History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth
Introduction
This text was written in the early twelfth century and made Arthur known to the rest of Europe. The
text contains much information not previously written down by historians, and Geoffrey reports that
he was struggling to fill the gaps when the Archdeacon of Oxford gave him a text written in the
British language that told in an orderly fashion of all the kings of England. Geoffrey says he just
translated this text into Latin, creating the Historia Regum Britannie. However, no such text in the
British language1 has been found. The Archdeacon could have given Geoffrey a volume containing
geologies and legends, but even then the Historia is not just a translation.
This text is part of the Translatio Imperii tradition, it traces the origin of the Britons back to Brutus,
the great-grandson of Aeneas, prince of Troy. It portrays Arthur as the mightiest and noblest of
kings, and after Arthur’s death British power slowly collapses. It shows Britain as an imperial country.
Although it is presented as a history, it does dramatize legends and folklore.
Geoffrey of Monmouth probably lived between 1129 and 1152. He was also named Geoffrey Arthur,
which can either mean that Arthur was his father’s name or that he gave it to himself as a second
name. He placed many principal events of King Arthur’s life in his own region of Southern Britain.
Although the Historia is most well-known for introducing Arthur, he is also the source for Lear,
Cordelia2 and Sabrina3.
He probably wrote for Emperess Mathilda or her son, it’s for the French-speaking elite.
Book 8, the conclusion of chapter 14 through chapter 17
A very big and bright star appears, and it shines one ray down to earth. This ray ends in a fiery ball
which is spread in the shape of a dragon, and from the dragon’s mouth two other beams shine, one
reaching beyond Gaul and the other bent towards the Irish sea, in seven smaller beams. When this
star appeared three times, everyone is afraid and astonished.
The King’s brother, Uther, is fighting in Wales, and he is also afraid. He asks people what it means,
and one of the wise men summoned is Merlin. Merlin explains that the King is dead, that Uther
should fight now, that he will win and become king of all Britain. The beam that goes towards Gaul
symbolises that Uther’s future son will be extremely powerful and own all the land the beam covers.
The other beam represents Uther’s future daughter, whose sons and grandsons will have the
kingship of Britain.
Uther does not know if Merlin told the truth, but he does fight and win. A messenger comes to bring
the news that the king is indeed dead, and he is buried. Uther takes the throne and orders two
dragons to be made out of gold, to resemble the dragon seen in the ray of starlight. One of them
was given to the cathedral church of Winchester and the other Uther carried with him into battle,
granting him the name Uther Pendragon, Uther Dragonhead.
Book 8, most of chapter 19 through chapter 20
Uther commands all the lords of the realm to come to him next Easter to celebrate. Everyone is
there, with their wives and daughters, and they all have a lot of fun. Among the guests are Gorlois,
the Duke of Cornwall, and his wife Igerna, who is the most beautiful of all women in Britain. Uther
1
Welsh or Breton
2
Both later used in Shakespeare’s King Lear
3
Used in Spenser’s The Faerie Queene
