Gerald of Wales | |
|---|---|
 Statue in St Davids Cathedral | |
| Born | Gerald de Barri c. 1146 Manorbier Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Died | c. 1223 (age about 77) probably Hereford, England |
| Occupation | Clergyman |
| Language | Latin |
| Nationality | Cambro-Norman |
| Alma mater | University of Paris |
| Notable works | Topographia Hibernica Itinerarium Cambriae Descriptio Cambriae De principis instructione |
Gerald of Wales (Latin: Giraldus Cambrensis; Welsh: Gerallt Cymro; French: Gerald de Barri; c. 1146 – c. 1223) was a Cambro-Norman priest and historian. As a royal clerk to the king and two archbishops, he travelled widely and wrote extensively. He studied and taught in France and visited Rome several times, meeting the Pope. He was nominated for several bishoprics but turned them down in the hope of becoming Bishop of St Davids, but was unsuccessful despite considerable support. His final post was as Archdeacon of Brecon, from which he retired to academic study for the remainder of his life. Much of his writing survives.