St. Gildas was probably born around 517 in the North of England or Wales. His father's name was Cau (or Nau) and, came from noble lineage, and he most likely had several brothers and sisters. There are two accounts of the life of St. Gildas the Wise, neither of which tell the same story. Gildas lived for many years as a very ascetic hermit on Flatholm Island in the Bristol Channel. At around this time, according to the Welsh, he also preached to Nemata, the mother of St David, while she was pregnant with the Saint.