Annales Cambriae (Annals of Wales)

The Arthurian References

The Annales Cambriae (Annals of Wales) is a Latin language chronicle, dating from around AD 970, covering 533 years in time. The chronicle's starting point, the entry marked "Year 1", is believed by scholars, to be the year AD 447. It is a curious collection of obscure Welsh material, but it does contain two entries that are of interest to students of Arthurian history, given below in the original Latin, and then in their English translations.

These entries have been advanced as proof of the historicity of Arthur and of his rival, Mordred (Medraut, in Welsh), as they were believed to have been derived from contemporary records. That view is no longer widely held, but it is interesting to note that all the other people mentioned in the chronicle are real. The assumption could be made, by extension that Arthur and Medraut are, also.

LXXII Annus. Bellum Badonis, in quo Arthur portavit crucem Domini nostri Jesu Christi tribus diebus et tribus noctibus in humeros suos et Britones victores fuerunt.

Year 72 (c. 519 AD) The Battle of Badon, in which Arthur carried the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ on his shoulders for three days and three nights and the Britons were victors.

XCIII Annus. Gueith Camlann, in qua Arthur et Medraut corruere; et mortalitas in Brittania et in Hibernia fuit.

Year 93 (c. 540 AD) The strife of Camlann in which Arthur and Medraut fell, and there was death in Britain and in Ireland.