Geoffrey of Monmouth

Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136-1139)

Geoffrey of Monmouth (1100-1155), from Southern Wales (Monmouth and Caerleon-upon-Usk); Augustinian canon at College of Saint George at Oxford; ordained priest and made bishop of Saint Asaph in Flintshire (1151)

work written at Oxford, dedicated to Robert, Earl of Gloucester (d. 1147) (llegitimate son of Henry I, r. 1100-1135); also reflects interests of Matilda, daughter of Henry I, queen of England (1141-48) and mother of Henry II (r. 1154-1189)

over a 186 manuscripts, plain style; extensive influence on later medieval historians

"a certain very ancient book written in the British language"; likely a fictional source

source of Wace's Roman de Brut (c. 1154) and Layamon's Brut (1189-1205)

relation to English kings' (Dukes of Normandy) assertion of independence from French kings

story highlights:

• Aeneas-Ascanius-Silvius-Brutus
• Brutus' killing of father and mother (Oedipal motifs); exile; liberation of Trojans from Greece; fights Gogmagog and other giants in Britain; founder of Trinovantum on the Thames; sons Locrinus, Kamber, Albanactus
• departure of Romans; attacks by Scots, Picts, Norwegians, Danes; inability of Britons to defend themselves
• stories of Merlin/Ambrosius and Arthur
• Arthur, son of Uther Pendragon; crowning of Arthur at age 15; generosity, goodness, courage, courtliness
• attacks by Saxons led by Colgrin and Baldulf; alliance Saxons, Scots, Picts; siege of York; victories of Arthur, assisted by Cador, Duke of Cornwall
• account of battles with Saxons, sources in Nennius
• Mount Badon/Bath
• Arthur's desire to conquer all of Europe
• victories over Saxons, then Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Gaul, Rome
• savagery and destructiveness of Arthur in Norway
• imposition of Loth (Arthur's brother-in-law) on Norway; Loth was married to Anna (Arthur's sister) and became father of Gawain and Modred
• Emperor Leo; Tribune Frollo, Gaul; Arthur "began to lay waste the countryside in all directions"; siege of Paris; single combat Frollo-Arthur, Britons ready to break truce if things go badly for Arthur
• shield Pridwen, sword Caliburnus, lance Ron
• Hoel sent to attack Aquitania, "also ravaged Gascony with fire and sword"
• Arthur holds court at Paris; Normandy given to Bedevere and Anjou to Kay
• love and sporting games at Arthur's court
• envoys of Lucius Hiberius, accusations against Arthur of "criminal behaviour"; order to appear in Rome; order ridiculed at Arthur's court and seen as opportunity to return to pillaging life; arguments against the Roman claim: Julius Caesar seized Britain "by force and violence at a time when it was weakened by civil dissensions" and "nothing that is acquired by force and violence can ever be held legally by anyone"; hence Arthur demands tribute of the Romans (since British Belinus is said to have captured Rome and Arthur claims to be related to Constantine I)
• giant of Mont-Saint-Michel, abduction and death of Helena, niece of Hoel
• battle with Lucius Hiberius; deaths of Kay and Bedevere; rage; terrible losses on both sides; Lucius Hiberius eventually slain; "bodies" of friends, "carcasses" of enemies; Arthur attacks the Allobroges
• treason of Modred; affair with Guinevere
• Arthur abandons plans to proceed against Roman Emperor Leo, journey to Britain; Modred's alliance with Saxons, Scots, Picts and Irish
• death of Gawain at battle of Richborough; Ywain becomes king of Albany; Modred retreats to Winchester; Guinevere flees to convent; Arthur's sieger of Winchester; Modred flees to Cornwall; battle of Camblam; exhortations and promises; enemies are "barbarians" "perjured villains and robbers"; "it is heartrending to describe what slaughter was inflicted on both sides"; divisions of 6666 men; Modred killed and Arthur mortally wounded
• wounded Arthur's journey to Avalon
• crown passed to Constantine, son of Cador, 542 A.D

Geoffrey's diatribe against internal divisions, pride, jealousy, "fatherland ravaged"

Britons renamed 'Welsh'; Saxons settled, agriculture, king Adelstan; degeneracy of the Welsh

Geoffrey leaves chronicle of Saxon kings to William of Malmesbury (d. 1143) (Gesta Regum Anglorum) and Henry of Huntingdon (1084-1155) (Historia Anglorum)