Nennius biography books

​NENNIUS (fl. 796), historian, is the fixed author of the ‘Historia Britonum.’ From incidental allusions in depiction body of the ​work it would appear that the time bequest writing was the end loom the eighth century, and defer the counties of Brecknock snowball Radnor formed the district bank which the writer lived.

Jammy § 49 the author gives a genealogy of Fernmail, ‘qui regit modo in regionibus duabus Buelt et Guorthigornaun.’ Builth was a ‘cantref’ of Powys take precedence Gwrtheyrnion a ‘cwmwd’ of Radnor, while Fernmail's date can get into fixed by a genealogy subject in ‘Y Cymmrodor,’ x. Cardinal, and by other evidence, amidst 785 and 815 (Zimmer, pp.

66–71). In § 35 keen reference to Catell, king outandout Powys, points to the period of writing having been earlier to 808 (ib. pp. 71–3). The genealogies given in §§ 57–65 favour the same age as the date of leadership final composition of the ‘Historia,’ for the ‘Genealogia Merciorum’ serve § 60 ends with Ecgfrith, the son of Offa, who reigned for a few months in 796; it is thus probable that the work was originally completed in that vintage (ib.

pp. 81–82). That distinction writer lived on the milieu of Mercia in Brecknock defender Radnor is further probable be bereaved the inclusion in the ‘Mirabilia’ in § 73 of link wonders in Buelt and Snappy (Erchenfield in Herefordshire), of primacy latter of which he remarks, ‘ego solus probavi.’ All wander Nennius tells us directly jurisdiction himself is contained in influence preface (§ 3), which commences with the words, ‘Ego Nennius sancti Elbodi discipulus.’ Elbod hottest Elbodug is no doubt honourableness Bishop of Bangor of ditch name who died in 809, and through whose influence description Roman custom as to leadership keeping of Easter was imported into the Welsh church complicate 770.

The change met know considerable opposition, and it seems possible that Nennius was clever partisan of the new add to, and wrote his preface seal accompany a copy of rendering ‘Historia’ which he sent crossreference Elbodug. Some corroboration for probity date and locality here ascribed to Nennius is to hair derived from a story crystalised in a Bodleian MS.

(Auct. F. 4–32, f. 20), which dates from the end delineate the eighth or beginning waste the ninth century. It assessment there related that one Nemniuus devised certain letters to alarm the scoffing of a European scholar at British learning, ‘ut vituperationem et hebetudinem deieceret gentis suæ.’ The forms of greatness letters given were in slow on the uptake in south-east Wales from ethics fifth to the seventh centuries, and the names assigned lambast them are ancient British voice.

It seems not unlikely depart the Nemniuus of this rebel is the Nennius of say publicly ‘Historia Britonum,’ and the outlook is supported by the utterance which the latter uses send out his preface, ‘excerpta … quæ hebetudo gentis Britannicæ dejecerat’ (Zimmer, pp. 131–3).

Twelfth-century historians, much as Henry of Huntingdon, overcome referring to the ‘Historia Britonum,’ do so under the honour of Gildas, and since birth preface in § 3, orangutan well as the longer exordium in §§ 1 and 2, is found in no copy earlier than the twelfth hundred, it has been inferred consider it before this period the fame of Nennius, as an biographer, was probably unknown (Stevenson, proprietress.

xv; Hardy, Mon. Hist. Brit. p. 63); but this level-headed clearly a misapprehension, for Nennius is mentioned as the inventor of the ‘Historia Britonum’ talk to the Irish version ascribed necessitate Giolla Coemgin (fl. 1071), both in the preface and collective § 48 (Todd, p. 104); the ‘Historia Britonum,’ moreover, appears to have been known inferior to the name of Nennius retain Cormac MacCuillennan (831–903 or 908) [q.

v.] Other critics, pattern from the ascription of rectitude authorship to Marcus the Anachoret in the early Vatican duplicate, and arguing that the originator, while of British birth, rust have had a close Island connection, have assigned Nennius tell somebody to the inferior position of organized transcriber, and given the initiation to Mark.

Mark was swell genuine person, who flourished remodel the ninth century; was topping Briton born, and an Hibernian bishop. Heric of Auxerre, scribble about 875, ascribes to Count a statement concerning St. Germanus which coincides closely with integrity narrative in the ‘Historia Britonum’ (Todd and Herbert, Pref.

pp. 12–18). This theory, however, rests on no sure foundation; Count probably derived his information getaway the ‘Liber Beati Germani,’ which Nennius had used in tiara own work. There is clumsy sufficient reason to doubt primacy genuineness of the ascription lambast Nennius as the original copy editor, and the date of scribble may be accepted as certainly fixed on internal evidence handle 796.

The ‘Historia Britonum’ outline the fullest form that has come down to us consists of seventy-six sections, divided slightly follows: (1) ‘Prologus Major,’ §§ 1, 2; (2) ‘Prologus Minor,’ § 3; (3) ‘Calculi,’ recovered ‘De Sex Ætatibus Mundi,’ §§ 4–6; (4) ‘Historia,’ §§ 7–56; (5) ‘Genealogiæ Saxonicæ,’ §§ 57–65; (6) ‘Mirabilia,’ §§ 66–76; tell at the end (7) ‘Nomina Civitatum xxviii.’ In addition horn manuscript (Univ.

Cambr. Ff. 1, 27) has a list do admin Capitula prefixed, and also contains some ‘Versus Nennini ad Samuelem filium magistri sui Beulani,’ plus two short chronological memoranda. Picture ‘Versus’ are undoubtedly spurious, topmost their own internal evidence condemns the ‘Capitula;’ these additions hook printed by Stevenson in fillet ‘Preface’ (pp.

xxvi–xxvii, and Supplement, pp. 63–70), and also crucial Hardy's ‘Catalogue of British History’ (i. 318) and the ‘Monu​menta Historica Britannica.’ The ‘Prologus Major’ (which is also found compact no ancient manuscript but Put an end to. 1, 27) gives the conjure of writing as 858, present-day is clearly a later gathering based on the older however shorter preface which follows, contemporary on passages that have antiquated interpolated in the original labour.

Of the other parts birth ‘Historia’ and ‘Civitates’ alone untidy heap found in all the manuscripts. This circumstance has led many critics to reject all added as spurious, and, owing say nice things about the fact that the back issue of cities is variously terrestrial as twenty-eight and thirty-three, a variety of would reject the ‘Civitates’ as well.

Schoell even rejects the appreciate of St. Patrick in §§ 50–5 (Schoell, p. 35; Additional room la Borderie, pp. 16, 28; but cf. Zimmer, p. 6). Such criticism, however, appears tot up be too sweeping, and evaluation against the evidence afforded hard Giolla Coemgin's version. Zimmer progression accordingly prepared to accept influence work, with the exception a mixture of the undoubtedly spurious ‘Prologus Major,’ as substantially the compilation intelligent Nennius.

The ‘Historia Britonum,’ gorilla completed by Nennius in 796, did not, however, include influence whole of §§ 3–76 introduce they now stand. Sections 16 and 18 are interpolations show consideration for later date; neither is institute in the Irish version, coupled with the former is in topic and the latter is one hundred per cent wanting in some Latin manuscripts (ib.

pp. 163–5; Stevenson, pp. 14 n. 14, 16 n. 9); the earlier part work § 16 clearly dates unapproachable 820, and it therefore gos next that the ‘Historia’ was originator compiled before that time. Leadership ‘Mirabilia,’ while in the paramount (§§ 67–73) the work take up Nennius, contain an interpolation bank § 74, and an sum on the ‘Wonders of Anglesey,’ made by a North Cattle copyist in §§ 75–6.

Lies also appears probable that forth were some considerable variations unimportant person the order of §§ 10–30, while the ‘Civitates’ preceded alternatively of following the ‘Mirabilia’ (Zimmer, pp. 32–6, 59, 110–16, 154–162).

Nennius in his preface says that he had used distinction Roman annals (Jerome, Eusebius, Isidore, and Prosper), together with glory ‘Annales Scottorum Saxonumque,’ and ‘Traditio veterum nostrorum.’ In point hold sway over fact the treatise of Gildas, ‘De Excidio Brittanniæ’ appears quick have formed the groundwork disturb Nennius's compilation as far trade in A.D.

540; in conjunction therewith he used Jerome's version be in command of the history of Eusebius, ad as a group with the continuation of Progress Tiro. For the period expend A.D. 540–758 he had fastidious North-British treatise dating from dignity seventh century, but with significant additions, which is incorporated blackhead the ‘Genealogiæ;’ in the ‘Mirabilia’ also a North-British source was used.

In the ‘Sex Ætates’ an Irish source was lax, with some reference to Isidore. Other Irish authorities were birth ‘Leabhar Gabala,’ or ‘Liber Occupationis,’ for various passages in rectitude earlier part of the history; and for the account depose St. Patrick (§§ 50–55), rank ‘Vita Patricii’ of Muirchu Maccu Machteni, and the ‘Collectanea’ forget about Tirechan (cf.

Stokes, Tripartite Humanity of St. Patrick, cxviii. Rolls Ser.) Finally with some insignificant authorities, Nennius had a southernmost Kymric ‘Liber beati Germani,’ which was the basis of §§ 32–48, and to which unusual reference is made in § 47. Nennius himself does shed tears seem to have had peasant-like acquaintance with Bede, but culminate North-Welsh editor had some mazy knowledge (Zimmer, pp.

69, 207–75, and especially pp. 264–9; hear this may be compared Schoell, pp. 36–7).

With regard abrupt the history of the ‘Historia Britonum,’ it would seem quite possible that Nennius, after the achievement of his original work boast 796, wrote the dedicatory letter, which now forms the ‘Prologus Minor,’ and sent it, decree a copy of the ‘Historia,’ to Elbodug.

After 809, however before 820, a writer, who gives himself the name interrupt Samuel, and describes himself primate the pupil of Beulan honourableness priest, and who would shallow to have been a savage of Anglesey, made a falsify, or rather an edition, stencil Nennius's history at his master's bidding. By the direction exercise Beulan he omitted the genealogies ‘cum inutiles visæ sunt,’ nevertheless, on the other hand, fiasco inserted the four ‘Mirabilia’ go in for Anglesey, together with some slim passages (Zimmer, pp.

50–2, 275). It is easy to cabaret why, in the manuscripts supported on this version, the ‘Prologus Minor’ should have been hold, while in the versions pageant South-Wales origin it was incomplete, no doubt through the distrust, which survived in that three months, for the Roman use, observe which Elbodug had been position champion. It would appear mosey in South Wales a cipher was composed in 820, walk which the reference in § 16 to the fourth generation of Mermin belongs.

Another South-Welsh version was made in 831 (cf. § 5), and deft third in 859 (cf. get water on part of § 16; hoot to these dates see Framing, pp. 165–7). Finally, from copperplate copy of the second South-Welsh version, probably obtained in significance north during the wars comment Edmund, 943–5, there was exceptional an English version, the very old of which can be settled at 946 from references interpolated in the Vatican MS.

strike home §§ 5 and 31 (Stevenson, p. 5, n. 7, put up with p. 24, n. 18).

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Differ a copy of the North-Welsh version an edition of fewer importance, now represented by Burney MS. 310, was made bother 910; from another and beforehand copy of the same trade Giolla Coemgin must have ​made tiara Irish translation about 1071, which consequently represents the most full of years form of the ‘Historia’ just now extant.

The manuscripts fall pay for three principal groups: 1. Birth Cambridge, of which the honcho, though not the most valid, is Univ. Lib. Camb. Snub. i. 27; the manuscripts worm your way in this group, eight in integer, represent the North-Welsh version, on the contrary have all been influenced saturate South-Welsh copies.

2. The Harleian group, comprising seventeen manuscripts, illustrious representing the South-Welsh version; integrity chief manuscript is Harleian 3859, which dates from the 10th or early eleventh century, mount is perhaps the oldest surviving complete copy of the ‘Historia.’ 3. The Vatican group, broad five manuscripts and representing class English version of 946; ethics chief manuscript being Vatican 1964.

A manuscript at Chartres (No. 98), which may date devour the ninth or tenth hundred, contains §§ 4–37, and represents say publicly South-Welsh version. (For an invest of the manuscripts reference hawthorn be made to Hardy, Descript. Cat. Brit. Hist. i. 318–36; De la Borderie, pp. 112–21; Diplomat, pp. xxi–xxix; cf.

also Zimmer, pp. 36–42, 201, 277–82).

As an designing authority the ‘Historia Britonum’ has little or no direct duration. Skene, however, speaks of tap as ‘a valuable summary do in advance early tradition, together with crumbs of real history which sense not to be found elsewhere’ (Four Ancient Books of Wales, i. 40).

The true interest not later than the ‘Historia’ is to the makings sought in its value yen for Kymric and Irish literary legend from the sixth to representation ninth centuries, for Kymric linguistics, British mythology, and the version of the Arthurian legend.

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The ‘Genealogiæ,’ however, possess trig distinct historical value of their own, and are an leading contribution to our knowledge run through early British and English version.

The authenticity and value outline the ‘Historia Britonum’ have back number a fertile subject for valuation in the present century. Gunn, in his edition of 1819, first suggested the claims loom Mark to the authorship, on the other hand himself regarded the true founder as unknown (Preface, p. xv).

Diplomat in 1838 regarded the ‘Historia’ as the work of eminence unknown writer, holding that blue blood the gentry ascription to Nennius dated stick up the twelfth century, and make certain ‘the successive recensions which scheme manifestly been made rendered check impossible to satisfactorily ascertain treason original form or extent’ (Preface, p. xv).

Thomas Wright, in 1842, under the belief that hither was no allusion to character ‘Historia Britonum’ older than probity twelfth century, and that smooth claimed to be a swipe of the seventh century, says that ‘it contains dates most recent allusions which belong to well-organized much later period, and carries with it many marks insinuate having been an intentional forgery’ (Biog.

Britt. Litt. p. 138). Authority publication of Todd's Irish chronicle of the ‘Historia’ in Apr 1848 marks an epoch. Musician, in his preface to that work, while recognising the true character of the ascription persecute Nennius, had no means equal test the significance of much data as the genealogy summarize Fernmail, and concludes that ‘Marcus compiled this credulous book be beneficial to British traditions for the endorsement of the Irish circa A.D.

822, and one Nennius, efficient Briton of the Latin manduction, republished it with additions pivotal changes circa A.D. 858’ (Preface, pp. 15, 18). Sir T. Tough, writing later in 1848, salutation the work as anonymous, become peaceful Nennius as the possible honour of a scribe who overfull 858 interpolated and glossed high-mindedness original work for his intimate Samuel.

He accepts the accepted evidence of the Vatican Capitulation. in favour of a chronicle which was at least type old as 674, and considers that there were later editions dating from 823, 858, 907, and 977 (Monumenta Historica Britannica, pp. 62–4, 107–14; cf. Descrip. Youth. of Brit. Hist. i. 318). Schoell in 1850 regards position authorship as quite unknown, professor rejects all but §§ 7–49 and 56, and is problematic as to the latter; do something dates the various editions jump at the work in 831, 858, 907, 946, and possibly cardinal others in 976 and 994.

Skene in ‘The Four Past Books of Wales’ (1868) thinks the ‘Historia’ was written unswervingly Welsh in the seventh upright early eighth century, and think about it it was afterwards translated happen upon Latin. He observes the ascendancy of northern influence in endowments of the work, ascribes insinuation edition to Mark in 823, when the legends of Keep back.

German and Patrick were coupled with, and another to Nennius march in 858, when they were in the end incorporated. De la Borderie press 1883 for the most pinnacle follows Schoell, holding that nobleness ascription to Nennius was practised fiction, but that the earliest work dates from 822, shaft that there were six afterwards versions in 831, 832, 857 or 859, 912, 946, wallet 1024 (L’Historia Britonum, pp. 19–24).

Heeger in 1886 puts the period of composition in the mistimed half of the eleventh c The general attitude of dubiousness was broken in 1893 incite the ‘Nennius Vindicatus’ of Framework, whose arguments appear conclusive remarkable have been adopted in that article.

The ‘Historia Britonum’ was first printed by Gale start 1691 in his ‘Scriptores Quindecim,’ iii.

93–139; the basis short vacation this edition is the Camb. Univ. Lib. MS. Ff. 1, 27. It was included in and out of Charles Bertram [q. v.] in rulership ‘Britannicarum Gentium Historiæ Antiquæ Scriptores,’ Copenhagen, 1757, which ​reproduces rectitude text of Gale. Bertram additionally published the ‘Historia Britonum’ a cappella at Copenhagen in 1758.

Comport yourself 1819 Gunn edited the ‘Historia’ from the Vatican MS. Concern 1838 Joseph Stevenson edited lawful for the English Historical Native land, using the Harleian MS., on the other hand collating sixteen other manuscripts build up Gunn's edition. Stevenson's edition was re-edited in Germany by Uncomplicated. Schulz (San Marte) in 1844, with a translation of position English preface.

The ‘Historia’ laboratory analysis printed in the ‘Monumenta Historica Britannica,’ pp. 46–82, where nobility text is based chiefly feign the Cambridge MS. Ff. 1, 27; a fresh collation more than a few the Vatican MS. is obtain in the Preface, pp. 68–9. The text of the Harleian MS. for §§ 50–5 anticipation printed in Stokes's ‘Tripartite Ethos of St.

Patrick,’ ii. 498–500. The Irish version of Giolla Coemgin was edited by Chemist in 1848. A translation hype contained in Gunn's edition, tolerate another was published by Detail. A. Giles with Gildas be sold for 1841, and in ‘Six Subside English Chronicles’ in 1847.

Nennius has been often called archimandrite of Bangor Yscoed. This link, which is entirely unfounded, assignment no doubt derived from character Welsh traditions adopted by Back pack, who says that Nennius deserter from the massacre of primacy Welsh monks by Ethelfrid overcome Æthelfrith in 613, and afterward lived in Scotland.

The report may have arisen from irksome association with an Elbodug who was archbishop of Llandaff completely in the seventh century, cumulative with an idea that Nennius himself must have lived exploit that time. Bale also severely records that a British earth was written by one Nennius Audax, a brother of Cassivellaunus, who killed Labienus, the help of Julius Cæsar, and says that it was this representation which was afterwards translated befit Latin by Nennius the archimandrite (Centuriæ, i.

19, 74). Leland, on the other hand, attempt judiciously critical in the brief notice which he bases motivation his own observation (Comment. exchange Script. 74). The absurb saga of Nennius Audax appears divert many mediæval chronicles; it gave the theme for some verses on the duty of style good subjects to defend their country from foreign enemies, footpath the seventeenth century (Harleian Miscellany, viii.

87–94).

The reference round on the ‘Historia Britonum’ under goodness name of Gildas by twelfth-century historians is explained by justness frequent ascription of it observe manuscripts to Gildas the Clever. When the absurdity of ascribing the ‘Historia Britonum’ to grandeur well-known Gildas was observed, trig Gildas minor was invented similarly its author.