Brenhinoedd y Saeson
Encyclopedia
Brenhinoedd y Saeson is the medieval title of three Middle Welsh annalistic
chronicle
s known from three 14th-century manuscripts (referred to as P, R, and S) recording events from 682 to the English conquest of Wales
in 1282 (P was subsequently continued to 1332, S ultimately to 1461). The title Brenhinoedd y Saeson is found only in the rubric to the earlier of the two surviving manuscripts of version S: the other two texts are commonly known as Brut y Tywysogion
, but this title is found only in manuscripts of the late 16th century and cannot be considered authentic.
The three versions of Brenhinoedd y Saeson are closely related to and are probably translations from a text or texts evidenced by those Cambro-Latin annalistic chronicles now known as Annales Cambriae
.
Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, MS. Peniarth 20, written c.1330, probably at the Cistercian abbey of Valle Crucis
(Llanegwestl). The scribe of this manuscript also wrote the earlier of the two manuscripts containing S.
R survives in four medieval manuscripts:
These all date from about 1350 to about 1400.
S survives in two medieval manuscripts:
Annals
Annals are a concise form of historical representation which record events chronologically, year by year. The Oxford English Dictionary defines annals as "a narrative of events written year by year"...
chronicle
Chronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
s known from three 14th-century manuscripts (referred to as P, R, and S) recording events from 682 to the English conquest of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1282 (P was subsequently continued to 1332, S ultimately to 1461). The title Brenhinoedd y Saeson is found only in the rubric to the earlier of the two surviving manuscripts of version S: the other two texts are commonly known as Brut y Tywysogion
Brut y Tywysogion
Brut y Tywysogion is one of the most important primary sources for Welsh history. It is an annalistic chronicle that serves as a continuation of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae. Brut y Tywysogion has survived as several Welsh translations of an original Latin version, which has...
, but this title is found only in manuscripts of the late 16th century and cannot be considered authentic.
The three versions of Brenhinoedd y Saeson are closely related to and are probably translations from a text or texts evidenced by those Cambro-Latin annalistic chronicles now known as Annales Cambriae
Annales Cambriae
Annales Cambriae, or The Annals of Wales, is the name given to a complex of Cambro-Latin chronicles deriving ultimately from a text compiled from diverse sources at St David's in Dyfed, Wales, not later than the 10th century...
.
Sources
P survives in a single medieval manuscript:Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, MS. Peniarth 20, written c.1330, probably at the Cistercian abbey of Valle Crucis
Valle Crucis
-Places:United Kingdom*Valle Crucis Abbey, WalesUnited States*Valle Crucis, North Carolina, an unincorporated community*Valle Crucis Episcopal Mission, North Carolina...
(Llanegwestl). The scribe of this manuscript also wrote the earlier of the two manuscripts containing S.
R survives in four medieval manuscripts:
- Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, MS. 3035B (Mostyn 116);
- Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, MS. Peniarth 18;
- Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, MS. Peniarth 19;
- Oxford, Jesus College, MS. 111 (Llyfr Coch Hergest, 'The Red Book of Hergest').
These all date from about 1350 to about 1400.
S survives in two medieval manuscripts:
- London, British Library, MS. Cotton Cleopatra B.v., written at Valle Crucis AbbeyValle Crucis AbbeyValle Crucis Abbey is a Cistercian abbey located in Llantysilio in Denbighshire, Wales. More formally the Abbey Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Valle Crucis it is known in Welsh both as Abaty Glyn Egwestl and Abaty Glyn y Groes.The abbey was built in 1201 by Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor, Prince of...
soon after 1332; - Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales, MS. 7006D (Llyfr Du Basing, 'The Black Book of Basingwerk'), written in or soon after 1461 (where the chronicle ends). The principal scribe was the poet Gutun OwainGutun OwainGutun Owain was a Welsh language poet. Gutun Owain was born near Oswestry in what is now north Shropshire and was a student of Dafydd ab Edmwnd....
, who died c. 1500, and whose datable manuscript output lies between 1456 and 1497.