Nennius (c. 769-??) was a Welsh historian and monk in the order of St. Elfodd. It could also be argued that Nennius was an author of historical fiction and a geographer of post-Roman Britain. He is believed to have lived in the area made up by present day
Brecknockshire and
Radnorshire counties in
Powys,
Wales.
[1] He is largely credited today for having authored the original manuscript of the
Historia Brittonum, which gives a semi-factual account of early British history beginning with Celtic and Roman founders and culminating around the time of Anglo-Saxon invasion. The
Historia Brittonium is a major contributor to the Arthurian legend. It also includes the legendary origins of the
Picts,
Scots,
St. Germanus,
Vortigern and documents the events associated with the
Anglo-Saxon invasion of the 7th century as contributed by a Northumbrian document.
[2]Nennius was the student of Elvodugus (Elbodug). Elbodug is commonly identified with the bishop Elfoddw of Gwynedd, who convinced the rest of the Welsh portion of Celtic Christianity to celebrate Easter on the same date as the other Catholics in Britain in 768, and is later stated by the Annales Cambriae to have died in 809. Little is known about the monastic life of Nennius other than his association with Elbodug the Bishop of Bangor. Nennius lived outside the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms isolated by mountains in a rural society.[3] Through the writings and accounts of the Historia Brittonium we know that Nennius did travel throughout present day Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England.[4] Because of the lack of evidence concerning the life of Nennius, he has become the subject of legend himself. Nennius is often referred to as "Abbott of Bangor Yscoed". In association with Elbodug, this name comes from adopted Welsh traditions that include Nennius with others that escaped the massacre of Welsh monks by Ethelfrid in 613.[5] by fleeing to Scotland.
Nennius is accredited for writing the Historia Brittonum in c. 830.[6] Evidence suggests that this medieval literature was a compilation of several sources; some of which are named by Nennius others are not. Some experts say that this was not the first compiled history of the Britons and that it was largely based on Gildas De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae written some two centuries prior.[7] Most of these sources have not survived and therefore cannot be confirmed. The surviving manuscripts of the Historia Brittonum as we know it today appear to have several editions. One such example of this can be found in the comparison of the information about Nennius contained in the Prologue and in the Apology. The Prologue contains an expanded form of what the Apology says and is only found in editions printed during the 12th century leading experts to believe the document was altered in later editions.[8] The largest known edition contains seventy-six sections including the Prologue and the Apology. The work was translated into Irish by Giolla Coemgin in c. 1071 and is the earliest example of the original Historia Britonum;[9] however, the Irish translation still carries the author’s name Nennius.[10]
Originally written as a history of the Britons in an attempt to document a legitimate past, the Historia Brittonum contains stories of legend and superstition alike.[11] The historical accuracy of the Historia Brittonum is at best questionable and serves more as historical fiction rather than a legitimate history of the Britons. Although, some historians argue that the Historia Brittonum gives good insight into the way 9th century Britons viewed themselves and their past.[12] Nennius makes several attempts to trace the history of the Britons back to the Romans and Celts through his empirical observations of what he refers to as "The Marvels" or "Wonders of Britain".[13] These include ruins, landmarks and other aspects of the British countryside that Nennius deems worthy of documentation. His explanation of the physical landmarks and ruins take on a very mystical interpretation despite Nennius being a Christian monk. Within the writing of Nennius is a sense of pseudo-nationalist pride attempting to legitimize the people of Britain and embellish the past through legend much as the Romans used the story of Romulus and Remus to legitimize the founding of Rome.[14] One such example of Nennius stressing legend is in his accounts of Arthur and his twelve battles. The Historia Brittonum would come to be the basis on which later medieval authors such as Geoffrey of Monmouth would write the romantic histories of King Arthur.[15]
