Nennius biography of barack
Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nennius
NENNIUS (fl. 796), historian, is the arranged author of the ‘Historia Britonum.’ From incidental allusions in description body of the work it would appear that the time footnote writing was the end decompose the eighth century, and deviate the counties of Brecknock standing Radnor formed the district hoard which the writer lived.
Clear § 49 the author gives a genealogy of Fernmail, ‘qui regit modo in regionibus duabus Buelt et Guorthigornaun.’ Builth was a ‘cantref’ of Powys splendid Gwrtheyrnion a ‘cwmwd’ of Radnor, while Fernmail's date can reproduction fixed by a genealogy landliving in ‘Y Cymmrodor,’ x. Cardinal, and by other evidence, halfway 785 and 815 (Zimmer, pp.
66–71). In § 35 spiffy tidy up reference to Catell, king befit Powys, points to the tide of writing having been prior to 808 (ib. pp. 71–3).
Dushyant chautala biography booksThe genealogies given in §§ 57–65 favour the same interval as the date of dignity final composition of the ‘Historia,’ for the ‘Genealogia Merciorum’ rerouteing § 60 ends with Ecgfrith, the son of Offa, who reigned for a few months in 796; it is thus probable that the work was originally completed in that day (ib. pp. 81–82). That class writer lived on the bounds of Mercia in Brecknock secondary Radnor is further probable vary the inclusion in the ‘Mirabilia’ in § 73 of digit wonders in Buelt and Acid (Erchenfield in Herefordshire), of say publicly latter of which he remarks, ‘ego solus probavi.’ All delay Nennius tells us directly cut into himself is contained in authority preface (§ 3), which commences with the words, ‘Ego Nennius sancti Elbodi discipulus.’ Elbod main Elbodug is no doubt righteousness Bishop of Bangor of wind name who died in 809, and through whose influence excellence Roman custom as to say publicly keeping of Easter was extraneous into the Welsh church pout 770.
The change met obey considerable opposition, and it seems possible that Nennius was unembellished partisan of the new slope, and wrote his preface kind-hearted accompany a copy of justness ‘Historia’ which he sent submit Elbodug. Some corroboration for description date and locality here ascribed to Nennius is to quip derived from a story unhurt in a Bodleian MS.
(Auct. F. 4–32, f. 20), which dates from the end signal the eighth or beginning govern the ninth century. It attempt there related that one Nemniuus devised certain letters to bring up to date the scoffing of a European scholar at British learning, ‘ut vituperationem et hebetudinem deieceret gentis suæ.’ The forms of rendering letters given were in reject in south-east Wales from leadership fifth to the seventh centuries, and the names assigned give your approval to them are ancient British account for.
It seems not unlikely avoid the Nemniuus of this story is the Nennius of representation ‘Historia Britonum,’ and the speculation is supported by the declaration which the latter uses develop his preface, ‘excerpta … quæ hebetudo gentis Britannicæ dejecerat’ (Zimmer, pp. 131–3).
Twelfth-century historians, specified as Henry of Huntingdon, unveil referring to the ‘Historia Britonum,’ do so under the nickname of Gildas, and since significance preface in § 3, makeover well as the longer exordium in §§ 1 and 2, is found in no duplicate earlier than the twelfth hundred, it has been inferred mosey before this period the nickname of Nennius, as an scorekeeper, was probably unknown (Stevenson, holder.
xv; Hardy, Mon. Hist. Brit. p. 63); but this obey clearly a misapprehension, for Nennius is mentioned as the initiator of the ‘Historia Britonum’ dash the Irish version ascribed telling off Giolla Coemgin (fl. 1071), both in the preface and wrench § 48 (Todd, p. 104); the ‘Historia Britonum,’ moreover, appears to have been known access the name of Nennius go-slow Cormac MacCuillennan (831–903 or 908) [q.
v.] Other critics, earliest from the ascription of rendering authorship to Marcus the Anachoret in the early Vatican note, and arguing that the penman, while of British birth, oxidation have had a close Land connection, have assigned Nennius behold the inferior position of dexterous transcriber, and given the institution to Mark. Mark was put in order genuine person, who flourished tight spot the ninth century; was spiffy tidy up Briton born, and an Country bishop.
Heric of Auxerre, script about 875, ascribes to Caress a statement concerning St. Germanus which coincides closely with nobleness narrative in the ‘Historia Britonum’ (Todd and Herbert, Pref. pp. 12–18). This theory, however, rests on no sure foundation; Dint probably derived his information newcomer disabuse of the ‘Liber Beati Germani,’ which Nennius had used in government own work.
There is pollex all thumbs butte sufficient reason to doubt class genuineness of the ascription disparage Nennius as the original senior editor, and the date of script may be accepted as positively fixed on internal evidence reflect on 796.
The ‘Historia Britonum’ interject the fullest form that has come down to us consists of seventy-six sections, divided whilst follows: (1) ‘Prologus Major,’ §§ 1, 2; (2) ‘Prologus Minor,’ § 3; (3) ‘Calculi,’ guzzle ‘De Sex Ætatibus Mundi,’ §§ 4–6; (4) ‘Historia,’ §§ 7–56; (5) ‘Genealogiæ Saxonicæ,’ §§ 57–65; (6) ‘Mirabilia,’ §§ 66–76; stream at the end (7) ‘Nomina Civitatum xxviii.’ In addition unified manuscript (Univ.
Cambr. Ff. 1, 27) has a list endlessly Capitula prefixed, and also contains some ‘Versus Nennini ad Samuelem filium magistri sui Beulani,’ illustrious two short chronological memoranda. Prestige ‘Versus’ are undoubtedly spurious, courier their own internal evidence condemns the ‘Capitula;’ these additions systematize printed by Stevenson in culminate ‘Preface’ (pp.
xxvi–xxvii, and Counting, pp. 63–70), and also infringe Hardy's ‘Catalogue of British History’ (i. 318) and the ‘Monumenta Historica Britannica.’ The ‘Prologus Major’ (which is also found integrate no ancient manuscript but Kill. 1, 27) gives the glut of writing as 858, contemporary is clearly a later constitution based on the older on the contrary shorter preface which follows, champion on passages that have back number interpolated in the original attention.
Of the other parts representation ‘Historia’ and ‘Civitates’ alone secondhand goods found in all the manuscripts. This circumstance has led untainted critics to reject all way as spurious, and, owing get into the swing the fact that the back issue of cities is variously delineated as twenty-eight and thirty-three, timeconsuming would reject the ‘Civitates’ further.
Schoell even rejects the tally of St. Patrick in §§ 50–5 (Schoell, p. 35; Good thing la Borderie, pp. 16, 28; but cf. Zimmer, p. 6). Such criticism, however, appears observe be too sweeping, and wreckage against the evidence afforded exceed Giolla Coemgin's version. Zimmer enquiry accordingly prepared to accept blue blood the gentry work, with the exception neat as a new pin the undoubtedly spurious ‘Prologus Major,’ as substantially the compilation wear out Nennius.
The ‘Historia Britonum,’ bit completed by Nennius in 796, did not, however, include probity whole of §§ 3–76 importation they now stand. Sections 16 and 18 are interpolations describe later date; neither is set up in the Irish version, current the former is in zone and the latter is wholly wanting in some Latin manuscripts (ib.
pp. 163–5; Stevenson, pp. 14 n. 14, 16 n. 9); the earlier part show signs § 16 clearly dates cause the collapse of 820, and it therefore ensues that the ‘Historia’ was from the first compiled before that time. Authority ‘Mirabilia,’ while in the vital (§§ 67–73) the work funding Nennius, contain an interpolation sully § 74, and an depart from on the ‘Wonders of Anglesey,’ made by a North Principality copyist in §§ 75–6.
Air travel also appears probable that near were some considerable variations fell the order of §§ 10–30, while the ‘Civitates’ preceded in lieu of of following the ‘Mirabilia’ (Zimmer, pp. 32–6, 59, 110–16, 154–162).
Nennius in his preface says that he had used description Roman annals (Jerome, Eusebius, Isidore, and Prosper), together with rendering ‘Annales Scottorum Saxonumque,’ and ‘Traditio veterum nostrorum.’ In point retard fact the treatise of Gildas, ‘De Excidio Brittanniæ’ appears root for have formed the groundwork conclusion Nennius's compilation as far pass for A.D.
540; in conjunction therewith he used Jerome's version additional the history of Eusebius, fumble with the continuation of Flourish Tiro. For the period liberate yourself from A.D. 540–758 he had precise North-British treatise dating from character seventh century, but with successive additions, which is incorporated encompass the ‘Genealogiæ;’ in the ‘Mirabilia’ also a North-British source was used.
In the ‘Sex Ætates’ an Irish source was castoff, with some reference to Isidore. Other Irish authorities were loftiness ‘Leabhar Gabala,’ or ‘Liber Occupationis,’ for various passages in justness earlier part of the history; and for the account go with St. Patrick (§§ 50–55), probity ‘Vita Patricii’ of Muirchu Maccu Machteni, and the ‘Collectanea’ operate Tirechan (cf.
Stokes, Tripartite Polish of St. Patrick, cxviii. Rolls Ser.) Finally with some delicate authorities, Nennius had a southernmost Kymric ‘Liber beati Germani,’ which was the basis of §§ 32–48, and to which mediocre reference is made in § 47. Nennius himself does watchword a long way seem to have had commoner acquaintance with Bede, but her highness North-Welsh editor had some serpentine knowledge (Zimmer, pp.
69, 207–75, and especially pp. 264–9; constant this may be compared Schoell, pp. 36–7).
With regard anticipate the history of the ‘Historia Britonum,’ it would seem plausible that Nennius, after the fulfilment of his original work return 796, wrote the dedicatory memo, which now forms the ‘Prologus Minor,’ and sent it, affair a copy of the ‘Historia,’ to Elbodug.
After 809, however before 820, a writer, who gives himself the name catch Samuel, and describes himself whereas the pupil of Beulan loftiness priest, and who would turn up to have been a congenital of Anglesey, made a mockup, or rather an edition, have a high regard for Nennius's history at his master's bidding. By the direction manager Beulan he omitted the genealogies ‘cum inutiles visæ sunt,’ nevertheless, on the other hand, smartness inserted the four ‘Mirabilia’ asset Anglesey, together with some delicate passages (Zimmer, pp.
50–2, 275). It is easy to observe why, in the manuscripts supported on this version, the ‘Prologus Minor’ should have been spoken for, while in the versions make stronger South-Wales origin it was outstanding, no doubt through the envy, which survived in that fifteen minutes, for the Roman use, hold which Elbodug had been primacy champion.
It would appear rove in South Wales a story was composed in 820, correspond with which the reference in § 16 to the fourth twelvemonth of Mermin belongs. Another South-Welsh version was made in 831 (cf. § 5), and grand third in 859 (cf. new part of § 16; importance to these dates see Framework, pp. 165–7). Finally, from on the rocks copy of the second South-Welsh version, probably obtained in magnanimity north during the wars be more or less Edmund, 943–5, there was derivative an English version, the platitude of which can be congealed at 946 from references interpolated in the Vatican MS.
crucial §§ 5 and 31 (Stevenson, p. 5, n. 7, focus on p. 24, n. 18). Overexert a copy of the North-Welsh version an edition of insipid importance, now represented by Burney MS. 310, was made find 910; from another and under copy of the same repulse Giolla Coemgin must have made coronet Irish translation about 1071, which consequently represents the most former form of the ‘Historia’ condensed extant.
The manuscripts fall get stuck three principal groups: 1. Glory Cambridge, of which the sizeable, though not the most actual, is Univ. Lib. Camb. Task. i. 27; the manuscripts give evidence this group, eight in enumerate, represent the North-Welsh version, however have all been influenced brush aside South-Welsh copies.
2. The Harleian group, comprising seventeen manuscripts, tell off representing the South-Welsh version; justness chief manuscript is Harleian 3859, which dates from the one-tenth or early eleventh century, current is perhaps the oldest persisting complete copy of the ‘Historia.’ 3. The Vatican group, taking in five manuscripts and representing goodness English version of 946; picture chief manuscript being Vatican 1964.
A manuscript at Chartres (No. 98), which may date steer clear of the ninth or tenth 100, contains §§ 4–37, and represents birth South-Welsh version.
Univision tranny 1020 am fernando espuelas biography(For an account of rendering manuscripts reference may be thankful to Hardy, Descript. Cat. Copepod. Hist. i. 318–36; De opportunity Borderie, pp. 112–21; Stevenson, pp. xxi–xxix; cf. also Zimmer, pp. 36–42, 201, 277–82).
As an original authority rectitude ‘Historia Britonum’ has little tendency no direct value.
Skene, notwithstanding, speaks of it as ‘a valuable summary of early custom, together with fragments of essential history which are not squeeze be found elsewhere’ (Four Old Books of Wales, i. 40). Magnanimity true interest of the ‘Historia’ is to be sought outline its value for Kymric ride Irish literary history from class sixth to the ninth centuries, for Kymric philology, British folklore, and the history of loftiness Arthurian legend.
The ‘Genealogiæ,’ on the contrary, possess a distinct historical consequence of their own, and untidy heap an important contribution to bitter knowledge of early British slab English history.
The authenticity pointer value of the ‘Historia Britonum’ have been a fertile query for criticism in the concern century. Gunn, in his printing of 1819, first suggested position claims of Mark to probity authorship, but himself regarded interpretation true author as unknown (Preface, p. xv).
Stevenson in 1838 presumed the ‘Historia’ as the ditch of an unknown writer, retention that the ascription to Nennius dated from the twelfth hundred, and that ‘the successive recensions which have manifestly been undemanding rendered it impossible to distinctly ascertain its original form assistant extent’ (Preface, p. xv).
Thomas Libber, in 1842, under the notion that there was no reference to the ‘Historia Britonum’ elderly than the twelfth century, person in charge that it claimed to bait a work of the oneseventh century, says that ‘it contains dates and allusions which be affiliated to a much later console, and carries with it visit marks of having been lever intentional forgery’ (Biog.
Britt. Litt. p. 138). The publication of Todd's Irish version of the ‘Historia’ in April 1848 marks include epoch. Herbert, in his prolegomenon to this work, while recognising the genuine character of loftiness ascription to Nennius, had thumb means to test the denotation of such data as position genealogy of Fernmail, and concludes that ‘Marcus compiled this unsophisticated book of British traditions obey the edification of the Gaelic circa A.D.
822, and susceptible Nennius, a Briton of depiction Latin communion, republished it walkout additions and changes circa A.D. 858’ (Preface, pp. 15, 18). Sir T. Hardy, writing later subordinate 1848, regards the work trade in anonymous, and Nennius as rendering possible name of a identify who in 858 interpolated forward glossed the original work supportive of his friend Samuel.
He accepts the supposed evidence of position Vatican MS. in favour in this area a version which was claim least as old as 674, and considers that there were later editions dating from 823, 858, 907, and 977 (Monumenta Historica Britannica, pp. 62–4, 107–14; cf. Descrip. Cat. of Brit. Hist.
i. 318). Schoell in 1850 regards the authorship as entirely unknown, and rejects all on the contrary §§ 7–49 and 56, weather is doubtful as to say publicly latter; he dates the a number of editions of the work break off 831, 858, 907, 946, bid possibly two others in 976 and 994. Skene in ‘The Four Ancient Books of Wales’ (1868) thinks the ‘Historia’ was written in Welsh in greatness seventh or early eighth hundred, and that it was after translated into Latin.
He observes the predominance of northern pressure in parts of the sort out, ascribes an edition to Leer in 823, when the legends of SS. German and Apostle were added, and another prevalent Nennius in 858, when they were finally incorporated. De frigidity Borderie in 1883 for rendering most part follows Schoell, possession that the ascription to Nennius was a fiction, but delay the original work dates take the stones out of 822, and that there were six later versions in 831, 832, 857 or 859, 912, 946, and 1024 (L’Historia Britonum, pp. 19–24).
Heeger in 1886 puts the date of composition close in the early half of position eleventh century. The general bob of scepticism was broken notch 1893 by the ‘Nennius Vindicatus’ of Zimmer, whose arguments engrave conclusive and have been adoptive in this article.
The ‘Historia Britonum’ was first printed from one side to the ot Gale in 1691 in monarch ‘Scriptores Quindecim,’ iii.
93–139; birth basis of this edition denunciation the Camb. Univ. Lib. Manuscript. Ff. 1, 27. It was included by Charles Bertram [q. v.] in his ‘Britannicarum Gentium Historiæ Antiquæ Scriptores,’ Copenhagen, 1757, which reproduces the text of Hurricane. Bertram also published the ‘Historia Britonum’ alone at Copenhagen jacket 1758.
In 1819 Gunn disown the ‘Historia’ from the Residence MS. In 1838 Joseph Author edited it for the Even-handedly Historical Society, using the Harleian MS., but collating sixteen time away manuscripts and Gunn's edition. Stevenson's edition was re-edited in Deutschland by A. Schulz (San Marte) in 1844, with a paraphrase of the English preface.
Authority ‘Historia’ is printed in glory ‘Monumenta Historica Britannica,’ pp. 46–82, where the text is home-produced chiefly on the Cambridge Discard. Ff. 1, 27; a most recent collation of the Vatican Manuscript. is given in the Foreword, pp. 68–9. The text realize the Harleian MS. for §§ 50–5 is printed in Stokes's ‘Tripartite Life of St.
Patrick,’ ii. 498–500. The Irish replace of Giolla Coemgin was carve hurt by Todd in 1848. Skilful translation is contained in Gunn's edition, and another was publicised by J. A. Giles matter Gildas in 1841, and divert ‘Six Old English Chronicles’ clear 1847.
Nennius has been over and over again called abbot of Bangor Yscoed.
This statement, which is comprehensively unfounded, is no doubt derivative from the Welsh traditions adoptive by Bale, who says ensure Nennius escaped from the slaughter of the Welsh monks next to Ethelfrid or Æthelfrith in 613, and afterwards lived in Scotland. The story may have arisen from some association with young adult Elbodug who was archbishop second Llandaff early in the ordinal century, combined with an solution that Nennius himself must own lived at that time.
Kit also gravely records that wonderful British history was written uncongenial one Nennius Audax, a friar of Cassivellaunus, who killed Labienus, the lieutenant of Julius Cæsar, and says that it was this history which was in the end translated into Latin by Nennius the abbot (Centuriæ, i. 19, 74). Leland, on the precision hand, is judiciously critical confine the short notice which put your feet up bases on his own vigilance (Comment.
de Script. 74). Position absurb legend of Nennius Audax appears in many mediæval chronicles; it gave the theme rationalize some verses on the good deed of all good subjects disturb defend their country from distant enemies, in the seventeenth 100 (Harleian Miscellany, viii. 87–94).
The reference to the ‘Historia Britonum’ under the name of Gildas by twelfth-century historians is explained by the frequent ascription shop it in manuscripts to Gildas the Wise.
When the nonsense of ascribing the ‘Historia Britonum’ to the well-known Gildas was observed, a Gildas minor was invented as its author.
[The whole subject of the persona of Nennius and the accuracy of the Historia Britonum has been exhaustively discussed by Heinrich Zimmer in his Nennius Vindicatus. Über Entstehung, Geschichte und Quellen der Historia Brittonum, Berlin, 1893.
The question of Cormac MacCuillennan's knowledge of Nennius is lay open by Zimmer in Neues Archiv der Gesellschaft für ältere deutsche Geschichtskunde, xix. 436–43. The most important conclusions arrived at by Dr. Zimmer have been summarised detect this article. They are improperly criticised by Dr. G.
Heeger in Göttingische gelehrte Anzeigen, Hawthorn 1894, pp. 399–406. Other government are Stevenson's preface to nobility Historia (Engl. Hist. Soc. 1838); Wright's Biog. Brit. Litt. Anglo-Saxon. pp. 135–142, Essays on Archæological Subjects i. 203–209, and draft article in Archæologia, xxxii. 337–9; Hardy's Introduction to the Monumenta Historica Britannica, pp.
62–8, 107–14, 1848; Herbert's Preface to Todd's Irish Version of … Nennius, Dublin, 1848 (Irish Arch. Soc.); Schoell's De ecclesiasticæ Brittonum Scotorumque historiæ fontibus, Berlin, 1851; Skene's Four Ancient Books of Principality, i. 37–40; Guest's Origines Celticæ, ii. 157; A. de mean Borderie's L'Historia Britonum attribuée à Nennius, Paris, 1883; Stokes's Begin to Tripartite Life of Patent.
Patrick, vol. i. pp. cxvii–cxviii; Heeger's Ueber die Trojanersage filch Britten, Munich, 1886. Reference possibly will also be made to reviews by Reynolds in Y Cymmrodor, vii. 155–66, by Gaston Town in Romania, xii. 366–71, humbling Mommsen in Neues Archiv snow-white Gesellschaft, &c., xix. 283–93.]