Prince Madoc
By Madison Echlin
Prince Madoc, otherwise known as Prince Madog ab Owain Gwynedd, was a pseudo-archaeological Welsh Prince who supposedly emigrated with his followers to North America in 1170. His father, Owain, was the King of Gwynedd in the 12th century. King Owain had 19 children, 13 of which were illegitimate including Madoc himself. After the death of Owain of Gwynedd, his sons debated who would inherit the throne. It is said that Prince Madoc left Gwynedd in a heated disagreement with his brothers and instead sought adventure by sea. [1].
Unraveling the Prince
The sea-trade which was then active between Greenland and the people of Western Europe would have given Madoc an idea of voyage through the Atlantic ocean.
The Viking world in 1100 AD included voyages to Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Western Isles, the shores of the Irish Sea at Dublin, Gwynedd, and so on. However the voyage to what is now Florida would have been 4000 miles into the Atlantic ocean and basically into the unknown. Their voyage to Greenland was less than 2000 to put everything into perspective. It is improbable that Madoc crossed the Atlantic many times to settle Welsh colonies in North America, regions where Native American attacks drove away the Vikings.
Motivations
The motivations for the creation of Prince Madoc and his voyage to the Americas
He supposedly founded America in 1170 and seemed to have ended up in what is now Alabama.
The Mandan
The Mandans are a tribe of Native American Siouan speakers associated with the Great Plains and have lived for centuries in what is now North Dakota. They historically lived along the Missouri River valley in large settled villages and mostly practiced full time agriculture. However, 18th century reports of occasional physical characteristics among the tribe like their light colored blue or gray eyes and their light colored hair spurred rumors about pre-Colombian European contact. Some believed that the Mandan were "Welsh Indians" or descendants of Prince Madoc and his Welsh followers. It was proposed that interbreeding with the Norse emigrants would explain the blonde Indians. However, there is no real archaeological or scientific evidence to prove anything of the sort. [2].