Salomon of Cornwall
Salomon (also known as Selyf, Selevan) was a late 5th century Cornish 'warrior prince', possibly a King of Cornwall. His feast day takes place on the 18 October.[1] He was the father of the Cornish bishop Saint Cybi.
Narrative[edit]
According to Sabine Baring-Gould, Salomon was the son of Geraint ab Erbin, Prince of Dumnonia. This agrees with the Bonedd y Saint, a Welsh genealogical tract detailing the lineages of the early British saints. Salomon married Gwen ferch Cynyr, the daughter of Cynyr Ceinfarfog who had settled at Caer-Goch near St David's in Pembrokeshire. Gwen ferch Cynyr was the sister of Saint Non.[2]
According to the Life of St Cybi, Selevan, (a Brythonic form of Solomon) was a Cornishman and the father of Cybi. Salomon is described as a princeps militiae at a court between the River Tamar and the River Lynher, possibly Gelliwig.[3] Welsh historian Arthur Wade-Evans interpreted this title as 'captain of the guard', while others believe he was a sub-king of Cornwall. David Nash Ford suggests that he succeeded to the realm of his cousin, King Mark.
Lansallos is a foundation of Salomon. Baring-Gould mentions a holy well of his sister-in-law, Non, and a church of his son, Cybi, in the area between Roseland and Grampound.[4]
Salomon is identified with Selevan, of St Levan in Cornwall and Penmon on Anglesey.[5] On the cliff at St Levan is St Levan's Well and below it the probable remains of his chapel, which were described by William Borlase in his Antiquities.[6] The "Selus stone" at St Just in Penwith Parish Church is thought to refer to Salomon. The identity of Saint Just is not known.[7] Among the possibilities mentioned is the Welsh hermit, Saint Iestyn, said to be a son of Geraint ab Erbin.
In the department of Morbihan in Brittany are four places connected to a Saint Saloman. Baring-Gould suggests this is a second, separate individual.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ "Celtic and Old English Saints - 18 October". celticsaints.org.
- ^ a b Baring-Gould, Sabine. The Lives of the British Saints, vol. IV. London. The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, 1913, p. 180
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Lloyd, John Edward (1959). "CYBI (fl. 550), saint". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
- ^ Baring-Gould, Sabine. "A Book of Cornwall', Methuen, 1906, p. 211
- ^ Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, Volume 19, Royal Institution of Cornwall, 1912, p. 430
- ^ Doble, G. H., (1960) The Saints of Cornwall: part 1. Truro: Dean and Chapter; pp. 3-9
- ^ Watts, Victor (2010). The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-names (1st paperback ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 520. ISBN 978-0-521-16855-7.
Sources[edit]
- Doble, G. H. (1964). The Saints of Cornwall, part 3. Truro: Dean and Chapter; pp. 105–132
- Wade-Evans, A. W. (ed.) (1944). Vitae Sanctorum Britanniae et Genealogiae. Cardiff: University of Wales Press Board