Previous Saint This month Next Saint
[Yesterday's last saint] [back to Calendar] [Today's next saint]
Died 508(?). Saint Gerontius of Damnonia (Devon) and his wife Enid were the subjects of romantic legends. He died in battle against the Saxons. There is another King Saint Gerontius of Cornwall, who died in 596. One of these saints is the patron of Saint Gerrans in Cornwall and Saint Geran in Brittany (Benedictines).

Marwnat Geraint or Elegy for Geraint

Around the year 480, a battle took place between the Saxons, defending the old Roman Saxon Shore fort of Portchester, and British forces led, apparently, by Arthur. The poem, found in the Black Book of Carmarthen, is a battle elegy written in praise of Geraint, a Dumnonian king, who fell during the conflict. It is also found in The Red Book of Hergest (circa 1400) and in The White Book of Rhydderch (circa 1350): only a fragment in the latter. Although it can not be dated more precisely than early twelfth century or before, it may well be as early as the ninth century, and could reference a battle in either 480CE or 710CE. Either way, it contains another early reference to Arthur. The significant thing is that it is not a legendary tale of one of Arthur's deeds, but mentions him only in an incidental way.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in its entry for the year 501, reports the event this way: Port and his two sons, Bieda and Maegla, came to Britain at the place called Portsmouth, and slew a young Welshman, a very noble man. This interpretation of Llogporth is that Llongborth (sea-port) was mostly likely Portchester, the westernmost of the Saxon Shore forts at the head of Portsmouth Harbour. According to John Morris (Age of Arthur), dates given in the early parts of the Anglo Saxon Chronicle are believed to be about 20 years off, due to an error by the 8th century historian, Bede, in dating the Adventus Saxonum, the coming of the Saxons.

The poem may also refer to the battle of Langport in 710 recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles: and Ine and Nunna, his relative, fought against Geraint, king of the Welsh (where Welsh=West Welsh of Devon). This Geraint is also recorded as corresponding with Aldhelm. If this is the case the reference to Arthur is an anachronism.

Geraint ab Erbin may be a composite figure based on the Gerontius who rebelled against Constantine in the early fifth century, a sixth-century Geraint in The Gododdin, and the later Geraint/Geruntius of Devon who fought the West Saxons in 710. The Welsh text is as edited and annotated by AOH Jarman in the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin.


Troparion of St Geraint tone 8
Thou wast a Confessor for the Faith, a friend and father of saints/ and a wise and pious king, O holy Geraint./ Even in the Age of Saints thy virtues shone forth, O righteous one/ and as thou wast a shining beacon guiding thy subjects in Devon into the way of salvation,/ intercede, we beseech thee, with Christ our God,/ for those who call upon thee, that He will save our souls.


Previous Saint This month Next Saint
[Yesterday's last saint] [back to Calendar] [Today's next saint]