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History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth

'Historia Regum Brittaniae'

Translated By Aaron Thompson (1718)
Revised and Corrected by J. A. Giles (1842)

Book 1: The Wanderings of Brutus

  • The Epistle Dedicatory to Robert Earl of Gloucester
  • The first inhabitants of Britain
  • Brutus, being banished after the killing of his parents, goes into Greece
  • Brutus's letter to Pandrasus.'
  • Brutus falling upon the forces of Pandrasus by surprise, routs them, and takes Antigonus prisoner
  • The town of Sparatinum besieged by Pandrasus
  • The besieged ask assistance of Brutus
  • Anacletus, in fear of death, betrays the army of the Greeks
  • The taking of Pandrasus
  • A consultation about what is to be asked of the captive king
  • Pandrasus gives his daughter Ignoge in marriage to Brutus
  • Brutus enters Aquitaine with Corineus
  • Goffarius routed by Brutus
  • Brutus ravages Aquitaine with fire and sword
  • Goffarius's fight with Brutus
  • Albion divided between Brutus and Corineus
  • The building of new Troy by Brutus, upon the river Thames
  • New Troy being built, and laws made for the government of it

Book 2: Guendoloena, Bladud, King Leir and his daughters, Dunwallo Molmutius

  • After the death of Brutus, his three sons succeed him in the kingdom
  • Locrin, having routed Humber, falls in love with Estrildis
  • Corineus resents the affront put upon his daughter
  • Locrin at last marries Guendolna, the daughter of Corineus
  • Locrin is killed; Estrildis and Sabre are thrown into a river
  • Guendolna delivers up the kingdom to Maddan, her son
  • Ebraucus, the successor of Mempricius, conquers the Gauls
  • Ebraucus's sons go to Germany, and his daughters to Sylvius Alba
  • After Ebraucus reigns Brutus his son, after him Leil, and after Leil, Hudibras
  • Bladud succeeds Hudibras in the kingdom, and practises magical operations
  • Leir the son of Bladud, having no son, divides his kingdom among his daughters
  • Leir, finding the ingratitude of his two eldest daughters
  • He is honourably received by Coredeilla and the king of Gaul
  • Leir, being restored to the kingdom by the help of his son-in-law and Cordeilla, dies
  • Cordeilla, being imprisoned, kills herself
  • The successors of Cunedagius in the kingdom.
  • Dunwallo Molmutius gains the sceptre of Britain

Book 3: Belinus and Brennius, Elidure, Heli, Lud

  • Brennius quarrels with Belinus his brother
  • Brennius's sea-fight with Guichthlac, king of the Dacians
  • Belinus in a battle routs Brennius, who thereupon flees to Gaul
  • The king of Dacia, with Brennius's wife, is released out of prison
  • Belinus revives and confirms the Molmutine laws,
  • Brennius, being made duke of the Allobroges, returns to Britain
  • Belinus and Brennius being made friends by the mediation of their mother
  • Belinus and Brennius, after the conquest of Gaul, march with their army to Rome
  • The Romans make a covenant with Brennius
  • Brennius oppresses Italy in a most tyrannical manner
  • Gurgiunt Brabtruc, succeeding his father Belinus, reduces Dacia
  • Ireland is given to be inhabited by the Barclenses
  • Guithelin, reigning after Gurgiunt Brabtruc
  • Guithelin's successors in the kingdom
  • Morvidus, a most cruel tyrant, after the conquest of the king of the Morini
  • Gorbonian, a most just king of the Britons
  • Arthgallo is deposed by the Britons, and is succeeded by Elidure
  • Elidure is imprisoned by Peredure
  • The names of Elidure's thirty-three successors
  • Heli's three sons; the first of whom, Lud, gives name to the city of London

Book 4: Cassibellaun and the invasions of Caesar; Kymbelinus;
Arviragus and the invasion of Claudius; King Lucius becomes a Christian

  • Julius Caesar invades Britain
  • Cassibellaunus's letter to Julius Caesar
  • Caesar is routed by Cassibellaun
  • Nennius, the brother of Cassibellaun, being wounded in battle by Caesar, dies
  • Caesar's inglorious return to Gaul
  • Cassibellaun forms a stratagem for sinking Caesar's ships
  • Caesar a second time vanquished by the Britons
  • Evelinus kills Hirelglas. Androgeus desires Caesar's assistance against Cassibellaun
  • Cassibellaun, being put to flight, and besieged by Caesar, desires peace
  • Androgeus's speech to Caesar
  • Tenuantius is made king of Britain after Cassibellaun
  • Upon Guiderius's refusing to pay tribute to the Romans, Claudius Caesar invades Britain.
  • Leuis Hamo, a Roman, by wicked treachery kills Guiderius.
  • Arviragus, king of Britain, makes his submission to Claudius
  • Claudius gives his daughter Genuissa for a wife to Arviragus
  • Arviragus revolting from the Romans, Vespasian is sent into Britain
  • Rodric, leader of the Picts, is vanquished by Marius
  • Marius dying, is succeeded by Coillus.
  • Lucius is the first British king that embraces the Christian faith
  • Faganus and Duvanus give an account to Rome, of what they had done in Britain

Book 5: Roman Britain from Severus to Maximian

  • Lucius dies without issue, and is a benefactor to the churches
  • Severus, a senator, subdues part of Britain; his war with Fulgenius
  • Carausius advanced to be king of Britain
  • Allectus kills Carausius, but is afterwards himself slain in flight by Asclepiodotus
  • Asclepiodotus obtains the crown
  • An insurrection against Asclepiodotus, by Coel
  • The Romans desire Constantine's assistance against the cruelty of Maxentius
  • Constantine, having reduced Rome, obtains the empire of the world
  • Maximian is desired for a king of Britain
  • Maximian, coming into Britain, artfully declines fighting with Conan
  • The kingdom of Britain is bestowed on Maximian
  • Maximian overthrows the Armoricans: his speech to Conan
  • Redonum taken by Maximian
  • Maximian, after the conquest of Gaul and Germany
  • A fight between the Aquitanians and Conan.
  • Guanius and Melga murder eleven thousand virgins

Book 6: the Romans leave; Vortigern; the Saxons arrive, led by Hengist and Horsa; and introducing Merlin

  • Gratian, being advanced to the throne, is killed by the common people
  • Guithelin's speech to the Britons when the Romans left them
  • The Britons are again cruelly harassed by Guanius and Melga
  • Guithelin desires succour of Aldroen
  • Constantine, being made king of Britain, leaves three sons
  • Constans is by Vortigern crowned king of Britain
  • Vortigern treacherously contrives to get king Constans assassinated
  • Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon flee from Vortigern
  • Vortigern makes himself king of Britain
  • Vortigern takes the Saxons that were new-comers, to his assistance
  • Hengist brings over great numbers of Saxons into Britain
  • Vortigern marries Rowen, the daughter of Hengist
  • The bishops, Germanus and Lupus, restore the Christian faith
  • Vortimer's kindness to his soldiers at his death
  • Hengist, having wickedly murdered the princes of Britain
  • Eldol's valiant exploit. Hengist forces Vortigern to yield up
  • Vortigern, after consultation with magicians, orders a youth to be brought
  • Vortigern inquires of Merlin's mother concerning her conception of him
  • Merlin's speech to the king's magicians

Book 7: the Prophesies of Merlin

  • Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Preface to Merlin’s Prophecy
  • Geoffrey’s Letter to Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln
  • The Prophecy of Merlin
  • The Continuation of the Prophecy

Book 8: Aurelius Ambrosius, Merlin builds Stonehenge, Uther Pendragon, the birth of Arthur

  • Vortegirn asks Merlin concerning his own Death
  • Aurelius Ambrosius, being anointed King of Britain, burns Vortegirn
  • The Praise of Aurelius’s Valour. The Levity of the Scots exposed
  • Hengist marches with his Army against Aurelius
  • A Battle between Aurelius and Hengist
  • Hengist, in a Duel with Eldol, is taken by him
  • Hengist is beheaded by Eldol
  • Octa, being besieged in York, surrenders himself to the Mercy of Aurelius
  • Aurelius, having entirely routed the Enemies, restores all Things in Britain
  • Aurelius is advised by Merlin to remove the Giants’ Dance from the Mountain Killaraus
  • Uther Pendragon is appointed with Merlin to bring over the Giants’ Dance
  • Gillomanius being routed by Uther
  • Pascentius brings in the Saxons against the Britons
  • Pascentius, assisted by the King of Ireland
  • A Comet presignifies the Reign of Uther
  • Pascentius and Gillomanius are killed in Battle
  • Uther Pendragon is made King of Britain
  • Octa and Eosa are taken in Battle
  • Uther, falling in Love with Igerna, enjoys her by the Assistance of Merlin
  • Gorlois being killed, Uther marries Igerna
  • Octa and Eosa renew the War
  • Uther, being ill, is carried in a Horse-litter against the Enemy
  • Octa and Eosa, with a great Number of their Men, are killed
  • Uther, upon drinking Spring Water that was treacherously poisoned by the Saxons, dies

Book 9: The Victories and Ceremony of Arthur's Reign; the Romans demand tribute

  • Arthur succeeds Uther his Father in the Kingdom of Britain, and besieges Colgrin
  • Hoel sends Fifteen Thousand Men to Arthur’s Assistance
  • Arthur makes the Saxons his Tributaries
  • Dubricius’s Speech against the treacherous Saxons
  • The Saxons, after their Leader Cheldric was killed
  • Arthur grants a Pardon to the Scots and Picts, be­sieged at the Lake Lumond
  • Arthur relates the wonderful Nature of some Ponds
  • Arthur restores York to its ancient Beauty
  • Arthur honours Augusel with the Sceptre of the Scots
  • Arthur adds to his Government Ireland, Iceland, Gothland, and the Orkneys
  • Arthur subdues Norway, Dacia, Aquitaine, and Gaul
  • Arthur summons a great many Kings, Princes, Archbishops, etc
  • A Description of the Royal Pomp at the Coronation of Arthur
  • After a Variety of Sports at the Coronation
  • A Letter from Lucius Tiberius, General of the Romans
  • Arthur, holding a Council with the Kings
  • The Opinion of Hoel, King of Armorica, concerning a War
  • The Opinion of Augusel
  • They unanimously agree upon a War with the Romans
  • Arthur prepares for a War, and refuses to pay Tribute to the Romans

Book 10: Arthur's war against the emperor Lucius Tiberius in Gaul

  • Lucius Tiberius calls together the Eastern Kings against the Britons
  • Arthur commits to his Nephew Modred the Government of Britain
  • Arthur kills a Spanish Giant who had stolen away Helena
  • Arthur’s Ambassadors to Lucius Tiberius deliver Petreius Cotta
  • The Romans attack the Britons with a very great Force, but are put to flight by them
  • Lucius Tiberius goes to Lengriae
  • Arthur’s Exhortation to his Soldiers
  • Lucius Tiberius in a Speech animates his Followers to fight
  • A Battle between Arthur and Lucius Tiberius
  • Hoel and Walgan signalize their Valour in the Fight
  • Lucius Tiberius being killed, the Britons obtain the Victory
  • Part of the Romans flee; the Rest surrender themselves for Slaves
  • The Bodies of the Slain are decently buried

Book 11: Arthur's last battle, against Modred; the Saxons return; civil war; Augustine comes to convert the Saxons

  • Modred makes a great Slaughter of Arthur’s Men
  • Modred, after being twice besieged and routed, is killed
  • Constantine meets with Disturbances from the Saxons and Modred’s Sons
  • Constantine, after having murdered the Sons of Mo­dred, is himself killed
  • Aurelius Conan reigns after Constantine
  • Wortiporius, being declared King, conquers the Saxons
  • Malgo, King of Britain, and a most graceful Person, addicts himself to Sodomy
  • Britain, in the Flame of a Civil War under King Careticus
  • The Author upbraids the Britons
  • Loegria is again inhabited by the Saxons
  • The Britons lose their Kingdom
  • Augustine preaches the Gospel to the Angles
  • Edelfrid kills a great Number of the British Monks

Book 12: decline of the Britons under Cadwan, Cadwalla and Cadwallader

  • Cadwan acquires by treaty all Britain on this side of the Humber
  • Cadwalla breaks the covenant he had made with Edwin
  • A quarrel between Cadwalla and Edwin
  • Cadwalla is vanquished by Edwin, and driven out of the kingdom
  • The speech of Salomon, king of Armorica, to Cadwalla
  • Cadwalla's answer to Salomon
  • Brian kills Edwin's magician
  • Cadwalla takes Penda, and routs his army
  • Cadwalla kills Osric and Aidan in fight
  • Oswald routs Penda in fight, but is killed by Cadwalla coming in upon him
  • Oswy submits to Cadwalla. Penda desires leave of Cadwalla
  • Cadwalla is advised to suffer Penda to make an insurrection against Oswy
  • Penda is killed by Oswy. Cadwalla dies
  • Cadwallader succeeds Cadwalla
  • The Britons are compelled, by pestilence and famine, to leave Britain
  • Cadwallader with his people goes to Alan. The Saxons seize all Britain
  • Cadwallader is by the voice of an angel deterred from returning to Britain
  • Cadwallader goes to Rome and dies
  • The two Britons, Ivor and Ini, in vain attack the nation of the Angles
  • Geoffrey of Monmouth's conclusion
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