Salomon of Cornwall
Encyclopedia
Salomon was a late 5th century Cornish
'warrior prince', possibly a King of Cornwall
.
St Levan (properly Selevan, a Celtic form of Solomon) according to the Life of St Kybi was a Cornishman and the father of Kybi. In the department of Morbihan
are four places probably connected to the same saint, who probably lived in the 6th or 7th century. 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. Salomon is recorded, in the 'Life of Saint Cybi' as a princeps militiae living in Eastern Cornwall
, where Cybi, his son, was born. Wade-Evans interpreted his 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.
Cybi's 'life' gives Salomon's father as Erbin
ap Geraint ap Lud, but the Welsh Bonedd y Saint says Geraint ab Erbin ap Custennin Gorneu. Erbin and Geraint have evidently been switched around, but it is unclear which position is correct. Geraint ab Erbin
is certainly a character in the Welsh Arthurian story of Culhwch and Olwen
. Custennin is known from other records, but Lud is not and may be a further mistake. Salomon married Gwen
, the daughter of an Irish
prince who had settled at Caer-Goch near St David's
in Pembrokeshire
.
Salomon is sometimes identified with one or both known Saints Selevan, of St Levan
in Cornwall and Penmon on Anglesey
, or with Salwys, the supposed founder the church of Lansallos
, also in Cornwall
.
His memorial could be the Chi-Rho inscribed stone to be seen at St Just in Penwith Parish Church recording 'Selus lies here'.
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
'warrior prince', possibly a King of Cornwall
Kingdom of Cornwall
The Kingdom of Cornwall was an independent polity in southwest Britain during the Early Middle Ages, roughly coterminous with the modern English county of Cornwall. During the sub-Roman and early medieval periods Cornwall was evidently part of the kingdom of Dumnonia, which included most of the...
.
St Levan (properly Selevan, a Celtic form of Solomon) according to the Life of St Kybi was a Cornishman and the father of Kybi. In the department of Morbihan
Morbihan
Morbihan is a department in Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Morbihan , the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastline.-History:...
are four places probably connected to the same saint, who probably lived in the 6th or 7th century. 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
William Borlase
William Borlase , Cornish antiquary, geologist and naturalist, was born at Pendeen in Cornwall, of an ancient family . From 1722 he was Rector of Ludgvan and died there in 1772.-Life and works:...
in his Antiquities. Salomon is recorded, in the 'Life of Saint Cybi' as a princeps militiae living in Eastern Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, where Cybi, his son, was born. Wade-Evans interpreted his title as 'captain of the guard', while others believe he was a sub-king of Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. David Nash Ford suggests that he succeeded to the realm of his cousin, King Mark.
Cybi's 'life' gives Salomon's father as Erbin
Erbin of Dumnonia
Erbin of Dumnonia was a 5th century King of Dumnonia and saint of Wales.-Monarch:Traditionally, Erbin was a King of Dumnonia, the son of Constantine Corneu and the father of Geraint...
ap Geraint ap Lud, but the Welsh Bonedd y Saint says Geraint ab Erbin ap Custennin Gorneu. Erbin and Geraint have evidently been switched around, but it is unclear which position is correct. Geraint ab Erbin
Geraint
Geraint is a character from Welsh folklore and Arthurian legend, a king of Dumnonia and a valiant warrior. He may have lived during or shortly prior to the reign of the historical Arthur, but some scholars doubt he ever existed...
is certainly a character in the Welsh Arthurian story of Culhwch and Olwen
Culhwch and Olwen
Culhwch and Olwen is a Welsh tale about a hero connected with Arthur and his warriors that survives in only two manuscripts: a complete version in the Red Book of Hergest, ca. 1400, and a fragmented version in the White Book of Rhydderch, ca. 1325. It is the longest of the surviving Welsh prose...
. Custennin is known from other records, but Lud is not and may be a further mistake. Salomon married Gwen
Saint Wenna
Saint Wenna was a Cornish saint and probably a Cornish queen. She founded the church of Morval. She was known in Wales as Gwen ferch Cynyr, the daughter of Lord Cynyr Ceinfarfog of Caer Goch in Pembrokshire. She married King Salomon of Cornwall and became the mother of Saint Cybi...
, the daughter of an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
prince who had settled at Caer-Goch near St David's
St David's
St Davids , is a city and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Lying on the River Alun on St David's Peninsula, it is Britain's smallest city in terms of both size and population, the final resting place of Saint David, the country's patron saint, and the de facto ecclesiastical capital of...
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
.
Salomon is sometimes identified with one or both known Saints Selevan, of St Levan
St Levan
St Levan is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately eight miles south west of Penzance....
in Cornwall and Penmon on Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, or with Salwys, the supposed founder the church of Lansallos
Lansallos
Lansallos is a coastal hamlet and a civil parish in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated between Polruan and Polperro about 5 miles east of Fowey and is in the Liskeard Registration District....
, also in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
His memorial could be the Chi-Rho inscribed stone to be seen at St Just in Penwith Parish Church recording 'Selus lies here'.