This new course begins in A.D. 1135, when British cleric Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote a remarkable book still in print today: The History of the Kings of Britain. Writing in Latin used by 12th century scholars and their Norman rulers, Geoffrey compiled material from earlier “histories,” but stated his primary source was one “ancient book in the British language that told in orderly fashion the deeds of all the kings of Britain.” He claimed he was given this “book” by Walter, the Archdeacon of Oxford, on that churchman’s return from a trip through Wales. Did such a book exist? Was this really Geoffrey’s primary source, and if so, can we retrieve it? Or did Geoffrey make it all up?

Scholars now think Geoffrey used two key works: Historia Britonum (a 9th century history attributed to the Christian historian Nennius) and De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae (by Gildas, a 6th century Welsh monk). We will study both, along with the chapters on Arthur in The History, and a recent translation of The Mabinogion – the earliest accessible collection of mythic stories from Welsh “Britain” to mention “Arthur.”

Whether or not we can prove that the “ancient book” is part of a Welsh story cycle, this course may give students an understanding of Welsh influences on the literature and history of early Great Britain.