Tyfei

Tyfei(early 6th century) was amartyrandsaintof themedieval Welsh church.

Life

Tyfei ap Budic was the second son ofBudic II of Brittanyand his second wife, Anowed or Arianwedd, the daughter ofSaint Isseland sister ofSaint Teilo.The young Tyfei attempted to intervene in a heated argument between a swineherd and the owner of a field the animals had trespassed. In the course of the confrontation, Tyfei sustained an accidental, 'though lethal wound from a javelin.^[1]

Tyfei was buried at Penalun (Penally) in Dyfed.^[2]

Veneration

Although his death was apparently accidental, veneration of Tyfei was likely due to his family connections, and he is sometimes called a martyr. At the time, Budic was in exile, a cousin having usurped his throne inCornouaille.Patricia Healy Wasyliw suggests "...that the legend may mask a political assassination".^[3]

Churches were dedicated to St. Tyfei atLlandyfeisant,^[4]andLamphey.^[5]

References

^Wasyliw 2008,p. 81.
^Bartrum, Peter Clement (1993)."Tyfai ap Budic"(PDF).A Welsh Classical Dictionary.The National Library of Wales. p. 655.
^Wasyliw 2008,p. 82.
^"Llandyfeisant church".Llandeilo Past and Present.
^"Church of St Tyfie and St Faith, Lamphey".British Listed Buildings.