Great article Paul. I may be wrong about this but I don't think Historia Regum Britanniae is discussed as part of the British School curriculum. It seems to me (and I am not a historian but a biologist) that it is the foundation of much of our cultural heritage - Arthurian stories and Merlin, King Cole (Coel), Shakespeare's Lear and Cymberline, Brutus of Troy, Royal mythology. I am sure I had no mention of it at school, yes a flavour of Arthur at Primary School but nothing more. Such a pity imho.
I certainly never met the material at school, John, apart from some Arthurian Tennyson poems during English A-level. It’s definitely a significant gap in students’ knowledge of British identity, as Arthur and the matter of Britain material underpinned many people’s sense of nostalgia, golden ages, etc, for at least eight centuries, and the tales were in many ways the glue for the disparate elements of Britain and its French territories. One of my incentives for writing so much about the Matter of Britain material, especially the Brutus-related legends, is the very fact that nobody seems to know anything about it.
Well that explains a few things I’ve always been rather puzzled about, such as the difference between those four species of dragon, and why the Welsh dragon is red.
I also got a chuckle out of “like a huge, scaly, fire-breathing metaphor.” 😅 that was a great read Paul, thank you.
Great article Paul. I may be wrong about this but I don't think Historia Regum Britanniae is discussed as part of the British School curriculum. It seems to me (and I am not a historian but a biologist) that it is the foundation of much of our cultural heritage - Arthurian stories and Merlin, King Cole (Coel), Shakespeare's Lear and Cymberline, Brutus of Troy, Royal mythology. I am sure I had no mention of it at school, yes a flavour of Arthur at Primary School but nothing more. Such a pity imho.
I certainly never met the material at school, John, apart from some Arthurian Tennyson poems during English A-level. It’s definitely a significant gap in students’ knowledge of British identity, as Arthur and the matter of Britain material underpinned many people’s sense of nostalgia, golden ages, etc, for at least eight centuries, and the tales were in many ways the glue for the disparate elements of Britain and its French territories. One of my incentives for writing so much about the Matter of Britain material, especially the Brutus-related legends, is the very fact that nobody seems to know anything about it.
So pleased some one is.
Thank you so much for this
I love this. The way you write about the folklore throughout is just so engaging. Brilliant piece.
Thanks, Jon. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Well that explains a few things I’ve always been rather puzzled about, such as the difference between those four species of dragon, and why the Welsh dragon is red.
I also got a chuckle out of “like a huge, scaly, fire-breathing metaphor.” 😅 that was a great read Paul, thank you.
Thanks, Cecilia, your support is much appreciated!