Salomon (also known, in Welsh, as Selyf) was a late 5th century Cornish 'warrior prince', possibly a King of Cornwall. 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 recording 'Selus lies here'.
References
- Doble, G. H. (1965). The Saints of Cornwall.
- Ford, David Nash. (2001). St. Salom, King of Cerniw.
- Wade-Evans, A. W. (1944). Vitae Sanctorum Britanniae et Genealogiae.
