Madoc

Madoc ab Owain Gwynedd (also spelled Madog) is a legendary Welsh prince who, according to folklore, sailed to the Americas in 1170—more than 300 years before Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492. The tale claims that Madoc, one of the sons of Owain Gwynedd, left Wales to escape internal conflict following his father’s death. The origins of the story lie in vague medieval references to a seafaring Welsh hero, but it gained momentum and detail over time.

The legend reached its peak during the Elizabethan era, when English and Welsh writers promoted the idea that Madoc had discovered North America centuries earlier. This was used to support England’s claims of prior discovery and legal entitlement to the continent.

In later centuries, the story evolved further. New versions suggested that Madoc and his followers had intermarried with Native American tribes, producing Welsh-speaking descendants known as "Welsh Indians." These groups were credited with building various ancient structures in the American Midwest, and numerous explorers set out in search of them.

Although the Madoc legend became a popular element of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact theories, no archaeological, linguistic, or historical evidence has ever been found to support the story. Nevertheless, folklore has connected Madoc to several locations, including Devil's Backbone on the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky.