Nennius

Nennius

Nennius. Author of the Historia Brittonum, c. ad 800, a principal source for the post-Roman period. Much of the Historia attributed to Nennius has been described as having ‘all the historical reliability of fairy-stories’. Nennius' reference to Arthur may well fall into this category. However, Nennius also included some short passages derived from reputable earlier authors, such as Constantius of Lyons on St Germanus. Nennius himself wrote in his preface: ‘coacervavi omne quod inveni’ (‘I have made a heap of everything I have found’). The result of Nennius' efforts is a well-intentioned but sometimes bizarre account of Britain in the 5th and 6th cents. which cannot be relied upon, although some scholars argue that Nennius preserved useful titbits of information.

Eleanor Scott

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JOHN CANNON. "Nennius." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Nennius." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Nennius.html

JOHN CANNON. "Nennius." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Nennius.html

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Nennius

Nennius , fl. 796, Welsh writer, to whom is ascribed the Historia Britonum. He lived on the borders of Mercia and probably was a pupil of Elbod, bishop of Bangor. The Historia is a compilation containing much on the early history of Britain and the Anglo-Saxon invasions. Although some scholars think that it was compiled by Nennius from various works, most now agree that the history is a revision by Nennius of an older work. It is important chiefly for the study of early British legends, especially the Arthurian legend . There are several manuscripts in Latin and Irish. Among the many translations of the Historia is an excellent one by A. W. Wade-Evans (1938) of a Latin text.

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"Nennius." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Nennius." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Nennius.html

"Nennius." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Nennius.html

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Nennius

Nennius (fl. c.830), the author or reviser of the Historia Britonum, the 33 surviving manuscripts of which enshrine several versions. It is a collection of notes, drawn from various sources including Gildas and (perhaps indirectly) Bede, and is a mixture of legend and history characterized by pride in the Celtic people of Britain and interest in its topography; it is interesting for the account it purports to give of the historical Arthur who, as dux bellorum, after Hengist's death led the Britons against the Saxons in twelve battles (including Mount Badon) which Nennius enumerates. It is one of the sources on which Geoffrey of Monmouth drew for his Historia Regum Britanniae.

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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Nennius." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Nennius." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Nennius.html

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Nennius." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Nennius.html

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Nennius

Nennius Author of the Historia Brittonum, ADc. 800, a principal source for the post‐Roman period. Much of the Historia attributed to Nennius has been described as having ‘all the historical reliability of fairy‐stories’. Nennius' reference to Arthur may well fall into this category. Nennius himself wrote in his preface: ‘coacervavi omne quod inveni’ (‘I have made a heap of everything I have found’). The result of Nennius' efforts is a well‐intentioned but sometimes bizarre account of Britain in the 5th and 6th cents.

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JOHN CANNON. "Nennius." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Nennius." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Nennius.html

JOHN CANNON. "Nennius." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Nennius.html

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Nennius

Nennius (fl. c.800) Welsh chronicler. He is traditionally credited with the compilation or revision of the Historia Britonum, a collection of historical and geographical information about Britain, including one of the earliest known accounts of King Arthur.

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"Nennius." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Nennius." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Nennius.html

"Nennius." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Nennius.html

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Nennius

Nennius (fl. c.800), Welsh chronicler. He is traditionally credited with the compilation or revision of the Historia Britonum, which includes one of the earliest known accounts of King Arthur.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Nennius." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Nennius." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Nennius.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Nennius." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Nennius.html

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Nennius

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JAMES MacKILLOP. "Nennius." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAMES MacKILLOP. "Nennius." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Nennius.html

JAMES MacKILLOP. "Nennius." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Nennius.html

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Nennius

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"Nennius." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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