GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH, mon'mAth (c.1100-c.1154). A Latin chronicler, born at Monmouth, Wales. He was consecrated Bishop of Saint Asaph in 1152, and died probably in 1154. He is the author of a famous book in Latin called Historia Regum Britannice (History of the Kings of Britain), which was in circulation as early as 1139, and assumed its final shape probably a few years later. The book purports to be a translation from an ancient Kymric chronicle, which Walter, Archdeacon of Oxford, brought over from Brittany, and communicated to Geoffrey. As to how much truth there may be in the statement scholars do not agree. It has been shown that some parts are merely amplifications of the Historia Britonunt, attribut ed, in its earliest form, to a certain Nennius (fl. 796). But for other parts no sources have been discovered. The book can hardly be re garded as a fabrication by Geoffrey, for it un doubtedly rests upon a mass of Kymrie tradi tions which may have already assumed the form of a saga. Geoffrey gives the history of the kings of Britain from Brutus, the great-grandson of 1Eneas, down to Cadwallader, who at length, defeated by the Saxons, flees to Armories, and then to Rome, where he dies. In the line of
kings are Gorboduc, Cymbeline, and Lear. The story of the latter is related at large. Geoffrey's history is also one of the main sources (though not the only source) of the Arthur legend; and, as such, it is of the highest interest and value. Arthur indeed had been mentioned earlier; in Nennius he appears as a leader of the Britons (dux bellorum) in twelve great battles against the Saxons; and in William of Malmesbury's Gesta Regum Anglorum (1125) there are allu sions to fables concerning Arthur. But in Geof fru first appears the Arthur legend somewitat as we now know it. Under the title of Brut (1155), Geoffrey's History was translated, with additions, into French verse by an Anglo-Norman poet named Wace. This version was rendered into English, with other additions, by Layamon in a poem also entitled Brut (about 1200). Geoffrey's book was first printed at Paris in 1508. The critical edition is by San Martz (Halle, 1854). For English translation, consult Thompson, Geoffrey of Monmouth, ed. by Giles (London, 1842). See ARTHUR.