Peibio Clafrog facts for kids

Peibio Clafrog was a king who ruled a place called Ergyng in south-east Wales. He lived a very long time ago, either in the 400s or 500s. People mostly know about him from old stories about Dubricius, who was a famous saint and supposedly Peibio's grandson. His nickname, Clafrog, meant something like "scabby" or "leprous," but it was often confused with a word meaning "drivel" because of a story about him.

The Story of King Peibio

Peibio Clafrog appears in an old book from the 1100s called the Book of Llandaff. In this book, he is always described as the grandfather of Saint Dubricius on his mother's side.

King Peibio's Affliction

The stories say that King Peibio had a problem with his mouth. He would constantly drool saliva. This is why some people called him "King Driveller." One day, after coming back from a small fight, Peibio asked his daughter, Efrddyl, to help him wash his head.

A Surprising Discovery

While helping him, Peibio found out that his daughter Efrddyl was going to have a baby. He became very angry about this. He ordered his servants to tie her up in a bag and throw her into a river to drown.

A Miraculous Survival

But something amazing happened! Efrddyl washed ashore safely. Peibio then ordered his servants to burn her alive. The next day, however, his servants found her still alive and well. She was calmly feeding her newborn baby right on top of the ashes of the fire!

The Healing Touch

King Peibio felt very sorry for what he had done. He asked for Efrddyl and her baby to be brought to him. When the baby touched him, his mouth problem instantly disappeared! He was completely cured.

A Special Gift

To show his thanks, Peibio gave his grandson the place where he was born, which was called Matle (now known as Madley). Later, a monument was built there to remember this amazing event. An old book from the 1600s even describes this monument, showing a king with people wiping his mouth, known as "King Driveller."

Family Connections

Peibio was also the uncle of Saint Inabwy, who was a student of Dubricius and later became a bishop.

Other Tales of Peibio

In some old Welsh tales, like Culhwch and Olwen, there are stories about two kings named Nynnio and Peibio. These kings were supposedly turned into horned oxen because of bad things they had done. They are sometimes shown as kings who had lost their minds.