Nennius (Britain)

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Nennius , Welsh Nynniaw , is in Geoffrey of Monmouth's historically unreliable account of the history of Britain ( Historia Regum Britanniae , approx. 1136) the name of a British prince at the time of Gaius Julius Caesar's invasion of the island in 55/54 BC. Chr.

History and legend

In Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae , Nennius is mentioned as the brother of the Catuvellaun king , Cassivellaunus . In Brut y Brenhinedd , the Welsh version of Geoffrey's work, he is called Nynniaw , Cassivellaunus is called Caswallawn here .

Nennius is the third son of King Heli and fights together with his brothers against Caesar. In a duel he succeeds in snatching the sword from Caesar because it gets stuck in his shield when this Nennius tries to split his head. Nennius then fights on with Caesar's sword and kills many Romans, including the military tribune Labienus (an insertion by Geoffrey, which is incorrect, because Titus Labienus only fell in the battle of Munda 45 BC - it is probably the tribune Quintus Laberius Durus). However, Nennius died of his head wound 15 days after the battle and was buried near what is now the North Gate of the Tower of London . Caesar's sword, which bears the name crocea mors ("yellow / saffron-colored death"), is buried with him.

This Prince Nennius should not be confused with the historian Nennius .

References and literature

  1. ^ Caesar, De bello Gallico 5, 15 .
  2. ↑ Geoffrey of Monmouth: Historia Regum Britanniae , Liber tertius, caput XX, p. 44, Liber quartus, Caput III-IV, p. 46 ff.
personal data
SURNAME Nennius
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Nynniaw
BRIEF DESCRIPTION british prince
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd century BC BC or 1st century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 1st century BC Chr.