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History of the Britons (Historia Brittonum)
The Historia Brittonum, or the History of the Britons, is a historical work that was first written sometime shortly after AD 833, and exists in several recensions of varying difference. It purports to relate the history of the Brythonic inhabitants of Britain from earliest times, and this text has been used to write a history of both Wales and England, for want of more reliable sources. The Historia Brittonum has drawn attention because of its role in influencing the legends and myths surrounding King Arthur. This history is the source of several stories some of which were repeated and amplified by later authors.
42 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 828
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About the author
Nennius
33 books9 followersNennius — or Nemnius or Nemnivus — was a Welsh monk of the 9th century. He has traditionally been attributed with the authorship of the Historia Brittonum, based on the prologue affixed to that work, This attribution is widely considered a secondary (10th century) tradition.
The Historia Brittonum was highly influential, becoming a major contributor to the Arthurian legend, in particular for its inclusion of events relevant to debate about the historicity of King Arthur. It also includes the legendary origins of the Picts, Scots, St. Germanus and Vortigern, and documents events associated with the Anglo-Saxon invasion of the 7th century as contributed by a Northumbrian document.
Nennius was a student of Elvodugus, commonly identified with the bishop Elfodd of Bangor who convinced British ecclesiastics to accept the Continental dating for Easter, and who died in 809 according to the Annales Cambriae.
Nennius is believed to have lived in the area made up by Brecknockshire and Radnorshire in present-day Powys, Wales.
The Historia Brittonum was highly influential, becoming a major contributor to the Arthurian legend, in particular for its inclusion of events relevant to debate about the historicity of King Arthur. It also includes the legendary origins of the Picts, Scots, St. Germanus and Vortigern, and documents events associated with the Anglo-Saxon invasion of the 7th century as contributed by a Northumbrian document.
Nennius was a student of Elvodugus, commonly identified with the bishop Elfodd of Bangor who convinced British ecclesiastics to accept the Continental dating for Easter, and who died in 809 according to the Annales Cambriae.
Nennius is believed to have lived in the area made up by Brecknockshire and Radnorshire in present-day Powys, Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 18, 2023
Nennius wrote this brief history of the Britons around 828 AD, although his prologue implies it was written in 858, and elsewhere it is implied it was compiled in the tenth century. Since it went through the hands of multiple scribes over the years it is possible that certain sections were written at different times, and not all by Nennius.
Like a lot of old history, it’s part factual, part traditional, part myth, part genuine. Humble Nennius belittles his own competence as a scholar and apologizes for what he expects the reader to find a drab and worthless tome. The man was hard on himself. His book is a good short history of the peoples of the British Isles. He tells us of Roman invasion and occupation, relating many of the myths mixed with genuine history about how Britain was first populated, like the coming emperors, the Brythonic slaughter of these emperors, long voyages of ancient tribes, and constant waves of newcomers, invaders, and the rule of many kings until giving more space to the reign of Vortigern. The lives and achievements of saints, like St. Germanus and St. Patrick, are told with enthusiasm and awe. So too are Vortigern’s failures, for inviting the Saxons to the Isle in hopes they would help put down the barbarian uprisings. The Saxon problem became a bigger problem than the barbarian problem.
Nennius also tells of the building of Vortigern’s tower, a suggestion by his advisers as a fortress that he could hide away in if the Saxons or barbarians were to pursue him. As the builders break ground, the ground continuously reverses their progress by some magic. His court magicians tell him that to fix this he must sacrifice a fatherless boy and sprinkle his blood on the mound. His men find a boy meeting this description in Carmarthen, and bring him and his mother to Vortigern. The boy, named Ambrosius, turns out to be wiser than Vortigern’s magicians, calls them out for lying to the king, and goes on to explain what is really preventing the building of the tower: an underground pool hiding stones that contain sleeping dragons. He tells them how to overcome this, thus establishing himself as a superior intellect to those currently advising the king. I didn’t realize this until after finishing the book, but this is the first legend of Merlin, another name for Ambrosius.
The growing Saxon power is later met by the conquests of King Arthur, although here he is merely Arthur, not referred to as a king. This is where most of Historia Brittonum’s claim to fame rests, on its early mentions of Arthur and his repeated victories over the Saxons. His twelve battles with the Saxons are laid out, and his skill for spilling Saxon blood (940 killed by his hand in the battle of Badon Hill) makes him a legend. He is portrayed as a Christian warrior who conquers the heathens, and whose reverence for the cross, his fasting, his praying, and his carrying of images of the Virgin Mary keep him venerated as a hero. He is almost a symbol of God’s wrath against the Saxon hordes. This short version of the mythical Arthur’s exploits is the reason I sought out and read this book. It’s really a fascinating history even without this segment, but its place in Arthurian lore may be more significant than its place in British history.
The tale of Arthur is over almost as soon as it begins. The book goes on to tell many other small stories and to share some important genealogies of kings across the lands of Bernicia, Kent, East-Anglia, the Mercians, and the Deiri. But somehow this small section of now obscure history, as well as the Merlin episode, both obviously fable but spoken of in reverence and admiration, inspired hundreds of years of myth-making and creative storytelling around Europe, coalescing into a body of lore that may now be the best known in the world. It’s unclear if there are other, earlier references to the legend of Arthur, besides the single line in the Welsh poem Y Gododdin two centuries earlier, which may not even be referring to the same person. As far as scholars know, Nennius’s history is the first time any shred of a legend of Arthur appeared in writing. Or it is at least the earliest we possess.
In all, this short read is worth the time, even for those uninterested in Arthurian legend. It’s a solid piece of history blended into myth, and was a source for important histories that were later written of the region. For those fascinated by the Middle Ages it fulfills an important part of the study.
Like a lot of old history, it’s part factual, part traditional, part myth, part genuine. Humble Nennius belittles his own competence as a scholar and apologizes for what he expects the reader to find a drab and worthless tome. The man was hard on himself. His book is a good short history of the peoples of the British Isles. He tells us of Roman invasion and occupation, relating many of the myths mixed with genuine history about how Britain was first populated, like the coming emperors, the Brythonic slaughter of these emperors, long voyages of ancient tribes, and constant waves of newcomers, invaders, and the rule of many kings until giving more space to the reign of Vortigern. The lives and achievements of saints, like St. Germanus and St. Patrick, are told with enthusiasm and awe. So too are Vortigern’s failures, for inviting the Saxons to the Isle in hopes they would help put down the barbarian uprisings. The Saxon problem became a bigger problem than the barbarian problem.
Nennius also tells of the building of Vortigern’s tower, a suggestion by his advisers as a fortress that he could hide away in if the Saxons or barbarians were to pursue him. As the builders break ground, the ground continuously reverses their progress by some magic. His court magicians tell him that to fix this he must sacrifice a fatherless boy and sprinkle his blood on the mound. His men find a boy meeting this description in Carmarthen, and bring him and his mother to Vortigern. The boy, named Ambrosius, turns out to be wiser than Vortigern’s magicians, calls them out for lying to the king, and goes on to explain what is really preventing the building of the tower: an underground pool hiding stones that contain sleeping dragons. He tells them how to overcome this, thus establishing himself as a superior intellect to those currently advising the king. I didn’t realize this until after finishing the book, but this is the first legend of Merlin, another name for Ambrosius.
The growing Saxon power is later met by the conquests of King Arthur, although here he is merely Arthur, not referred to as a king. This is where most of Historia Brittonum’s claim to fame rests, on its early mentions of Arthur and his repeated victories over the Saxons. His twelve battles with the Saxons are laid out, and his skill for spilling Saxon blood (940 killed by his hand in the battle of Badon Hill) makes him a legend. He is portrayed as a Christian warrior who conquers the heathens, and whose reverence for the cross, his fasting, his praying, and his carrying of images of the Virgin Mary keep him venerated as a hero. He is almost a symbol of God’s wrath against the Saxon hordes. This short version of the mythical Arthur’s exploits is the reason I sought out and read this book. It’s really a fascinating history even without this segment, but its place in Arthurian lore may be more significant than its place in British history.
The tale of Arthur is over almost as soon as it begins. The book goes on to tell many other small stories and to share some important genealogies of kings across the lands of Bernicia, Kent, East-Anglia, the Mercians, and the Deiri. But somehow this small section of now obscure history, as well as the Merlin episode, both obviously fable but spoken of in reverence and admiration, inspired hundreds of years of myth-making and creative storytelling around Europe, coalescing into a body of lore that may now be the best known in the world. It’s unclear if there are other, earlier references to the legend of Arthur, besides the single line in the Welsh poem Y Gododdin two centuries earlier, which may not even be referring to the same person. As far as scholars know, Nennius’s history is the first time any shred of a legend of Arthur appeared in writing. Or it is at least the earliest we possess.
In all, this short read is worth the time, even for those uninterested in Arthurian legend. It’s a solid piece of history blended into myth, and was a source for important histories that were later written of the region. For those fascinated by the Middle Ages it fulfills an important part of the study.
April 1, 2023
A history of the Celtic Britons, with the first written reference of King Arthur, written around 828 by a Welsh clerk Nennius. He endeavours to “write some extracts which the dulness of the British nation had cast away, because teachers had no knowledge nor gave any information in their books about this island of Britain.”
According to Nennius:
1. There are 33 cities on the island: Cair Ebrauc (York), Cair Ceint (Canterbury), Cair Gurcoc (Anglesley), Cair Britoc (Bristol), Cair Londein (London), Cair Lerion (Leicester), Cair Grant (Cambridge), etc.
2. Britons deduce their origin from both Greeks and Romans, of the race of Silvanus, descendant of Aeneas, father of Romulus and Remus, and King Saturn who built Troy and Lavinia, king of Italy’s daughter.
3. Seven Roman emperors invaded Britain, though Roman sources affirm it was nine.
4. One of the invaders was Constantinus, father of Constantine the Great. He died in Britain and is buried near Carnarvon.
5. The Saxons were received by Vortigern 447 years AD.
6. Vortigern is supremely evil, having impregnated his daughter and multiple wives.
7. Vortigern travels to Guenet (Gwynedd) and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus*, decides to build a fortress on its summit. His prophets advise him to seek out and kill a “boy without a father” to bless the fortress. They attempt to kill a boy called Ambrose**, who explains of the red and white dragons fighting under the foundations, the former representing Wales and the latter the Saxon invaders. (*Mount Erir, Yr Wyddfa **Ambrosius Merlinus)
8. Quote: “And let him that reads understand that the Saxons were victorious and ruled Britain not from their superior prowess, but on account of the great sins of the Britons*: God so permitting it." (*Vortigern)
9. Vortigern dies of fire falling from Heaven.
10. King Arthur then defeats the Saxons with the help of the entire military force of Britain.
Historia Brittonum is part of the Matter of Britain (body of Medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany, and the legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Arthur) alongside The Mabinogion, Sir Gawain and Historia Regum Britanniae.
I am partial to Nennius, this book reads as a part-fairytale of times and people truly long forgotten, however Nennius does follow the historical narrative of the Mabinogion, Sir Gawain and The Four Ancient Books of Wales more/better than Monmouth, who erroneously names Uther Pendragon and Ambrosius as brothers.
According to Nennius:
1. There are 33 cities on the island: Cair Ebrauc (York), Cair Ceint (Canterbury), Cair Gurcoc (Anglesley), Cair Britoc (Bristol), Cair Londein (London), Cair Lerion (Leicester), Cair Grant (Cambridge), etc.
2. Britons deduce their origin from both Greeks and Romans, of the race of Silvanus, descendant of Aeneas, father of Romulus and Remus, and King Saturn who built Troy and Lavinia, king of Italy’s daughter.
3. Seven Roman emperors invaded Britain, though Roman sources affirm it was nine.
4. One of the invaders was Constantinus, father of Constantine the Great. He died in Britain and is buried near Carnarvon.
5. The Saxons were received by Vortigern 447 years AD.
6. Vortigern is supremely evil, having impregnated his daughter and multiple wives.
7. Vortigern travels to Guenet (Gwynedd) and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus*, decides to build a fortress on its summit. His prophets advise him to seek out and kill a “boy without a father” to bless the fortress. They attempt to kill a boy called Ambrose**, who explains of the red and white dragons fighting under the foundations, the former representing Wales and the latter the Saxon invaders. (*Mount Erir, Yr Wyddfa **Ambrosius Merlinus)
8. Quote: “And let him that reads understand that the Saxons were victorious and ruled Britain not from their superior prowess, but on account of the great sins of the Britons*: God so permitting it." (*Vortigern)
9. Vortigern dies of fire falling from Heaven.
10. King Arthur then defeats the Saxons with the help of the entire military force of Britain.
Historia Brittonum is part of the Matter of Britain (body of Medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany, and the legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Arthur) alongside The Mabinogion, Sir Gawain and Historia Regum Britanniae.
I am partial to Nennius, this book reads as a part-fairytale of times and people truly long forgotten, however Nennius does follow the historical narrative of the Mabinogion, Sir Gawain and The Four Ancient Books of Wales more/better than Monmouth, who erroneously names Uther Pendragon and Ambrosius as brothers.
November 17, 2016
The edition that I bought had around 40 pages, including the editor's notes, so this doesn't take long to get through. I understand that there are several versions of the Historia Brittonum that have come down from the Middle Ages, and that the document was added to and edited by different authors. That may account for the confusion of dates given in the edition I read. Most historians seem to date the text from the decade of the 830s, but the Prologue included with this edition refers to the history being completed "in the 858th year of our Lord's incarnation". Meanwhile at the beginning of the main text there is a statement that "from the passion of Christ there are completed nine hundred and forty-six" [years]. I was left wishing that I had stuck better at Latin at school, which would have allowed me to read a version in the original. I think the reference to the tenth century is a later addition though, not least because Nennius then goes on to say that the island of Britain has four different types of inhabitant, the Scots, the Picts, the Saxons and the ancient Britons. Anyone writing in the tenth century could scarcely have omitted to mention the Norse, who by then had taken over substantial swathes of Britain.
Nennius is most notable for being the first written source to mention Arthur, and it was primarily for this reason that I wanted to read his history. There isn't actually a great deal about him, he is mentioned simply as a great military leader who won a series of battles against the Saxons. The greatest of these was Mons Badonicus, where Nennius says Arthur slew 940 Saxons by his own hand. It was this brief reference that was taken by later writers and spun into the extraordinary romances about the Knights of the Round Table etc.
Another chronicler, Gildas, who lived about 300 years before Nennius, was the source of the information about the Battle of Mons Badonicus, but Gildas makes no reference to anyone called Arthur. He does mention a man called Ambrosius Aurelianus as a great military leader of the Britons. Ambrosius appears in Nennuis' text as someone with magical powers who, as a small boy, shows King Vortigern the vision of a red dragon battling with and overcoming a white dragon, which he says is a representation of the struggle between the Britons and the Saxons. Red and white are of course still today associated respectively with Wales and with England, and the red dragon symbol is incorporated within the modern flag of Wales.
So, however obscure Nennius himself has become, he had a big part in creating some of our most enduring cultural images. Quite a legacy really.
Nennius is most notable for being the first written source to mention Arthur, and it was primarily for this reason that I wanted to read his history. There isn't actually a great deal about him, he is mentioned simply as a great military leader who won a series of battles against the Saxons. The greatest of these was Mons Badonicus, where Nennius says Arthur slew 940 Saxons by his own hand. It was this brief reference that was taken by later writers and spun into the extraordinary romances about the Knights of the Round Table etc.
Another chronicler, Gildas, who lived about 300 years before Nennius, was the source of the information about the Battle of Mons Badonicus, but Gildas makes no reference to anyone called Arthur. He does mention a man called Ambrosius Aurelianus as a great military leader of the Britons. Ambrosius appears in Nennuis' text as someone with magical powers who, as a small boy, shows King Vortigern the vision of a red dragon battling with and overcoming a white dragon, which he says is a representation of the struggle between the Britons and the Saxons. Red and white are of course still today associated respectively with Wales and with England, and the red dragon symbol is incorporated within the modern flag of Wales.
So, however obscure Nennius himself has become, he had a big part in creating some of our most enduring cultural images. Quite a legacy really.
July 16, 2025
Probably the most clear, precise and simple history book of the ones Ive read. I was able to find some AWESOME tips on how the others link together and where each of their accounts may have sprung from including the origins of each of the tribes/nations!
Interesting tip, it describes Ireland as being a desert around... 3 thousand years ago? Or maybe it was four... anyhow AMAZING fodder for my storyworld and plots!
Interesting tip, it describes Ireland as being a desert around... 3 thousand years ago? Or maybe it was four... anyhow AMAZING fodder for my storyworld and plots!
January 11, 2020
Usual caveats: I'm not considering the historical or philological value of the work, but is it a good read? Well, no. The author's intention has been to put down everything he knew, and this he does in an almost stream of consciousness fashion. The text is full of repetition and contradiction. Interesting to have read it, but glad to be finished.
October 5, 2024
It's a bit of a struggle, reading J.A. Giles' translation of the Historia Brittonum, to know whether the difficulties and inconsistencies are the result of the original manuscript, the translator, or the conversion of the book to a free ebook publication. From what I can gather from the commentary within this edition as well as some quick searching, there are numerous manuscripts of the Historia Brittonum with a great many varieties of content and arrangement. While attributed, in some manuscripts, to a ninth century monk named Nennius, it is largely understood to be a document compiled from various sources over some time, and, thus, lacking in internal consistency. A quick look at the wikipedia page of John Allen Giles reveals that he translated quickly for booksellers - and perhaps may have stolen much of this translation? - and so there may not have been due care over consistency within the work.
There is still quite a lot that is interesting within this little history, which is largely concerned with how Vortigern allowed the Saxons Hengist and Horta to infiltrate Britain and ultimately conquer it. After a confused and often inaccurate history of Roman emperors, we turn to the time after the withdrawal and the conflict between Vortigern and someone named Ambrosius. In order to push his own claims over the isles, Vortigern repeatedly trusts and is betrayed by the Saxons. At one point, he flees to Wales where his attempts to build a castle in a bog are thwarted by the mysterious creatures living beneath the ground, and then by a child whose story is greatly elaborated by later authors. Once Vortigern is ultimately annihilated, we read the deeds of Arthur in twelve battles, then a brief life of St Patrick, before the story abruptly ends. In some versions, these sections are apparently flipped.
There follow translations of the genealogies of Saxon kings, appended to the document in Medieval times, but not the section De mirabilibus Britanniae, which is a shame because the genealogies are pretty dull while the Mirablia sounds genuinely interesting. Overall, the book is interesting as a source of early Arthuriana and putative British history, but not really worth reading for its own sake.
There is still quite a lot that is interesting within this little history, which is largely concerned with how Vortigern allowed the Saxons Hengist and Horta to infiltrate Britain and ultimately conquer it. After a confused and often inaccurate history of Roman emperors, we turn to the time after the withdrawal and the conflict between Vortigern and someone named Ambrosius. In order to push his own claims over the isles, Vortigern repeatedly trusts and is betrayed by the Saxons. At one point, he flees to Wales where his attempts to build a castle in a bog are thwarted by the mysterious creatures living beneath the ground, and then by a child whose story is greatly elaborated by later authors. Once Vortigern is ultimately annihilated, we read the deeds of Arthur in twelve battles, then a brief life of St Patrick, before the story abruptly ends. In some versions, these sections are apparently flipped.
There follow translations of the genealogies of Saxon kings, appended to the document in Medieval times, but not the section De mirabilibus Britanniae, which is a shame because the genealogies are pretty dull while the Mirablia sounds genuinely interesting. Overall, the book is interesting as a source of early Arthuriana and putative British history, but not really worth reading for its own sake.
September 16, 2023
Probably quite inaccurate. Good effort though Nennius.
September 14, 2022
I was going to move on to Le Morte d'Arthur but the book I found had 1300 pages! Is it really that long? It doesn't look that long...
So I saw this has 50 pages and was sold. While Monmouth thought he was the Homer of Britain, Nennius was very apologetic of his ignorance and deeply religious. This history had almost nothing about king Arthur. Just about a paragraph about his battle triumphs.
Vortigern, tho, is talked about A Lot, including the Merlin story but then says nothing else about Merlin. And called him Ambrose.
Most of the rest is lists of kings, this king begat that one and so forth. This volume indicates mankind's existence as only being only about a thousand or so years old and follows the biblical line of Adam to Brutus to kings of Britain.
Best part about this book is that it is short.
So I saw this has 50 pages and was sold. While Monmouth thought he was the Homer of Britain, Nennius was very apologetic of his ignorance and deeply religious. This history had almost nothing about king Arthur. Just about a paragraph about his battle triumphs.
Vortigern, tho, is talked about A Lot, including the Merlin story but then says nothing else about Merlin. And called him Ambrose.
Most of the rest is lists of kings, this king begat that one and so forth. This volume indicates mankind's existence as only being only about a thousand or so years old and follows the biblical line of Adam to Brutus to kings of Britain.
Best part about this book is that it is short.
October 5, 2020
This short book, first published in 1847 I believe, is a translation by John Allen Giles of a history written in the late 9th century, gathered from many sources, concerning mainly the Roman conquest to the Saxon conquest. Clearly, this is a difficult period to analyse at any time, but the original author, Nennius, could only attempt to tie everything into biblical and Latin tradition with endless genealogies and wild assumptions. The whole thing is a mess, near unreadable especially as the formatting of endless footnotes leaves much to be desired, but it is a fascinating glimpse into the mindset of the Dark Ages.
May 8, 2018
I read this with the intention of reading original source material of King Arthur. Overall I did enjoy it, although the majority of the Historia is about the lineage gymnastics used to trace back Briton kings back to Jerusalem. Some stuff about saints, names of the indigenous people of Briton, which was very cool, and a brief mention of King Arthur and his battles. The edition I read does not come with an added section called Mirabilla.
Note, I got this copy from gutenberg.com a translation by J.A. Giles.
Note, I got this copy from gutenberg.com a translation by J.A. Giles.
May 16, 2018
Written around 828, I wanted to read this “history” of the britons because it's the first written record that mentions Arthur, though he is an impressive general in this text rather than a king. It also mentions Merlin as a young boy, but under the name of Ambrosius. From that perspective it was interesting, though there was too much listing of names for it to be a riveting read. Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote The History of the Kings of Britain about 300 years after Historia Brittonum, which goes more in-depth into the Arthurian histories. I’d recommend that over this, for that same reason.
September 9, 2023
I’m not a scholar but found this fascinating having been led to it from Geoffrey/Gildas/Bede as well as a few contemporary Arthurian books (Philips/Keatman).
I think more people should read “dated” texts particularly if they have an interest in their history.
Anyway, I found it fascinating and enlightening and would like to think that there is at least a certain amount of genuine history of the British isles in it.
Thoroughly recommend to anyone who has gone down an early Middle Ages rabbit hole like I have
I think more people should read “dated” texts particularly if they have an interest in their history.
Anyway, I found it fascinating and enlightening and would like to think that there is at least a certain amount of genuine history of the British isles in it.
Thoroughly recommend to anyone who has gone down an early Middle Ages rabbit hole like I have
December 3, 2023
Ненний. История Бриттов. Архаичный труд валлийского монаха Ненния - один из первых источников знаний об Артуре и пост-римской Британии. Ненний кажается более привержен библейской истории и генеалогии героев от Ноя, а не от Энея. Труд много переписывался и справлялся, так что Юпитер оказывается потоком Хама. Большое место уделено историям о святых. Историческая часть менее фантастична и автор не так возвеличивает бриттов. Это бессвязное , но более "средневековое" произведение. В конце повесть о природных "чудесах" Британии. Один из главных исторических источников Гальфрида Монмутского.
February 28, 2017
That was short and sweet, and not very well to the point. It seems Nennius' main concern was to apply dates and genealogies to everything and everyone mentioned in the brief Christian history. Although it gives a great insight onto the importance of history and the who's who of early Britain, it gave no real information. It was a written adage taken from oral traditions. It's a quick read, but a confusing one.
October 22, 2020
This book is not interesting and does not want to be. It's a long list of names from father to son who made me incredibly dizzy. I read it to understand arthurian novels and in that regard I am incredibly pleased. However, any suggestion to re-read it or go back to it would be declined. There are some passages that are quite interesting, especially the ones that cove Vortigern.
Still does not make it an entertaining reading, just an informative list of names and periods.
Still does not make it an entertaining reading, just an informative list of names and periods.
July 15, 2018
Not bad for old history
Fairly dry at times. But for what it is and it's age it was quite interesting. Not sure about how factually accurate any of it is. Wouldn't recommend for someone simply looking for entertainment.
Fairly dry at times. But for what it is and it's age it was quite interesting. Not sure about how factually accurate any of it is. Wouldn't recommend for someone simply looking for entertainment.
Read
March 17, 2021i don't think there's a point to rating a 9th century (pseudo-)historical writing by a welsh monk. it isn't particularly a fun read but it contains the earliest mention of king arthur as a historical figure and that's basically it.
October 7, 2023
Jennings is one of the great sources of British history and pseudo-history, much like Geoffrey of Monmouth. This is a great adjunct to other traditions crafting the stories of The Arthurian Legend and a great book for source material.
January 20, 2019
Interesting read.
November 22, 2019
A lot more of a genealogy than history. Overall it was okay but nothing to write home about.
February 19, 2020
Originally written sometime in the latter half of the 1st Millennium, and thereafter added to and amended, this brief text seems to be mainly concerned with reconciling early British history along a Biblical timeline. Biblical genealogies are used as a framework for the history of not just Britain, but the population of large parts of Europe. I wonder, and I pose this as a question to anyone reading this, if this is the reason that professional historians and academics doubt the validity of some of this book as genuine "history"? I welcome your thoughts on this.
The majority of the narrative, with a polemic undertone, tells of Vortigern, the arrival of Hengist and Horsa, and the Night of the Long Knives; the formative story of Anglo-Saxon England. The latter part of the text consists mainly of the genealogies of various kings thereafter.
Interestingly, this has an early reference to Arthur, the first historical reference that I have read that predates all the Grail romances and Perceval legends. Alongside other sources this would seem to substantiate the notion of an 'historical Arthur' i.e a king or chieftain amongst the Ancient Britons who gained legendary status and lit the original fire that fed the latter romances.
Even more interesting, is the inference or allusion to a pre Roman, British Christian history; I was always taught that it was the infrastructure and administration of the wider Roman Empire that facilitated the dissemination of the Faith to Britain.
Worth reading if this period of history is of interest to you.
The majority of the narrative, with a polemic undertone, tells of Vortigern, the arrival of Hengist and Horsa, and the Night of the Long Knives; the formative story of Anglo-Saxon England. The latter part of the text consists mainly of the genealogies of various kings thereafter.
Interestingly, this has an early reference to Arthur, the first historical reference that I have read that predates all the Grail romances and Perceval legends. Alongside other sources this would seem to substantiate the notion of an 'historical Arthur' i.e a king or chieftain amongst the Ancient Britons who gained legendary status and lit the original fire that fed the latter romances.
Even more interesting, is the inference or allusion to a pre Roman, British Christian history; I was always taught that it was the infrastructure and administration of the wider Roman Empire that facilitated the dissemination of the Faith to Britain.
Worth reading if this period of history is of interest to you.
November 23, 2021
Interesting historically, and pleasingly short. Not much in the way of writing though, and anyone hoping to read about King Arthur is in for a disappointment.
May 20, 2022
Pretty interesting. It is noticable how intertwining historical accounts with mythological understanding is so prevalent among Humans. It is more stark the further back in time you go.
November 1, 2022
Always up for a little Welsh propaganda. Arthur gets short page time but really focuses the text as this mythical triumph against the big bad Saxons.
January 12, 2024
Nothing quite like debating whether or not Vortigern slept with his daughter.
August 18, 2024
Consigliato!
September 1, 2025
Absolute nonsense - but well-presented, fun absolute nonsense
October 29, 2025
Unsure of the accuracy of this but there were some brilliant visuals (I did not read the illustrated one), when you feel delighted while reading something you know it's a good book!
March 4, 2015
I read this as a follow-up to Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain, which was probably a good choice, since Geoffrey's History made Nennius' History more understandable, especially since Nennius just skims over a lot of material, most of which is fleshed out in Geoffrey's account.
However, I also found several instances in which Nennius and Geoffrey differed on the particulars of a story. In the case of Ambrose (the figure who later gives rise to Merlin Ambrosius of Arthurian legend), Geoffrey's account states that Ambrose was fathered by an incubus, while Nennius claims that Ambrose arose from a virgin birth. Various details in the story of Vortigern are likewise at odds between the two historians.
The "boring stuff" included a lot of fascinating old names, and a slew of "begats" (so-and-so fathered so-and-so, who fathered so-and-so, etc.).
I was particularly arrested by a random tidbit about a tower of glass in the middle of the sea, on which were allegedly a number of people who would not answer to the sailing passersby. When the people in the ship attempted to attack the tower, the sea swallowed them up. I don't know what merited this story's inclusion in the History, but I feel that The Tower of Glass is quite promising as the title of a fantasy novel, don't you?
Most modern scholars agree that these histories are somewhat fanciful, but they are still well worth reading, especially if you are studying Arthurian legend (as I am, in preparation for writing a book series) or if you simply enjoy learning more about ancient culture and thought-patterns.
However, I also found several instances in which Nennius and Geoffrey differed on the particulars of a story. In the case of Ambrose (the figure who later gives rise to Merlin Ambrosius of Arthurian legend), Geoffrey's account states that Ambrose was fathered by an incubus, while Nennius claims that Ambrose arose from a virgin birth. Various details in the story of Vortigern are likewise at odds between the two historians.
The "boring stuff" included a lot of fascinating old names, and a slew of "begats" (so-and-so fathered so-and-so, who fathered so-and-so, etc.).
I was particularly arrested by a random tidbit about a tower of glass in the middle of the sea, on which were allegedly a number of people who would not answer to the sailing passersby. When the people in the ship attempted to attack the tower, the sea swallowed them up. I don't know what merited this story's inclusion in the History, but I feel that The Tower of Glass is quite promising as the title of a fantasy novel, don't you?
Most modern scholars agree that these histories are somewhat fanciful, but they are still well worth reading, especially if you are studying Arthurian legend (as I am, in preparation for writing a book series) or if you simply enjoy learning more about ancient culture and thought-patterns.
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