Historic Figures of the Arthurian Era: Authenticating the Enemies and Allies of Britain's Post-Roman King

The author has determined in an earlier McFarland book (The Historic King Arthur, 1996, paperback 2007) that there was not a historic King Arthur during the sixth century. However, as listed in The Historia Brittonum, there was a "great king of all the kings of Britain" named Ambrosius Aurelianus who was conflated with a heroic Arthur of the second century, and hence with the legendary King Arthur. To further authenticate the Celtic/Romano "King Arthur,"--that is, Ambrosius--the author here examines seven major historical figures of the period A.D. 383-500 based upon the Genealogical Preface of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the emendation of dates in that chronicle. Those seven allies and adversaries are Vortigern, Vortimer, Vitalinus, Cunedda, Cerdic, Octha, and Mordred.

Through an extensive analysis of Arthur's 12 battles listed in the Historia Brittonum, this work explores both the influences of the High King's allies, and the shifting allegiances of his enemies. A battle list provides possible geographic locations for each of the battles, including a new site for Arthur's fateful battle at Camlann.

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Historic Figures of the Arthurian Era: Authenticating the Enemies and Allies of Britain's Post-Roman King

The author has determined in an earlier McFarland book (The Historic King Arthur, 1996, paperback 2007) that there was not a historic King Arthur during the sixth century. However, as listed in The Historia Brittonum, there was a "great king of all the kings of Britain" named Ambrosius Aurelianus who was conflated with a heroic Arthur of the second century, and hence with the legendary King Arthur. To further authenticate the Celtic/Romano "King Arthur,"--that is, Ambrosius--the author here examines seven major historical figures of the period A.D. 383-500 based upon the Genealogical Preface of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the emendation of dates in that chronicle. Those seven allies and adversaries are Vortigern, Vortimer, Vitalinus, Cunedda, Cerdic, Octha, and Mordred.

Through an extensive analysis of Arthur's 12 battles listed in the Historia Brittonum, this work explores both the influences of the High King's allies, and the shifting allegiances of his enemies. A battle list provides possible geographic locations for each of the battles, including a new site for Arthur's fateful battle at Camlann.

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Historic Figures of the Arthurian Era: Authenticating the Enemies and Allies of Britain's Post-Roman King

Historic Figures of the Arthurian Era: Authenticating the Enemies and Allies of Britain's Post-Roman King

by Frank D. Reno
Historic Figures of the Arthurian Era: Authenticating the Enemies and Allies of Britain's Post-Roman King

Historic Figures of the Arthurian Era: Authenticating the Enemies and Allies of Britain's Post-Roman King

by Frank D. Reno

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$29.95 
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Overview

The author has determined in an earlier McFarland book (The Historic King Arthur, 1996, paperback 2007) that there was not a historic King Arthur during the sixth century. However, as listed in The Historia Brittonum, there was a "great king of all the kings of Britain" named Ambrosius Aurelianus who was conflated with a heroic Arthur of the second century, and hence with the legendary King Arthur. To further authenticate the Celtic/Romano "King Arthur,"--that is, Ambrosius--the author here examines seven major historical figures of the period A.D. 383-500 based upon the Genealogical Preface of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the emendation of dates in that chronicle. Those seven allies and adversaries are Vortigern, Vortimer, Vitalinus, Cunedda, Cerdic, Octha, and Mordred.

Through an extensive analysis of Arthur's 12 battles listed in the Historia Brittonum, this work explores both the influences of the High King's allies, and the shifting allegiances of his enemies. A battle list provides possible geographic locations for each of the battles, including a new site for Arthur's fateful battle at Camlann.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780786445097
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date: 08/30/2024
Pages: 358
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

The late Frank D. Reno lectured throughout the United States and in 2002 was invited to Britain to contribute to the BBC documentary Arthur: King of the Britons. He lived in Lafayette, Colorado.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations     
List of Abbreviations of Works Cited in the Text     

Prologue     

1. New Perspectives of Ancient Insular History     
The De Excidio of Gildas Badonicus     
The Annales Cambriae     
The Historia Brittonum     
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle     

2. Other Early Manuscripts     
Geoffrey of Monmouth: Pseudohistory and the Welsh Chronicles     

3. Riardd Ambrosius     

4. Who’s Who: Ambrosius’s Father, the Superbus Tyrannus Vortigern
The House of Constantine     
The Superbus Tyrannus     
Vortigern     
Conclusions     

5. Vortimer and Vitalinus: Arthurian Enigmas
Vortimer     
Vitalinus     

6. The Breach of Colors: Cunedda’s Role in Civil War
Introduction     
Cunedda: A Pivotal Figure of History     
Homeland     
Motive for Cunedda Migration     
The Chronological Computation of Cunedda’s Migration     
Cunedda’s Ancestry and Progeny     

7. The Breach of Colors: Romanitas Versus Cunedda’s Progeny and the Saxons
The Interfusion of Arthur’s Personality     
Cunedda’s Progeny as Arthur’s Adversaries     
Octha’s Invitation into Britain     

8. Arthur’s Battles with the Saxons     
The Cities of Roman Britain     
Geographic Possibilities of the Historia Brittonum Battle List     

9. The Strife of Camlann     
Mordred, Arthur’s Nemesis     

Epilogue
Narrative History     
Identification of Historical Figures and Locales     
The Earliest Manuscripts as History     
Resolutions     

Appendix A: A Century and a Half of Dark-Age History     
Appendix B: Two Tales of The Mabinogion     
Chapter Notes     
Glossary of Terms and Proper Names     
Bibliography     
Index     
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