Griffin

Also known as: Griffin the Welsh king / Griffin, king of the northern men / King Griffin · Family: Welsh · Role: king · First appears: A.D. 1046–1047

In 1046, Griffin, king of the northern men, accompanied Earl Sweyne on his expedition into Wales, where hostages were delivered to Sweyne. In 1049 he aided an Irish fleet raiding the Welsh coast; Bishop Aldred’s party was attacked, and many men were slain. In 1050, Axa’s fleet from Ireland did harm in Wales with Griffin’s help.

In 1052 Griffin plundered in Herefordshire, coming near Leominster, and many English and Frenchmen were killed as people gathered against him. In 1055 he received Elgar and his armament “on terms of amity”; that year Griffin and Elgar burned St. Ethelbert’s minster and the town of Hereford, while Earl Ralph gathered an army against them. Griffin later helped Elgar return by force after his banishment, in 1058.

In 1056 Griffin’s forces killed Leofgar, his priests, Elnoth the sheriff, and many others in battle. Peace was made between Griffin and Earl Leofric, Harold son of Godwin, and Bishop Aldred, after which Griffin swore to be faithful to Edward son of Ethelred. In 1063 Harold burned Griffin’s habitation and ships at Rhyddlan and put him to flight; in the harvest, Griffin was slain by his own men in the war he waged with Harold. Caradoc was Griffin’s son, and in 1097 Cadwgan was named as his nephew.