
It is in the USA and UK.Ī pdf version of Nennius’ work can be downloaded from this link. As copyright law varies from one country to the next please check that access is permitted in your own country. LibriVox hosts a public domain audio reading of Historia Brittonum. There are however many errors and myths in the tex of Historia Brittonum. It also reminds us that Nennius had access to texts that have since been lost, so can not be entirely be dismissed in terms of reliability. The Medieval Sourcebook hosts a copy of the full text. Another origin tale – the origins of EuropeĪ full translation of the Historia Brittonum can be found in html format here.There are 76 chapters in total which have been divided into sections by historians over the years: The book is quite lengthy, covering the history of Britain from its origins to the lifetime of Nennius. The actual authorship and precise meaning of Historia Brittonum have been subject of much scholarly debate over the last 150 years.

12 battles are cited as having Arthur as a military commander, being the first text to do so. It claimed that Britain was settled by Trojan. Many myths and legends about the origins of Britain first appeared in Historia Brittonum. Nennius’ work influenced later, better known, histories and remained influential for centuries.


It is one of the earliest histories of the British Isles. Historia Brittonum, or a History of the Britons, was purportedly written in the 8th Century by a Welsh monk called Nennius.
