Nennius facts for kids

Nennius (sometimes spelled Nemnius or Nemnivus) was a Welsh monk who lived in the 800s. Many people have traditionally believed he wrote an important history book called the Historia Brittonum. However, some historians think this idea came later, around the 900s.

Nennius was a student of Elvodugus. This teacher is thought to be Elfodd, a bishop from Bangor. Elfodd helped Welsh church leaders agree on the correct date for Easter. He passed away in the year 809.

It's believed Nennius lived in an area of Wales that is now Powys. This means he lived outside the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Mountains helped keep his community separate and rural. Because we don't have much information about Nennius's life, he has become part of Welsh legends. Some stories say he escaped a massacre of Welsh monks in 613.

The Historia Brittonum and Nennius

Nennius is traditionally given credit for writing the Historia Brittonum around the year 830. This book was very important. It helped shape the famous King Arthur legends. It included stories that were part of the debate about whether King Arthur was a real person.

The book also tells about the legendary beginnings of the Picts and Scots. It mentions important figures like St. Germanus and Vortigern. It even includes events from the Anglo-Saxon invasion in the 600s.

Historians believe the Historia Brittonum was put together from many different sources. Some of these sources Nennius mentioned by name, but others he didn't. Some experts think this wasn't the first history of the Britons. They believe it was largely based on a book by Gildas called De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae. That book was written about 200 years earlier.

Other sources for the Historia Brittonum included a "Life of St Germanus" and family trees of kings. Most of the other sources are now lost, so we can't check them. The copies of the Historia Brittonum we have today seem to be changed versions of older, lost books. Information about Nennius in the "Prologue" (introduction) and "Apology" (explanation) sections is different. The "Prologue" has a longer version of the "Apology" that only shows up in copies made in the 1100s. This makes experts think later versions of the book were changed.

The biggest known version of the book has 76 sections. This includes the "Prologue" and "Apology." The book was translated into Irish around 1071. This Irish version is the earliest one that clearly names Nennius as the author.

The Historia Brittonum was written to document the history of the Britons. It aimed to give them a real past. However, the book also contains legends and superstitions. Its historical accuracy is often questioned. Still, the book is consistent within itself. It also gives us clues about Nennius's sources.

Some historians say the Historia Brittonum helps us understand how Britons in the 800s saw themselves. Nennius tried to connect the Britons' history back to the Romans and Celts. He did this by observing what he called "The Marvels" or "Wonders of Britain." These included old ruins, famous landmarks, and other parts of the British countryside. Nennius thought these were important to write about.

Even though Nennius was a Christian monk, his explanations of these landmarks often had a mystical meaning. His writing shows a sense of national pride. He tried to make the people of Britain seem important. He also added legends to make the past seem grander. This is similar to how the Romans used the story of Romulus and Remus to make the founding of Rome seem more special.

One example of Nennius using legend is his stories about Arthur and his twelve battles. The Historia Brittonum later became the basis for books by medieval authors. One such author was Geoffrey of Monmouth. He wrote the Historia Regum Britanniae, which was an early history of King Arthur. However, Nennius never called Arthur a king. Instead, he called him a "Dux Bellorum," meaning a military commander who led the kings of Britain in battle.

Debate About Nennius's Life and Works

The introduction, or "Prologue," where Nennius explains why he wrote the British History, first appears in a copy from the 1100s. The introductions in all other copies are very similar. This makes some experts think they are all copies of that first one.

One expert, William Newell, said that the introduction seems to have been written by someone who already had the finished book. He thought it might have been added later. He also disagreed with another historian, Zimmer. Newell suggested that the Irish person who translated the book might have added their own ideas. He also argued that if a Latin version of the Historia was available in the 1100s, it would have been copied in Latin, not translated.

Another historian, David N. Dumville, argues that the way the copies were made and the nature of the "Prologue" itself don't prove Nennius wrote the Historia Brittonum. He points out a small difference in the Irish translation. He concludes that "we must admit to ignorance of the name of [the Historia's] ninth-century author." This means we don't really know who wrote it.

Other Important Historians

• Gildas – He was a historian from the 500s who lived in southwest Britain. He wrote De excidio et conquestu Britanniae. This book mainly focused on the history of Christian Britain. However, it didn't give much detail about the earlier pagan period.
• Bede (the Venerable Bede) – He lived in Northumbria about 50 years before Nennius. He wrote Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People). He worked on it for many years, finishing around 731 or 732. His book describes the British Isles. It mainly focuses on the history of the Anglo-Saxon Church. It starts with St. Augustine's mission in 597, but also covers earlier times.
• William of Malmesbury – He was a historian from the early 1100s. He wrote about British history by combining Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman stories. He was the first English historian to use places and old monuments as historical sources.
• Geoffrey Gaimar – He was a Norman historian from the 1100s. He wrote L'Estoire des Engleis. This was the first known romance story written in poetry in England.