Who's Who in Medieval History
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
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Born: Sometime in the 8th century
Died: After 800
What little is known about Nennius comes from the author himself, who in his preface to his Historia Brittonum describes himself as a disciple of the chief bishop in Gwynedd, Elvodugus or Elbotus (died 809). We therefore know that Nennius was probably Welsh and alive at the turn of the ninth century.
Nennius' sole surviving work is the Historia Brittonum ("History of the Britons"), a significant early history whose value is diminished by the tendency of its author to mix in oral tradition and myth with historical record. Making the Historia even more difficult for the scholar to navigate is its many versions and later interpolations. It is uncertain whether the segment on Arthur was actually written by Nennius or inserted in one of the later versions. Historians are also unable to reach a consensus as to whether Nennius composed the Historia Brittonum himself or adapted and edited an earlier version.
But Nennius does not hold himself up as an authority on times past, disclaiming in his "Apology":
- Many teachers and scribes have attempted to write
this, but somehow or other have abandoned it . . . I pray that
every reader who shall read this book, may pardon me, for having
attempted, like a chattering jay, or like some weak witness, to
write these things, after they had failed. I yield to him who
knows more of these things than I do.
Nennius on the Web
- 'I
Have Made a Heap of All that I could Find'
Friendly introduction to the work of Nennius and its implications, by Dr Tom J Rees.
Wikipedia:
Nennius
Brief but well-hyperlinked explanation of the two separate
historical figures who may have gone by "Nennius" or a similar
name.
Nennius in Print
The link below will take you to a site where you can compare prices at booksellers across the web. More in-depth info about the book may be found by clicking on to the book's page at one of the online merchants
- History
of the Britons
(Penguin)
by Nennius
Dark-Age Britain
Medieval Wales
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