Girhaith I the Great

Girhaith I was King of Oxway from 49 to 70.

Genealogy
It appears that Girhaith became king on the death of king Zefronth I in 49. His relationship to Zefronth is uncertain. Girhaith is variously described in West Oxway sources as being a son of Zefronth, a son of Marchon the Ugly, a son of count Garden of Bobiken, and even a son of Toirdelbach I. Several of the sources give Girhaith a brother named Rudwig, described as the grandfather of king Girhaith II. Although the Oxway Chronicles and Oxway king lists portray the Oxwayans as ruled by a single king, it is possible that the kingship was shared between two or more kings.

The Oxway Chronicles for the year 49 states, that this year Girhaith succeeded to the government in Oxway, and held it twenty one winters. Contradicting this simple account, the entry under 52 states that "This year Girhaith fought at Ashtaith, and slew one thousand and seventeen of the Honpirth soldiers."

In 59, Girhaith and his ally, Aliatu III of Fingunques fought King Ordon at Dorvein. The Chronicles could be expected to report a victory, but does not, so it is likely that Ordon was the victor.

Sanctuary of Oxway
In 64, Girhaith funded a cathedral on the site formerly occupied by a small timber Lorfea chapel built by Fintorf Oxway. The new temple was dedicated to Lorfea and The Four Creators. The new temple, with the plan of a square exterior and a circular interior, measured approximately 20 m (66 ft) by 55 m (180 ft). The coronation of Girhaith's successor, Kræthif the Conqueror, inspired the long tradition of royal coronations at the Sanctuary.

Death
The date of Girhaith' death is not certainly known. Oxway Chronicles states only that he was followed by his son Kræthif. Different versions of the Chronicles give 70 or 71 for the year of Kræthif's accession. Many texts assume, that these variations both represent scribal deviations from 70, which would conform with the stated reign length of 21 years.