# Historia Brittonum

> 9th century work about the history of the Brittonic people

**Wikidata**: [Q740004](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q740004)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_Brittonum)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/historia-brittonum

## Summary  
The **Historia Brittonum** is a 9th‑century literary work that records the history of the Brittonic peoples. It is classified both as a literary work and as a chronicle, and it is traditionally linked to the Welsh monk and historian Nennius. A notable surviving copy is the 14th‑century Poppleton manuscript.

## Key Facts  
- The **Historia Brittonum** dates to the 9th century and narrates the history of the Brittonic people.  
- It is categorized as a **literary work** (class) and as a **chronicle** (thing).  
- The work is traditionally attributed to **Nennius**, a Welsh monk and historian.  
- Nennius holds the occupations , , and , and is linked to 33 Wikipedia sitelinks.  
- The **Poppleton manuscript**, a 14th‑century codex likely compiled by Robert de Poppleton, contains the text of the Historia Brittonum.  
- The Poppleton manuscript originated around the year 1400, is associated with England (country ), and has its headquarters at .  
- The Poppleton manuscript carries 8 Wikipedia sitelinks.  
- The **Historia Brittonum** entry on Wikipedia has 34 sitelinks.  
- The literary‑work class (the category to which the Historia belongs) has 20 sitelinks, while the chronicle class has 66 sitelinks.  
- The Wikipedia article title for the work is *Historia Brittonum*, matching its Wikidata description: “9th century work about the history of the Brittonic people.”

## FAQs  

**What is the Historia Brittonum?**  
It is a 9th‑century historical text that chronicles the origins and events of the Brittonic peoples.

**When was the Historia Brittonum composed?**  
The composition is dated to the 9th century, placing it in the early medieval period.

**Who is associated with the creation of the Historia Brittonum?**  
The work is traditionally linked to Nennius, a Welsh monk and historian.

**What type of document is the Historia Brittonum classified as?**  
It falls under both the literary‑work class and the chronicle category.

**Which manuscript preserves the Historia Brittonum today?**  
The 14th‑century Poppleton manuscript, likely compiled by Robert de Poppleton, contains the text.

**How many Wikipedia sitelinks does the Historia Brittonum have?**  
The Wikipedia entry for the Historia Brittonum currently lists 34 sitelinks.

**What are the occupations recorded for Nennius?**  
Nennius is recorded with the occupations , , and .

**Where was the Poppleton manuscript created?**  
It originated around the year 1400 in England (country ).

**How many sitelinks are attached to the Poppleton manuscript entry?**  
The Poppleton manuscript entry has 8 sitelinks.

## Why It Matters  
The Historia Brittonum provides one of the earliest systematic accounts of Brittonic history, shaping later medieval narratives about Britain’s past. Its attribution to Nennius links it to a key intellectual figure in early Welsh scholarship, offering insight into monastic historiography. The survival of the text in the Poppleton manuscript demonstrates the transmission of medieval knowledge across centuries, informing modern understandings of early British identity and historiographical tradition.

## Notable For  
- Being a 9th‑century source on Brittonic history.  
- Holding dual classification as both a literary work and a chronicle.  
- Traditional attribution to the Welsh monk‑historian Nennius.  
- Preservation in the 14th‑century Poppleton manuscript, a codex compiled by Robert de Poppleton.  
- Maintaining a relatively high Wikipedia sitelink count (34) for a medieval text.  

## Body  

### Overview  
The **Historia Brittonum** is a medieval composition dating from the 9th century. Its primary focus is the historical narrative of the Brittonic peoples, covering legendary origins, genealogies, and notable events. The work is recognized in modern taxonomy as both a **literary work** and a **chronicle**, reflecting its dual nature as a readable text and a chronological record.

### Classification  
- **Literary work (class)** – The Historia is listed under the literary‑work category, which aggregates written works intended for enjoyment or edification. This class carries 20 Wikipedia sitelinks.  
- **Chronicle (thing)** – It is also catalogued as a chronicle, a genre that arranges facts and events in chronological order. The chronicle class has 66 sitelinks, indicating broad relevance across historical entries.

### Authorship and Attribution  
- **Nennius** – The text is traditionally ascribed to Nennius, a Welsh monk and historian. Nennius’s occupations are recorded under the identifiers , , and . His Wikipedia entry links to 33 sitelinks, underscoring his prominence in medieval scholarship.  
- While the precise authorship remains debated among scholars, the association with Nennius remains the most widely accepted attribution in both academic and popular contexts.

### Manuscript Tradition  
- **Poppleton manuscript** – The most notable surviving copy of the Historia Brittonum is found in the Poppleton manuscript. This codex dates to the early 15th century (inception around +1400) and is believed to have been compiled by Robert de Poppleton.  
- **Geographic and Institutional Context** – The manuscript originates from England (country ) and is presently linked to the headquarters identified as .  
- **Metadata** – The Poppleton manuscript entry on Wikipedia includes 8 sitelinks, reflecting its significance within the corpus of medieval manuscript studies.

### Related Entities and Connections  
- **Literary work** – The broader category to which the Historia belongs, encompassing 20 sitelinks.  
- **Chronicle** – The genre classification, encompassing 66 sitelinks, indicating extensive cross‑referencing with other historical accounts.  
- **Nennius** – The person most closely tied to the work, with 33 sitelinks, highlighting his role in early Welsh historiography.  
- **Poppleton manuscript** – The physical carrier of the text, with 8 sitelinks, linking the medieval narrative to a later codex tradition.

### Metadata Summary  
- **Wikipedia title:** *Historia Brittonum*  
- **Wikidata description:** “9th century work about the history of the Brittonic people.”  
- **Sitelink count:** 34, indicating a moderate level of inter‑language connectivity.  

### Influence and Legacy  
The Historia Brittonum has served as a foundational source for later medieval chroniclers, influencing the construction of British national myths and genealogies. Its preservation in the Poppleton manuscript demonstrates the durability of medieval textual transmission and provides scholars with a tangible link to early historical thought. By bridging literary and chronicle traditions, the work occupies a unique niche that continues to inform studies of early British and Welsh historiography.

## References

1. Clavis Historicorum Antiquitatis Posterioris
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Motif-Index of Folk-Literature](https://sites.ualberta.ca/~urban/Projects/English/Content/b.htm)
5. [Motif-Index of Folk-Literature: Volume 1: A–C](https://sites.ualberta.ca/~urban/Projects/English/Content/d.htm)
6. [Motif-Index of Folk-Literature](https://sites.ualberta.ca/~urban/Projects/English/Content/s.htm)
7. [Motif-Index of Folk-Literature](https://sites.ualberta.ca/~urban/Projects/English/Content/t.htm)