful Geoffrey had Gwenhwyfar, Arthurs adulterous wife go.This somehow was wrecked, possibly because of Viking raids as they raided Gwent in the tenth century and river churches were very prone to being looted.George Herbert seems to have built a mansion on the spot in the sixteenth century.It's possible, even in its ruined state, that locals felt the site to be holy, the site of the red martyrdom of a Saint. George Herbert moved in and then this mansion too became ruined and remained into my own childhood, St Julius Chapel being incorporated as a stable or some such building. In late 1997 as the government went into creating new houses,it was demolished and the holy site now lies under blocks of gated luxury flats.

The whole area is known as St Julians with almost all churches in the area being named after the martyr. However, did Julius' body remain there, or was it the site of the martyrom that was hallowed.

However, Tredunnock liss north of Caerleon is at the top of the Usk tidal range. A stone is displayed in the church. It was erected by hos wife. Although it says 'To the gods below' on the top, we learn this was Julius Julianus of the Second Augustan legion,, that he was 40 years old and the stone inscribed at the behest of his eife. It was buried whole, in the Christian manner, facing East, was the only such burial of honour. Tredunnock was originally a much smaller chapel. The tomb was found during the time of Henry and Edward, as local officals tried to build a nave to the church to make it suitable for more people. The finder was anxious to play down the find, especially as the new church of Henry VIII was trying to play down relics and prayer for the dead at that time. It was not in his interest to make widely known the finding of the body of a major Rom an Saint. Professor Salway in his book on Roman Britain remarks (not speaking about St Julians in particular)that this must have been a persecution earlier than 303AD whic is Bede's aproximate date.

Now I am not a history scholar, and so cannot be definitive, but it looks to me that this could be an exciting find. Fred Hando mentioned it in 'Journeys in Gwent' and saw it in 1951, but we understand it had been inside the church since the beginning of the twentieth century, but only recently authenticated. So was the body left buried under the sanctuary of the Church, where his loving wife placed it.

The picture of St Julius is found in St David's Cathedral in Menevia (St David's West Wales) It was impossible to photograph well as it was covered with glass and high up and needed to be done more professionally. SS Julius and Aaron were protomartyrs of Britain, the first to die for the faith in Britannia and in Gwent. At the side of the picture you can see what the Martyrum, the original little chapel set over the place were his blood was spilled , which now lies on or near the block of flats in Haisbro Avenue. There is an Anglican Church nearby which incorporates some of the stones, and I'll publish details of that later, and two Catholic Churches are named for Julius, Aaron and Alban. st Aaron's Church lies just East of Caerleon in the Llanhennock Road. A recent dig has deiscovered a Roman Cemetary around a chapel site, I believe. The area is called 'St Aarons' and a nearby field 'Cae Aeron' or Aaron's field. The dig was carried out by members of the Gwent and Glamorgan archeological society.

I am waiting to hear any further news and will post some pictures anon.

Arthur at Tredunnock near Usk with Teilo, Oudeceus and David meet at the ford.

Some of the tales of Arthur show his flaw. He was clearly a strong leader but sometime could be unreasonable and arrogant, yet when faced by the power of God he did relent. In the story below about him, you can see these traits, but Cadoc deals with him and his foster brothers Cai and Bedwyr with unfailing kindness and prayer, refusing to be intimidated by him.The meeting clearly took place at the Newbridge, where the bridge now spans the river and where we swam as children in those long glorious summer afternoons, and the river is low enough to be crossed on foot. We know-we did it. this story about the real Arthur is from the Life of Cadoc.

Of the Dispute between Saint Cadoc and Arthur respecting the reconciliation of a certain person at Tredunnock.

Ligessawc Longhand had killed three of Arthur’s officers and Arthur lost no time in hunting him down, leaving no stone unturned. Ligessawc was unhappy with what he had done and eventually arrived at Cadoc’s monasterery in Gwent , probably at Caerleon or Trevethin. We are not told which of these monasteries but these seem the nearest foundations to where they subsequently met Arthur. He craved sanctuary after running for his life and remained at one of these institutions for seven years, we are told, because Ligessawc was protected , worked hard and confessed his crime and will have done penance.

Eventually his whereabouts were betrayed to Arthur.Cadoc did not fear Arthur and he trusted in God, saying ‘Fear not those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul but rather fear him who can kill the body and the soul in hell’.

Arthur arrives at Tredunnock on the Banks of the Usk

Eventually Arthur arrived with a large body of men at the River Usk, and wanted to appeal for a trial at law, because he dared not challenge Cadoc, a saintly man of God.So Cadoc sent ambassadors to Arthur asking him whether he would refer the matter to three skilful judges and to this Arthur agreed. Cadoc sent to different parts of what was now Wales to get three different judges David, Teilo and Oudoceus and also Cynydir (Gwynlliw’s son) and Aidus and with all sorts of clergy and senior judges of all Britain and they all met together on the banks of the River Usk near the Chapel, with Cadoc leading them.They both disputed their points from both sides of the river ‘with bitter words’ and argued a long time. When they were exhausted they had a rest and the judges said that Arthur ought to get three good oxen as compensation for each of his good men-a sort of Wergeld. Others decided that one hundred cows should be given for every man killed. From the earliest times, even before the Saxons the judgement was of this type and the price was decided by the chieftains and the leading officers. This was then decided but Arthur in a very arrogant manner refused cows of one colour, but wanted those of two colours –red brown at the front and the back white and with a lot of wrangling demanded these. The judges and clergy were ignorant of where such cows could be find and were in doubt as what they should do respecting them. Therefore Cadoc in the Name of the Trinity ordered the nine young men of the gathering to bring him 100 cows of whatever colours , and when they did this ,and brought them to the judges, they were ‘because of the perverse desire of Arthur’ turned into he colours he wanted.

The Miracle-and another miracle!

All the clergy and judges and men rejoiced at the miracle and glorified God. Cadoc discussed what should happen . They were told by some of the judges that it was right that he should drive the herd into the middle of the ford. He did this and drove them into the river until Arthur, Cai and Bedwyr (Bed-oo-eer) met them, with others siting on the side of the river. Cai and Bedwyr really wanted the cows and tried to drag them by their horns to he side of the river, but while these were in their hands, but we are told that by the direction of God the cows were changed into bundles of ferns.

Arthur begs Cadoc for forgiveness

God notices the hand of God in this miracle and Arthur humbly begged Cadoc forgive him for the injury and lack of respect shown to him.Cadoc generously absolved him from his sin bearing in mind ‘forgive and you shall be forgiven’. So Arthur discussing all this with his army, allowed the amn refuge for another seven years, seven months and a week.

Arthur changes his behaviour to strangers and sanctuary-claimers

If any stranger in some appointed time should leave the town of Cadoc wanting to sail to some distant part of the world , and by chance through the force of storms, or by contary wind in a storm, be driven into a barren harbour and again return return to his former refuge or place according to the tradition of the elders, he is to be attended with service and readily received to the last term of his life. This Arthur and all his soldiers corroborated and said ‘ We also in the earing of you all, bear witness to the words of this decree , whoever will transgress them, may God add to him all the plagues in the old and new law and may his name be blotted from the book of life. But whoever will keep them, may he be filled with all the blessings of the Old and the New Testament, and may they descend and remain upon him, and also may his soul be settled in eternal glory’. The council being finished, all the cows which had been changed into ferns were found safe in the stalls of their owners, and from that day, that town in the British language is called TREDUNNOCK (Trefredinowck)The Town of Ferns. All persons returning peaceably from the trial, Saint Cadoc gave three villages to the said nobles,one to David,Llandewi Penybei another toTeilo (llandecmed)and one to Oudoceus. (Landubriguir-Landogo)