Brut y Brenhinedd is a medieval Welsh text based on translations of Historia Regum Britanniae (also known as De Gestis Britonum), a ‘History of Britain’ written by the cleric Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 1130s. Geoffrey’s work drew heavily on myth and the Brut included many familiar stories and characters, such as Brutus, Arthur, and the prophecies of Merlin, as well as basing material on historical figures such as Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon and Urien Rheged.
Brut y Brenhinedd was popular in Wales and became one of the most copied texts in medieval Welsh. It’s estimated that around 60 copies survive, some of which are held in our collections. One of the earliest copies, dated to the mid-13th century, can be found in NLW Peniarth MS 44.
Some copies were decorated, ranging from the more common and cheaper rubriation seen in Peniarth MS 45 (early 14thC), to the more uncommon and expensive blue ink seen in the decorated letters of Peniarth MS 46 (mid 14thC). A copy of particular note is Peniarth MS 23 (late 15th/early 16thC), which contains a series of colourful illustrations accompanying the text. A rich array of ink was used to depict kings and characters that appear in the work, including Arthur (f.75v) and Brutus (f.10r).
It continued to be copied throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, and became an important part of Welsh textual culture. The Black Book of Basingwerk (late 15thC) contains a version copied by the poet and scribe Gutun Owain. This copy still bears its original wooden boards, and even includes gold in some of its lettering.
Brut y Brenhinedd continues to fascinate today, and remains one of the most prolific medieval Welsh texts. Its reach and popularity make it an invaluble resource for the study of medieval Welsh manuscripts.
Or maybe we just really want to believe in King Arthur!
Lucie Hobson
NLW Archives & Manuscripts
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