GeoffreyMonmouth

GeoffreyMonmouth wasclergymanone ofmajor figures indevelopmentBritish history. Bornabout 1100Wales, he probably had some Breton blood. After graduating from Oxford University, he became archdeaconLlandaff and/or Monmouth,in 1152 he rose topositionbishopSt Asaph. He died around 1154.

GeoffreyMonmouth wrote several worksinterest. The earliest oneappear was Prophetiae Merlini or "The PropheciesMerlin," which he wrote at some point before 1135. Geoffrey presentedseriesapocalyptic narratives aswork ofearlier Merlin who, until Geoffrey's book came out, was known as "Myrddin". (Itassumed that Geoffrey changedname ofseeravoid an unwanted association withFrench word merde.) The first work innon-Welsh language about this legendary prophet, this was widely read -and believed much aspropheciesNostradamuscenturies later.

Next was Historia Regum Britanniae("The History ofKingsBritain"),work best knownmodern readers. It claimsrelatehistory ofpre-Saxon kingsBritain, but muchit, such asidea that Aeneas wasancestor offirst lineBritish kings,perhaps more legend than truth. Itone offirst textsmention King Arthur andfirst surviving textmention King Lear (as King Leir),it continuedinfluence British writershistoriansseveral centuries.

Lastly, Geoffrey wroteVita Merlini ("The LifeMerlin") at some point between 11491151. ThisGeoffrey's own retelling earlier Merddin legend from Welsh tradition.

Allthese books were writtenLatin, as were all learned works ofmedieval period.

English Translations Available onWeb:

• Historia Regum Britanniae:
  • By Aaron Thompsonrevisions by J. A. Giles at http://www.yorku.ca/inpar/geoffrey_thompson.pdf.
  • (Arthurian passages only) editedtranslated by J. A. Giles at http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/geofhkb.htm.
  • Brut y Bryttaniait, translated frommedieval Welsh version (which hasfew interesting differences) by Wm. R. Cooper at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.gascoigne/chronicle_of_the_early_britons.pdf.
• Vita Merlini:
  • By Basil Clarke at http://www.geocities.com/branwaedd/merlini.html.