Late Antique Historiography

History of the Britons

Title(s):
  • History of the Britons
  • Historia Brittonum
    (Historia Brittonum, History of the Britons)
Author:
Period covered:
Julius Caesar-author's time?
Language:
Latin
State of Preservation:
Hypothetical
Genre:
  • Secular history (ethnic history)
  • Secular history (general)
Remarks:
The History of the Britons is the original core of the compilation by Nennius. Reconstructions of that core vary, as does its dating. Lot (1934: 37) suggests the sixth century, Dumville (1975/76) dates the History of the Britons to the early ninth century. Morris (1978: 1-2) identifies the History of the Britons as the first edition of Nennius, and dates it to the end of the eighth century.
Edition - Translation:
Fragments:
Users:
Sources:
Bibliography:
  • D.N. Dumville (1975-1976) 'Nennius and the 'Historia Brittonum'. Studia Celtica 10-11: 78-95.
  • F. Lot (1934) Nennius et l'Historia Brittonum: Étude critique suivie d'une édition des diverses versions de ce texte. Paris: 219-225.
  • T. Mommsen (1898) (ed.) Chronica minora saec. IV.V.VI.VII. Volume Three (Monumenta Germaniae historica: Auctores antiquissimi, 13). Berlin: 111-222.
  • J. Morris (1978) Nennius: The British history and the Welsh annals. London.