The History of the Britons (Historia Brittonum), attributed to Nennius, is an early medieval Latin compilation recounting the legendary and early history of Britain. It tells of the island’s settlement, the coming of the Saxons, and the deeds of the Britons against the invaders, and is famous as one of the earliest sources to name Arthur as a war-leader.
Compiled around the ninth century, the work preserves traditions about Vortigern, Hengist and Horsa, and the battles of Arthur that would later flower into the great Arthurian legend. Its mix of fact and fable makes it both a historical source and a literary treasure. Readers interested in early medieval Britain, the Saxon invasions, or the origins of King Arthur will find it fascinating. This free EPUB edition makes Nennius’s celebrated chronicle available in English translation.