en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives
1 correction found
This story would be popularized across western Europe in the 12th century as part of the History of the Britons by Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth’s famous work was Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain), not Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons). Historia Brittonum is a different, earlier work associated with Nennius.
Full reasoning
This sentence conflates two different medieval texts.
The Historia Brittonum (“History of the Britons”) is an earlier work traditionally attributed to Nennius. Geoffrey of Monmouth’s major 12th-century work was the Historia Regum Britanniae (“History of the Kings of Britain”). The Dictionary of Welsh Biography identifies Geoffrey’s major work by that title, and Yale’s Avalon Project separately labels the Historia Brittonum as a work by Nennius.
So Geoffrey did help popularize these legends across Europe, but not in a book called History of the Britons. The title given here belongs to a different text.
2 sources
- Geoffrey of Monmouth | Dictionary of Welsh Biography
Geoffrey's major work is his Historia Regum Britanniae... The Historia brought king Arthur into a new and greater fame, and the 'matter of Britain' was presented to the world.
- History Of The Britons (Historia Brittonum) by Nennius | Avalon Project
History Of The Britons (Historia Brittonum) by Nennius... I, Nennius... have endeavoured to write some extracts...