Historia Regum Britanniae

Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae transformed the "Matter of Britain" into a grand historical epic. Spanning two thousand years—from the mythical founding of Britain by the Trojan Brutus to the death of Cadwallader in the 7th century—this work provided medieval Europe with its most enduring hero: King Arthur. While modern historians view it as pseudo-history, its impact on European culture and the concept of chivalry is immeasurable.

At a Glance

Author: Geoffrey of Monmouth (a cleric of Welsh or Breton descent).
Date: Circa 1136.
Language: Latin.
Scope: From the aftermath of the Trojan War to the final Saxon conquests.
Key "Historical" Figures: King Arthur, Merlin, King Lear (Leir), and Cymbeline.
Primary Impact: Established the "standard" biography of Arthur and introduced Merlin to a wider audience.

Written by Simon Williams

The Historia Regum Britanniae

The Historia Regum Britanniae (The History of the Kings of Britain) is a 12th century chronicle written in Latin that recounts the history of Britain from its mythical founding by Brutus of Troy up to the Anglo-Saxon period in the 7th century.

Penned by Geoffrey of Monmouth sometime around 1136, this work mixes legend, myth and fact in its grand narrative of Britain's storied past.

Significance of Historia Regum Britanniae

Portrait of Geoffrey of Monmouth wearing medieval robes, standing before a stone castle beside a lake.

Though later criticised for its lack of historical accuracy, the Historia Regum Britanniae was hugely significant in medieval England and Europe for providing a newly written origin story for Britain. The myths it established, especially concerning King Arthur, also proved widely influential.

Overview of Contents

The contents of the Historia Regum Britanniae stretch over a thousand years, chronicling both imaginary and real rulers and events. It includes tales of figures like Brutus, Leir and King Arthur alongside details on the coming of the Saxons. Though a mixture of myth and fact, it provides a window into medieval ideas about Britain's past.

About the Author - Geoffrey of Monmouth

The author of the Historia Regum Britanniae was Geoffrey of Monmouth, a medieval Welsh cleric and writer who lived circa 1100 to 1155 CE. Geoffrey served as a bishop of St Asaph in Wales after being educated at Oxford. It was at Oxford that he gained access to various historical manuscripts that aided him in compiling the Historia.

Motivations for Writing

Geoffrey undertook writing the Historia as a chronicle of British history in order to provide the people of Britain with a glorious national origin story. Britain lacked its own comprehensive written history compared to other European nations at the time. The work helped inspire national pride by detailing the deeds of early legendary kings.

Sources and Influences

In constructing his history, Geoffrey relied on earlier texts like the Prophetiae Merlini as well as legends and oral tales. Though he claimed the work was a translation of a "very old book" in the British tongue, this was likely fabricated to lend credibility. Despite invented elements, the Historia drew on some authentic ancient works.

Publication and Contemporary Response

The Historia Regum Britanniae was first circulated around 1136 CE and soon gained immense popularity in England and France. The myths it relayed, though not historically accurate, captured imaginations. Yet it also received some criticism for Geoffrey's liberal mixing of fact with legend.

Overview of Contents and Scope Historia Regum Britanniae

Foundation Myths and Early Kings

King Arthur in medieval armor holding a sword in a forest setting

The Historia begins with the foundation of Britain by Brutus of Troy, great-grandson of Aeneas, after the Trojan War. It includes tales of early kings like Dunvallo Molmutius, famous for establishing laws, and Locrinus, who divided Britain between his three sons. Other mythical monarchs chronicled include Leir and Bladud.

King Arthur and Merlin

A significant portion of the Historia focuses on King Arthur, from his conception at Tintagel to his final battle at Camlann. Geoffrey provides one of the earliest written accounts of Arthur's conquests across Europe and his founding of Camelot. The wizard Merlin also features prominently, with accounts of his prophecies and magical feats.

Arrival of the Saxons

Later sections document the invasion of the Saxons including figures like Hengist and Horsa. Key battles covered include Aurelius Ambrosius' victory at Wallop and Arthur's triumph at Bath. The Saxons are painted as usurpers whose conquest heralds the end of Britain's golden age.

Span of History Covered

an illustration of merlin the wizard with wild hair

In total, the Historia Regum Britanniae chronicles over 1,300 years of British history from the landing of Brutus circa 1115 BC to the late 6th century AD Saxon conquest, though the earlier sections are purely mythological. The mix of legend and fact provides insight into medieval views of Britain's past.

Legacy and Significance

Popularity and Influence on Literature

The Historia Regum Britanniae proved immensely popular when circulated in England and France. It helped inspire prolific writing about King Arthur, with later authors elaborating on Geoffrey's accounts in works like the Lancelot-Grail Cycle. Geoffrey's imaginative history gained wider credibility despite its inaccuracies.

Contributions to National Identity

By providing a coherent, linear history for Britain, the Historia helped foster a new sense of national identity and pride. It filled a lack of written history compared to other European peoples. The mythical kings and events Geoffrey chronicled were assumed as part of the past.

Criticism and Issues of Historical Accuracy

In later centuries, the Historia faced growing criticism regarding its veracity as scholars like Polydore Vergil challenged Geoffrey’s claims. However, it remained valued as a literary work that captured 12th century conceptions of history. Geoffrey intermixed myth, oral tales, and fragments of authentic ancient texts.

Lasting Literary Significance of Historia Regum Britanniae

Though the details it relates are fanciful, the Historia Regum Britanniae helped popularise figures of British legend like Arthur, Merlin, and Lear. By transmitting these stories in written form, Geoffrey preserved seminal myths that are still retold today. The work stands as a foundational piece of British literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Brutus of Troy and why is he in the Historia?

Geoffrey begins his history with Brutus, a great-grandson of the Trojan hero Aeneas. According to the text, Brutus was led by the goddess Diana to a "deserted island" (Britain), then inhabited only by a few giants. By claiming a Trojan origin for Britain, Geoffrey was attempting to give the Britons a pedigree as ancient and noble as that of the Romans, effectively providing a "classical" foundation for the British state.

How did Geoffrey of Monmouth create the character of Merlin?

Before the Historia, there was a figure in Welsh folklore known as Myrddin Wyllt, a wild man and prophet. Geoffrey combined these legends with the story of a boy named Ambrosius to create Merlinus. He credited Merlin with the magical movement of the stones of Stonehenge from Ireland to Salisbury Plain and the prophecies that foretold the future of the British Isles.

Was the Historia Regum Britanniae considered "fake news" in the Middle Ages?

While many medieval readers and monarchs accepted it as absolute truth, some contemporary scholars were deeply sceptical. The historian William of Newburgh famously accused Geoffrey of "lying saucily and shamelessly." However, despite these criticisms, the book was a medieval bestseller, with over 200 surviving manuscripts, proving that the desire for a heroic national identity often outweighed the need for factual accuracy.

What is the connection between this book and King Lear?

Long before William Shakespeare wrote his famous tragedy, Geoffrey recorded the story of King Leir. In the Historia, Leir is a 10th-century BC king who founded Leicester and is eventually betrayed by two of his daughters, Goneril and Regan. Geoffrey’s version, however, has a much happier ending: Leir is restored to his throne by his youngest daughter, Cordeilla, and her husband, the King of the Franks.

About the Author

Simon A. Williams

Simon A. Williams is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Histories and Castles and a published author specialising in medieval British history, early modern legal history, and Celtic folklore. Raised in North Wales within sight of Edward I's Iron Ring, including Rhuddlan, Conwy, Flint, and Caernarfon his work is shaped by direct, on-the-ground engagement with the landscapes and primary sources he writes about.

His approach to the Pendle Witch Trials applies a forensic, evidence-led methodology: stripping away four centuries of folklore to examine how law, political ambition, and poverty converged to send ten people to the gallows in 1612. This article is drawn from that body of research.

Published works by Simon A. Williams: