I discovered a Roman fort in Wales—it may hold the key to the ancient Welsh legend of Macsen Wledig
My recent discovery of a Roman fort and its extraordinary connection with medieval folklore was the fruition of many hours of painstaking research.
In 2022, a significant discovery was made when an archaeologist uncovered a Roman fort in Wales that may hold the key to an ancient Welsh legend. This fort was discovered near Crymych in north Pembrokeshire, adjacent to a Roman road. The site, which resembles a typical auxiliary Roman fort, measures about 7.4 acres and features characteristic earthworks.
The fort likely dates back to the campaign of the governor Sextus Julius Frontinus between A.D. 74 and 78. Interestingly, the location of the fort is believed to be tied to the Welsh legend of Macsen Wledig, also known as Magnus Maximus, a Roman emperor who appeared in the Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh stories. The fort's proximity to the Frenni Fawr, the easternmost peak of the Preseli Hills where the legend places the emperor's camp, suggests a possible connection between the historical and mythological accounts.
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