William of Malmesbury

(ca. 1095–1143)

   William of Malmesbury was one of the most important historians of medieval England. His bestknown works, the Gesta regum Anglorum (Deeds of the kings of England) and its sequel Historia novella (Recent history), tell the story of English history from the Anglo-Saxon invasion of 449 until his own present (1142). Known for his critical assessment of primary sources, his concern with the relationship of physical features like geography and architecture on historical events, his lively and colorful style, and his interest in the motivations for human actions, William in unquestionably the most valuable and readable historian of his age. William was born in Wiltshire in approximately 1095, the son of a Norman father and an English mother. He was apparently educated at the Benedictine Abbey of Malmesbury in Wiltshire, where he subsequently became a monk. In his education William became particularly interested in history, and was especially impressed by the work of the Venerable BEDE, whom he emulated. In 1125, William finished his Gesta regum Anglorum, which deals with English history until 1127. Some of the more interesting passages of this text deal with King ARTHUR, whom William depicts as assisting Ambrosius Aurelianus in fighting off the Anglo-Saxon invasions.William repeats as history the legend of the Battle of Mount Badon in which Arthur, bearing on his armor the image of the Virgin Mary, personally slaughtered 900 of the enemy—a story apparently derived from the Historia Brittonum attributed to NENNIUS. Further,William discusses the finding of the tomb of Arthur’s nephew Walwen (GAWAIN), and dismisses British “fables” about Arthur, who he says needs to be appreciated for his authentic historical contributions.Another significant section of the Gesta regum Anglorum is William’s account of the Norman invasion. William finds King Harold praiseworthy, but sees the invasion as just retribution for the “sins of the flesh” committed by the English.

   William indicates that he had the opportunity to become abbott of Malmesbury, but preferred the role of librarian, where he could indulge his scholarly pursuits.He was a prolific writer, and the same year he completed the Gesta regum he also finished the Gesta pontificum Anglorum (Deeds of the pontiffs of England), an ecclesiastical history owing much to Bede. Over the next 10 to 15 years, he worked on a history of the saints of Glastonbury, where some scholars have speculated he may have been living at the time (1129–39). Among his other works are a life of St. Dunstan and a collection of Miracles of the Virgin. He compiled, as well, a collection of legal and historical documents now housed at Oxford’s Bodleian Library. About 1140, William began writing his final work, the Historia novella (Recent history), a sequel to the Gesta regum Anglorum, dealing with history from 1125 to 1142.William was apparently writing under the patronage of Robert, earl of Gloucester, a major figure in the civil war between King Stephen and the empress Maude.William’s account of Stephen’s reign (the years following 1135) is a significant and authoritative contemporary source for that epoch. The text of the Historia novella, however, is unpolished, suggesting the draft of a manuscript William never completed. It is assumed he died around 1143, before completing the history.

   Bibliography

   ■ Gransden, Antonia. Historical Writing in England, c. 550 to C. 1307. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1974.

   ■ Preest, David, trans. The Deeds of the Bishops of England. Woodbridge, U.K.: Boydell Press, 2002.

   ■ Scott, John, ed. and trans. The Early History of Glastonbury. Rochester, N.Y.: Boydell Press, 2001.

   ■ Thomson, R. M. William of Malmesbury. Rev. ed. Rochester, N.Y.: Boydell Press, 2003.

   ■ William of Malmesbury. Gesta regum Anglorum: The History of the English Kings. Completed by R. M. Thomson and M. Winterbottom. Edited and translated by R. A. B.Mynors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998–1999.

   ■ Winterbottom, M., and R. M. Thomson, eds. Saints’ Lives: Lives of SS.Wulfstan, Dunstan, Patrick, Benignus and Indract. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2002.