Editing Gerald of Wales (section)

===Early life===
[[Image:Manorbier Castle.jpg|300px|thumb|right|[[Manorbier Castle]], birthplace of Gerald of Wales]]
Born {{circa|lk=no|1146}} at [[Manorbier Castle]] in [[Pembrokeshire]], Wales, Gerald was of mixed [[Normans|Norman]] and [[Welsh people|Welsh]] descent. Gerald was the youngest son of William Fitz Odo de Barry (or Barri), the common ancestor of the [[De Barry family]] of [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]], [[Glamorgan|Glamorganshire]], who subsequently invaded Ireland, a retainer of [[Arnulf de Montgomery]] and [[Gerald de Windsor]], and one of the most powerful [[Anglo-Normans|Anglo-Norman]] [[baron]]s in Wales.<ref name="Mac">{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Giraldus Cambrensis |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06568d.htm |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref> His mother was Angharad FitzGerald, a daughter of [[Gerald de Windsor|Gerald FitzWalter of Windsor]],{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} Constable of [[Pembroke Castle]], and his wife [[Nest ferch Rhys]], daughter of [[Rhys ap Tewdwr]], the last King of [[South Wales]]. Through his mother Angharad, Gerald was a nephew of [[David FitzGerald]], Bishop of St Davids, as well as a great-nephew of [[Gruffydd ap Rhys]], the son and heir of Rhys ap Tewdwr, and a cousin of [[Rhys ap Gruffydd]], the famous Arglwydd (Lord) Rhys and his family.

Gerald received his initial education at the Benedictine house of [[Gloucester]], followed by a period of study in Paris from {{circa|lk=no|1165}}–74, where he studied the [[trivium]]. He was employed by [[Richard of Dover]], the Archbishop of Canterbury, on various ecclesiastical missions in Wales, and distinguished himself by his efforts to remove supposed abuses of [[consanguinity]] and tax laws flourishing in the Welsh church at the time. He was appointed in 1174 as [[Archdeacon of Brecon]], to which was attached a residence at [[Llanddew]]. He obtained this position by reporting the existence of the previous archdeacon's mistress; the man was promptly dismissed. While administering this post, Gerald collected tithes of wool and cheese from the populace; the income from the archdeaconry supported him for many years.

Upon the death of his uncle, the Bishop of [[St Davids]], in 1176, the chapter nominated Gerald as his successor. St Davids had the long-term aim of becoming independent of Canterbury, and the chapter may have thought that Gerald was the man to take up its cause. King [[Henry II of England]], fresh from his struggle with Archbishop [[Thomas Becket]], promptly rejected Gerald in favour of [[Peter de Leia]], one of his Norman retainers, possibly because Gerald's Welsh blood and ties to the ruling family of [[Deheubarth]] made him seem like a troublesome prospect. According to Gerald, the king said at the time: "It is neither necessary nor expedient for king or archbishop that a man of great honesty or vigour should become Bishop of St Davids, for fear that [[the Crown]] and Canterbury should suffer thereby. Such an appointment would only give strength to the Welsh and increase their pride." The chapter acquiesced in the decision, and Gerald, disappointed with the result, withdrew to the [[University of Paris]]. From {{circa|lk=no|1179}}-8,{{clarify|date=November 2022}} he studied and taught canon law and theology. He returned to England and spent an additional five years studying theology. In 1180, he received a minor appointment from the Bishop of St Davids, which he soon resigned.<ref name=Mac/>