We will explore this in more detail later.
The purpose of exploring these pedigrees in such detail has been to try and ascertain an approximate chronology as a backcloth against which we can paint in some detail. Now we
can start our exploration for Arthur amongst the ancient chronicles.
4
THE CHRONICLERS
1. The early chronicles
Now that we have some idea of who lived when, it would be helpful to explore the few relevant chronicles that exist in relation to Britain to see what they can tell us about
what was going on. In order to fix a date for Arthur we need to chart the events leading to Badon.
A good starting place is not in Britain, but in Gaul, with the Gallic Chronicle , one of the few contemporary documents that give us a firm, if contestable, date. We do not know who
compiled the Chronicle , but it was a continuation of an earlier chronicle established by the scholar Jerome, finished in 378 AD . In fact there are two Gallic
Chronicles , one of which stops at the year 452, whilst the other continues to 511. The 452 Chronicle was once attributed to Prosper of Aquitaine, who also produced his own continuation
of Jerome’s Chronicle , but whoever compiled the 452 Chronicle – and there is a surprising candidate somewhat closer to home whom we shall encounter later – held
ecclesiastical views that differed from Prosper’s. Prosper’s work shows him as a supporter of the views of Augustine of Hippo, whilst the Gallic chronicler was sympathetic towards the
Pelagians. His Chronicle is important because it was a contemporary record by someone who knew Britain.
The dates within the Gallic Chronicle are not without their problems as the compiler used more than one system. However, the supporters of the Chronicle have, to a large degree,
reconciledthe dates, especially in the later years, and the two that interest us are accurate to within a year or two.
The Chronicle has two entries relating to Britain in the post-Roman period.
Honorius XVI [410 AD ]. At this time the strength of the Romans was completely reduced by [a host of enemies] who were gaining strength. The
British provinces were devastated by the Saxons. The Vandals and the Alans devastated part of Gaul; what remained the tyrant Constantine occupied. The Sueves occupied the better part of
Spain. Finally, Rome itself, the capital of the world, suffered most foully the depredations of the Goths.
Theodosius XVIII [441 AD ]. The British, who to this time had suffered from various defeats and misfortunes, are reduced to the power of the
Saxons [i.e. the Saxons held sway].
The 511 Chronicle records the last event in similar words, though with one interesting addition: “Britannia, lost to the Romans, yields to the power of the
Saxons.”
These two entries are of great significance. The first makes clear that the Saxon incursions into Britain were of some strength, sufficient to “devastate” the provinces, though
whether it means some or all four (five?) provinces, is not clear. Some authorities have preferred to treat this entry as relating to the year 408, suggesting a build-up of Saxons within Britain
and that the lack of help by Rome against the Saxons is what caused the British to eject the Roman administration. It also adds reason to why, around this time, the British were so keen to appoint
their own emperor. As the record shows, though, “the tyrant Constantine” (Constantine III) moved away from Britain to occupy Gaul, leaving Britain further bereft of forces.
The second entry is the more remarkable. The wording “yields to the power” implies that by 441, Britain was under the control of the Saxons, an event usually placed in the second
half of the century. Likewise, the 511 Chronicle ’s phrase “lost to the Romans” implies that it was not until the year 441 that Britain formally passed from Roman control to
Saxon. Even thoughHonorius had apparently told the British to look to their own defences in 410, he had
The purpose of exploring these pedigrees in such detail has been to try and ascertain an approximate chronology as a backcloth against which we can paint in some detail. Now we
can start our exploration for Arthur amongst the ancient chronicles.
4
THE CHRONICLERS
1. The early chronicles
Now that we have some idea of who lived when, it would be helpful to explore the few relevant chronicles that exist in relation to Britain to see what they can tell us about
what was going on. In order to fix a date for Arthur we need to chart the events leading to Badon.
A good starting place is not in Britain, but in Gaul, with the Gallic Chronicle , one of the few contemporary documents that give us a firm, if contestable, date. We do not know who
compiled the Chronicle , but it was a continuation of an earlier chronicle established by the scholar Jerome, finished in 378 AD . In fact there are two Gallic
Chronicles , one of which stops at the year 452, whilst the other continues to 511. The 452 Chronicle was once attributed to Prosper of Aquitaine, who also produced his own continuation
of Jerome’s Chronicle , but whoever compiled the 452 Chronicle – and there is a surprising candidate somewhat closer to home whom we shall encounter later – held
ecclesiastical views that differed from Prosper’s. Prosper’s work shows him as a supporter of the views of Augustine of Hippo, whilst the Gallic chronicler was sympathetic towards the
Pelagians. His Chronicle is important because it was a contemporary record by someone who knew Britain.
The dates within the Gallic Chronicle are not without their problems as the compiler used more than one system. However, the supporters of the Chronicle have, to a large degree,
reconciledthe dates, especially in the later years, and the two that interest us are accurate to within a year or two.
The Chronicle has two entries relating to Britain in the post-Roman period.
Honorius XVI [410 AD ]. At this time the strength of the Romans was completely reduced by [a host of enemies] who were gaining strength. The
British provinces were devastated by the Saxons. The Vandals and the Alans devastated part of Gaul; what remained the tyrant Constantine occupied. The Sueves occupied the better part of
Spain. Finally, Rome itself, the capital of the world, suffered most foully the depredations of the Goths.
Theodosius XVIII [441 AD ]. The British, who to this time had suffered from various defeats and misfortunes, are reduced to the power of the
Saxons [i.e. the Saxons held sway].
The 511 Chronicle records the last event in similar words, though with one interesting addition: “Britannia, lost to the Romans, yields to the power of the
Saxons.”
These two entries are of great significance. The first makes clear that the Saxon incursions into Britain were of some strength, sufficient to “devastate” the provinces, though
whether it means some or all four (five?) provinces, is not clear. Some authorities have preferred to treat this entry as relating to the year 408, suggesting a build-up of Saxons within Britain
and that the lack of help by Rome against the Saxons is what caused the British to eject the Roman administration. It also adds reason to why, around this time, the British were so keen to appoint
their own emperor. As the record shows, though, “the tyrant Constantine” (Constantine III) moved away from Britain to occupy Gaul, leaving Britain further bereft of forces.
The second entry is the more remarkable. The wording “yields to the power” implies that by 441, Britain was under the control of the Saxons, an event usually placed in the second
half of the century. Likewise, the 511 Chronicle ’s phrase “lost to the Romans” implies that it was not until the year 441 that Britain formally passed from Roman control to
Saxon. Even thoughHonorius had apparently told the British to look to their own defences in 410, he had
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