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''The History of the Britons'' ((ラテン語:Historia Brittonum)) is a purported history of the indigenous British (Brittonic) people that was written around 828 and survives in numerous recensions that date from after the 11th century. The ''Historia Brittonum'' is commonly attributed to Nennius, as some recensions have a preface written in his name. Some experts have dismissed the Nennian preface as a late forgery, arguing that the work was actually an anonymous compilation.〔, p.927 "Dumville has argued that the Nennian Prologue is a later forgery.. the work should therefore be treated as anonymous"〕〔, Dict. Celt. Myth.,p.267 "Formerly ascribed to one Nennius, ''Historia'' is now, seen, thanks to the work of David Dumville, to be a compilation.."〕 == Overview == The ''Historia Brittonum'' describes the supposed settlement of Britain by Trojan expatriates and states that Britain took its name after Brutus, a descendant of Aeneas. The work was the "single most important source used by Geoffrey of Monmouth in creating his ''Historia Regum Britanniae''"〔,p.925〕 and via the enormous popularity of the latter work, this version of the earlier history of Britain, including the Trojan origin tradition, would be incorporated into subsequent chronicles for the long-running history of the land, for example the Middle English ''Brut of England'', also known as ''The Chronicles of England''. The work was the first source to portray King Arthur, who is described as a ''dux bellorum'' ('military leader') or ''miles'' ('warrior, soldier') and not as a king. It names the twelve battles that Arthur fought, but unlike the ''Annales Cambriae'', none are assigned actual dates. The reference in the ''Historia Brittonum'' of Arthur carrying the image of St. Mary on his shoulders during a battle has been interpreted by later commentators as a mistake for Arthur bearing the image of Mary on his shield, the error being caused by the similarity between the words in Welsh.〔 points out this confusion between "shield" ((ウェールズ語:ysgwyd), Middle Welsh: ''scuit'') and shoulder ((ウェールズ語:ysgwydd)), citing J. William's edition of the ''Annales Cambriae,'' (1860), p.xxiv; and Skene, ''Four Ancient Books''(1868), I, 55.〕 The greatest classicist of the 19th century, Theodore Mommsen, divided the work into seven parts: Preface (''Prefatio Nennii Britonum''); I. The Six Ages of the World (''de sex aetatibus mundi'') (§1-6); II. History of the Britons (''historia Brittonum'') (§7-49); III. Life of Patrick (''vita Patricii'') (§50-55); IV. Arthuriana (§ 56); V. Genealogies (''regum genealogiae cum computo'') (§c. 57—66); VI. Cities of Britain (''civitates Britanniae'') (§66a); VII. Wonders of Britain (''de mirabilibus Britanniae'') (§67—76). The ''Historia Brittonum'' can be dated to about 829. The work was written no earlier than the "fourth year of (reign of ) king Mermenus" (who has been identified as Merfyn Frych ap Gwriad, king of Gwynedd). Historians have conservatively assigned 828 to the earliest date for the work, which is consistent with the statement in chapter 4 that "from the Passion of Christ 796 years have passed. But from his Incarnation are 831 years".〔, p.926.〕〔Dumville, "Some aspects of the chronology." 439-45.〕〔Higham, ''King Arthur: Myth Making and History'' (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 2002).〕〔The Prologue mentions "the 858th year of our Lord's incarnation, and in the 24th year of Mervin, king of the Britons", but presemably the preface was produced after the body of the work was written or was perhaps attached to a later revision.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Historia Brittonum」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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