Editing Brutus of Troy

{{short description|Legendary first king of Britain}}
{{About| the legendary British King |the historical Roman politician best known for betraying Caesar |Marcus Junius Brutus}}
{{distinguish|Brutus Greenshield}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Brutus of Troy
| image        = Brutus of troy.jpg
| succession   = [[Legendary Kings of Britain|King of Britain]]
| predecessor  = First
| successor    = [[Locrinus]]&nbsp;([[Logres|Loegria]]) <br/> [[Camber (legendary king)|Kamber]]&nbsp;([[Cambria|Kambria]]) <br/> [[Albanactus]]&nbsp;([[Alba]]nia)
| spouse       = [[Innogen]]
| issue        = {{ubl|[[Locrinus]]|[[Camber (legendary king)|Kamber]]|[[Albanactus]]}}
| father       = [[Silvius (mythology)|Silvius]]
| mother       = Wife of Silvius
}}
'''Brutus''', also called '''Brute of Troy''', is a mythical British king. He is described as a legendary descendant of the [[Troy|Trojan]] hero [[Aeneas]], known in medieval British legend as the [[eponymous]] founder and first king of [[Great Britain|Britain]]. This legend first appears in the ''[[Historia Brittonum]]'', an anonymous 9th-century historical compilation to which commentary was added by [[Nennius]], but is best known from the account given by the 12th-century chronicler [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]] in his {{lang|la|[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]}}.

==''Historia Brittonum''==
Some have suggested that attributing the origin of 'Britain' to the Latin 'Brutus' may be ultimately derived from [[Isidore of Seville]]'s popular 7th-century work ''[[Etymologiae]]'' (c. 560–636), in which it was speculated that the name of Britain comes from ''bruti'', on the basis that the Britons were, in the eyes of that author, brutes, or savages.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Brutus|url=https://www.maryjones.us/jce/brutus.html|encyclopedia=Jones's Celtic Encyclopedia|access-date=11 August 2020}}</ref> A more detailed story, set before the foundation of Rome, follows, in which Brutus is the grandson or great grandson of Aeneas – a legend that was perhaps inspired by Isidore's spurious etymology and blends it with the Christian, pseudo-historical, "[[Frankish Table of Nations]]" tradition that emerged in the early medieval European scholarly world (actually of 6th-century AD Byzantine origin, and not Frankish, according to historian [[Walter Goffart]])<ref>Goffart, Walter, "The Supposedly 'Frankish' Table of Nations: An Edition and Study", ''Frühmittelalterliche Studien'' 17, 1983, pp. 98–130.</ref> and attempted to trace the peoples of the known world (as well as legendary figures, such as the Trojan house of Aeneas) back to biblical ancestors.<ref>Summerfield, Thea, "Filling the Gap: Brutus in the Historia Brittonum, Anglo-Saxon Chronicle MS F, and Geoffrey of Monmouth", in: Dresvina, Juliana, and Sparks, Nicholas (eds), ''The Medieval Chronicle VII'', Rodopi, Amsterdam/New York, 2011, pp. 85–102</ref><ref>Charles-Edwards, T. M., ''Wales and the Britons, 350-1064'', Oxford, 2013, pp. 439; 441; 454.</ref><ref>Wadden, Patrick, "The Frankish Table of Nations in Insular historiography", ''Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies'' 72 (Winter 2016), pp. 1–31.</ref><ref>Louis H. Feldman (1984), ''Josephus and Modern Scholarship (1937–1980)'', p. 893.</ref>

Supposedly following Roman sources such as [[Livy]] and [[Virgil]], the ''Historia'' tells how Aeneas settled in Italy after the [[Trojan War]], and how his son [[Ascanius]] founded [[Alba Longa]], one of the precursors of Rome. Ascanius married, and his wife became pregnant. In a variant version, the father is Silvius, who is identified as either the second son of Aeneas, previously mentioned in the ''Historia'', or as the son of Ascanius. A magician, asked to predict the child's future, said it would be a boy and that he would be the bravest and most beloved in Italy. Enraged, Ascanius had the magician put to death. The mother died in childbirth.

The boy, named Brutus, later accidentally killed his father with an arrow and was banished from Italy. After wandering among the islands of the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]] and through [[Gaul]], where he founded the city of [[Tours]], Brutus eventually came to Britain, named it after himself, and filled it with his descendants. His reign is synchronised to the time the High Priest [[Eli (biblical figure)|Eli]] was [[Biblical judges|judge]] in [[Land of Israel|Israel]], and when the [[Ark of the Covenant]] was taken by the [[Philistines]].<ref>''Historia Brittonum'' [[Wikisource:History of the Britons#2.7|7]], [[Wikisource:History of the Britons#2.10|10–11]].</ref>

A variant version of the ''Historia Brittonum'' makes Brutus the son of Ascanius's son [[Silvius (mythology)|Silvius]], and traces his [[Trojan Genealogy of Nennius|genealogy]] back to [[Ham, son of Noah|Ham]], son of [[Noah]].<ref>Morris 1980, p. 19.</ref> Another chapter traces Brutus's genealogy differently, making him the great-grandson of the legendary Roman king [[Numa Pompilius]], who was himself a son of Ascanius, and tracing his descent from Noah's son [[Japheth]].<ref>''Historia Brittonum'' [[Wikisource:History of the Britons#2.18|18]].</ref> These Christianising traditions conflict with the classical Trojan genealogies, relating the Trojan royal family to [[Greek gods]].

Yet another Brutus, son of Hisicion, son of Alanus the first European, also traced back across many generations to Japheth, is referred to in the ''Historia Brittonum''. This Brutus's brothers were Francus, Alamanus and Romanus, also ancestors of significant European nations.<ref>''Historia Brittonum'' [[Wikisource:History of the Britons#2.17|17–18]].</ref>

==''Historia Regum Britanniae''==
[[File:Expedición de Bruto a Aquitania (Bruto y Innogen).jpg|thumb|Brutus and [[Innogen]] leaving Greece in a {{circa|1475}} tapestry now in the [[Cathedral of the Savior of Zaragoza]]]]
[[File:Expedición de Bruto a Aquitania (recortado).jpg|thumb|Complete tapestry with Brutus leaving Greece (left), at the temple of [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]] (above), sailing to [[Gaul]] (centre), and fighting [[Goffar the Pict|Goffar]] (right)]]
Geoffrey of Monmouth's account tells much the same story, but in greater detail.<ref>Geoffrey of Monmouth, ''Historia Regum Britanniae'' [[Wikisource:History of the Kings of Britain/Book 1#3|1.3–18]], [[Wikisource:History of the Kings of Britain/Book 2#1|2.1]].</ref> In this version, Brutus is explicitly the grandson, rather than son, of Ascanius; his father is Ascanius' son Silvius. The magician who predicts great things for the unborn Brutus also foretells he will kill both his parents. He does so, in the same manner described in the ''Historia Brittonum'', and is banished. Travelling to Greece, he discovers a group of Trojans enslaved there. He becomes their leader, and after a series of battles they defeat the Greek king [[Pandrasus]] by attacking his camp at night after capturing the guards. He takes him hostage and forces him to let his people go. He is given Pandrasus's daughter Ignoge or [[Innogen]] in marriage, and ships and provisions for the voyage, and sets sail.

The Trojans land on [[Lefkada|a deserted island]] and discover an abandoned temple to [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]]. After performing the appropriate ritual, Brutus falls asleep in front of the goddess's statue and is given a vision of the land where he is destined to settle, an island in the western ocean inhabited only by a few giants.

After some adventures in north Africa and a close encounter with the [[Siren (mythology)|Siren]]s, Brutus discovers another group of exiled Trojans living on the shores of the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]], led by the prodigious warrior [[Corineus]]. In [[Gaul]], Corineus provokes a war with [[Goffar the Pict|Goffarius Pictus]], king of [[Aquitaine]], after hunting in the king's forests without permission. Brutus's nephew Turonus dies in the fighting, and the city of [[Tours]] is founded where he is buried. The Trojans win most of their battles but are conscious that the Gauls have the advantage of numbers, so go back to their ships and sail for Britain, then called [[Albion]]. They land on "{{lang|la|Totonesium litus}}"—"the sea-coast of [[Totnes]]". They meet the giant descendants of [[Alebion]] and defeat them.

Brutus renames the island after himself and becomes its first king. Corineus becomes ruler of [[Cornwall]], which is named after him.<ref>Cornwall is given a distinct identity predating England, Scotland or Wales. [[Cornishmen]] continued to regard themselves as descendants of Corineus until well into the early modern period.</ref> They are harassed by the giants during a festival, but kill all of them but their leader, the largest giant [[Gogmagog (giant)|Goemagot]], who is saved for a wrestling match against Corineus. Corineus throws him over a cliff to his death. Brutus then founds a city on the banks of the [[River Thames]], which he calls Troia Nova, or [[Trinovantes|New Troy]]. The name is in time corrupted to [[Trinovantum]], and the city is later called [[London]].<ref>The name Trinovantum, supposedly derived from ''Troia Nova'', is derived from the [[Trinovantes]], a people of [[British Iron Age|Iron Age Britain]].</ref> He creates laws for his people and rules for twenty-four years. After his death he is buried in Trinovantum, and the island is divided between his three sons: [[Locrinus]] ([[England]]), [[Albanactus]] ([[Scotland]]) and [[Kamber]] ([[Wales]]).

==Legacy==
[[Image:BrutusStoneTotnes.JPG|thumb|The Brutus Stone in [[Totnes]]]]
Early translations and adaptations of Geoffrey's ''Historia'', such as [[Wace]]'s [[Norman language|Norman French]] ''[[Roman de Brut]]'', [[Layamon]]'s [[Middle English]] ''[[Layamon's Brut|Brut]]'', were named after Brutus, and the word ''brut'' came to mean a chronicle of British history.<ref>{{cite OED|brut}} "A chronicle of British history from the mythical Brutus downward." Etymology: "= [[Middle Welsh|M.Welsh]] ''brut'', [[modern Welsh|mod.W.]] ''brud'', in the names of the Welsh chronicles of British history"</ref> 
One of several [[Middle Welsh language|Middle Welsh]] adaptations was called the ''[[Brut y Brenhinedd]]'' ("Chronicle of the Kings"). ''[[Brut y Tywysogion]]'' ("Chronicle of the Princes"), a major chronicle for the Welsh rulers from the 7th century to loss of independence, is a purely historical work containing no legendary material but the title reflects the influence of Geoffrey's work and, in one sense, can be seen as a "sequel" to it.

Early chroniclers of Britain, such as [[Alfred of Beverley]], [[Nicholas Trivet]] and [[Giraldus Cambrensis]] began their histories of Britain with Brutus. The foundation myth of Brutus having settled in Britain was still considered as genuine history during the [[Early Modern Period]], for example ''[[Holinshed's Chronicles]]'' (1577) considers the Brutus myth to be factual. It was not until the twentieth century that archaeologists were able to prove conclusively that London was founded in 43 AD.<ref name=Clark> Clark, John, "New Troy to Lake Village - the Legend of Prehistoric London", ''The London Archaeologist'', 1983, Volume 4, issue 11, pp. 292–296.</ref>

The 18th-century English poet [[Hildebrand Jacob]] wrote an epic poem, ''Brutus the Trojan, Founder of the British Empire'', about him, following in the tradition of Virgil's fictitious Roman foundation epic the ''[[Aeneid]]'', left unfinished at Virgil's death in 19 BC.<ref>{{cite ODNB|last=Bullen|first=A. H.|title=Jacob, Hildebrand|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/14568|access-date=23 January 2013|author2=Bridget Hill|editor-first1=Bridget |editor-last1=Hill |year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/14568 }}</ref> 

Geoffrey's ''Historia'' says that Brutus and his followers landed at [[Totnes]] in [[Devon]]. A stone on Fore Street in Totnes, known as the "Brutus Stone", commemorates this imaginary event.<ref name=Clark/>

In 2021, the Totnes community radio station [[Soundart Radio]] commissioned a radio drama adaptation of the Brutus myth by the writer Will Kemp.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Morgan|first=Lee|date=29 March 2021|title=Brutus of Troy {{!}} First King of Britain unleashed in Totnes|work=People’s Republic of South Devon|url=https://www.theprsd.co.uk/2021/03/29/brutus-of-troy-first-king-of-britain-unleashed-in-totnes/|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Translation of ''Historia Brittonum'' from [[J. A. Giles]], ''Six Old English Chronicles'', London: Henry G. Bohn 1848. [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/nennius-full.html Full text from Fordham University] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727195712/http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/nennius-full.html |date=27 July 2009 }}.
* John Morris (ed), ''Nennius: Arthurian Period Sources Vol 8'', Phillimore, 1980
* Geoffrey of Monmouth, ''The History of the Kings of Britain'', translated by Lewis Thorpe, Penguin, 1966
* Henry Lewis (ed.), ''Brut Dingestow'' (University of Wales Press, 1942). The best-known Middle Welsh adaptation. Original text with introduction and notes, in Welsh.
* ''The British History of Geoffrey of Monmouth'', translated by [[Aaron Thompson (translator)|Aaron Thompson]], revised and corrected by J. A. Giles, 1842
* ''[[Bulfinch's Mythology]]''

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Brutus of Troy}}
{{EB1911 poster|Brut}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg | leg }}
{{s-new | first }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[List of legendary kings of Britain|King of Britain]] }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Locrinus]]&nbsp;([[Logres|Loegria]]) <br/> [[Camber (legendary king)|Kamber]]&nbsp;([[Cambria|Kambria]]) <br/> [[Albanactus]]&nbsp;([[Alba]]nia) }}
{{s-end}}

{{Geoffrey of Monmouth}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:British folklore]]
[[Category:British traditional history]]
[[Category:Founding monarchs]]
[[Category:Mythological city founders]]
[[Category:Japheth]]
[[Category:Welsh folklore]]
[[Category:Totnes]]
[[Category:Legendary British kings]]
[[Category:Trojans]]