GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH


Meaning of GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH in English

died 1155

Medieval British chronicler.

He was probably an Oxford cleric for most of his life. His mostly fictional History of the Kings of Britain ( 0441; 1135–39) traced the descent of British princes from the Trojans; it brought the figure of Arthur (see Arthurian legend ) into European literature and introduced the enchanter Merlin , whose story Geoffrey related in the Vita Merlini ( 0441; 1148–51?). Though denounced from the first by other historians, the History was one of the most popular books of the Middle Ages and had an enormous influence on later chroniclers.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.