Nationalism and Religious Identity In Geoffrey Of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain
The Norman conquest of 1066 marked the second time in the last seven hundred years that the British people had been subjected to a cultural upheaval. Massive linguistic and cultural alterations in Britain made tracing the history of past inhabitants of the nation difficult. Geoffrey of Monmouth was one particular writer that attempted to fill this void. Monmouth's work The History of the Kings of Britain proposed a glorious past for the British people and was at the time of its creation considered a factual interpretation. This piece however, regardless of its authenticity is interesting in the manner of which it portrays nationalism and religious identity. Monmouth creates a glorious past for the British people in a period where their origins are in question. Monmouth's history, to achieve this outcome uses two central themes: nationalism and religious identity. Through the use of these tools Monmouth creates his history, a glorious representation of Britain's past. All of Monmouth's noble rulers of Britain share two common traits, namely that they are fiercely loyal to the church and that they have nationalistic attitudes. Only leaders with these
Monmouth's history defines these actions as that of a good king. The Saxons are heathens, " We worship the gods of our own country, replied Hengist: Saturn, Jove and the others who rule over this world. " (155) Vortigern does not have the blood history or the qualities of his predecessors and therefore he is a bad king for Britain. " (231) Arthur being intensely nationalistic however refuses to pay tribute to the Romans and decides to battle them, "We shall be defending our liberty. " (194) Aurelius restores Britain to glory in Monmouth's history by defeating its enemies and restoring its church. " (157) Vortigern's union with their daughter according to the British is sacrilegious and he therefore portrays a negative religious identity. He does not think Britain is greater than all other cultures and therefore is not portrayed as a good leader. The characters create a mood of pride within their own history, thus creating a mood of pride within the reader. Perhaps most importantly however it gives them a formula to achieve this glory, through a strict nationalist foundation and a religious identity. Under Arthur the British fights Muslims associated with the Romans, " . (257) This symbolizes the tainting of the bloodline and the beginning of the descent to which Britain becomes a conquered people in the time that Monmouth is writing. It then falls on the good rulers to restore Britain.
Common topics in this essay:
Monmouth's Monmouth,
Kings Britain,
Britain's Geoffrey,
Troy Britains,
Britain Aurelius,
Constantine Vortigern,
Saxons Arthur,
Throughout Monmouth's,
Saturn Jove,
Monmouth Britain,
british people,
religious identity,
monmouth's history,
nationalism religious,
nationalism religious identity,
britain's past,
themes nationalism religious,
characters history,
themes nationalism,
monmouth creates,
ruler britain,
kings britain,
history kings britain,
monmouth creates history,
crown own head,
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Acceptance Essays
