Geoffrey of Monmouth's opus, finished in 1136, which purports to be the true history of the isle of
Britain from its settlement by
Brutus the
Trojan, son of
Aneas, to the death of
Cadawallader in the seventh century. The majority of the book is composed of
euhemerized gods and
myths; starting with the coming of the
Romans in the first century BC, he has to be that much more truthful, and the figures become real people like
Cymbeline (
Cunobelinos) and
Coel (
Old King Cole). However, the majority of figures are mythological. Geoffrey claims to be translating from a Welsh texts; this may be true, but that doesn't make the text true.
It is from Geoffrey that we get many of our Arthurian legends. For instance, the figure of Merlin was rescued from Welsh obscurity and placed into Geoffrey's work as a prophet who counciled Arthur's father and engendered Arthur's begetting. Gawain is here, as is Mordred, but later figures like Lancelot are nonexistant, being the creation of Romance and half-rememberd myth. The account of Arthur's wounding at Cammlan and subsequent sailing to Avalon is first recounted here.
The list of Geoffrey's kings is the following:
Brutus: Eponym of Britain; however, Britain is actually derived from Prydein
Locrinus: Eponym of Llogyr (England)
Gwendolen
Maddan
Mempricius
Ebraucus: Eponym of York (Eboracum)
Brutus Greenshield
Leil: Eponym of Carlisle (Caer Leil); Celtic God Leir
Rud Hud Hudibras
Bladud: Celtic God
Leir: Celtic God Llyr, Lir, Ler, King Lear
Queen Cordelia: Celtic Goddess
Marganus I: Misplaced King of Glywysing
Cunedagius: Misplaced King of Gwynedd
Rivallo: Misplaced King of Domnonee
Gurgastius
Sisillius I
Jago
Kimarcus
Gorboduc
Ferrex
Porrex I
(five unnamed kings)
Dunvallo Molmutius
Belinus: Celtic God Belinos or Beli Mawr
Brennius: Celtic God Bran/Bendigedfran
Gurguit Barbtruc
Guithelin
Queen Marcia
Sisillius II
Kinarius
Danius
Morvidus
Gorbonianus
Elidurus
Ingenius
Peredurus
Archgallo
Elidurus (again)
Archgallo (again)
Elidurus (again)
Son of Gorbonianus
Marganus II
Enniaunus
Idvallo
Runo
Gerennus
Catellus
Millus
Porrex II
Cherin
Fulgenius
Edadus
Andragius
Urianus
Eliud
Cledaucus
Clotenus
Gurgintius
Merianus
Bledudo
Cap
Oenus
Sisillius III
Beldgabred
Archmail
Eldol
Redon
Redechius
Samuil
Penessil
Pir
Capoir
Digueillus
Heli: Celtic god Beli, Belinos, Belinus, Beli Mawr
Lud: Celtic god Lludd, Nudd
Cassivelaunus: Historical, or Celtic god Caswallawn
Tenvantius
Cymbeline: Cunobelinos
Guiderius
Arviragus
Marius
Coilus
Lucius (d. 156 AD)
Sulgenius
Severus
Geta
Bassianus
Carausius
Allectus
Asclepiodotus
Coel: Old King Cole
Constantius
Constantine I
Octavius
Trahern
Maximianus: based on Maximus, origin of Macsen/Maxen from the Mabinogion
Gracianus
Constantine II
Constans
Vortigern
Vortimer
Aurelius Ambrosius: also called Ambrosius Aurelinus
Uther Pendragon
Arthur (d. 542): King Arthur, of course.
Constantine III
Aurelius Conanus
Vortiporus
Malgo (better known as Maelgwn Gwynedd
Keredic
(three unnamed tyrants)
Cadvan
Cadwallo
Cadwallader (d. 689)
Geoffrey's influence cannot be understated--it is from him that Shakespeare got the stories for King Lear and Cymbeline.