Foundation myths, whether of nations,
dynasties or cities, have been at the heart of western culture since classical
times. Europe’s archetypal national foundation myth was the subject of Virgil’s
Aeneid. Present in Virgil’s poem are three key elements which appear
repeatedly in western foundation myths: the wanderer/outsider making good; the
foundation prompted by divine prophecy or visions, and the planting, by the ‘chosen
people’ of their new (and often superior) culture in a foreign land. Most medieval
states, cities and dynasties were comparative newcomers, and many sought to
obscure their uncomfortably recent origins in a cloud of myth.
Troy provided the ideal means to do
this. In medieval England, the Trojan myth received perhaps its most elaborate
and fantastical development. The original source for the English tradition was probably
the 9th century Historia Brittonum, (Pseudo-Nennius). This
original story was greatly expanded by Geoffrey of Monmouth who begins his own work
with an account of Brutus, or Brute, Aeneas’s grandson, who is expelled from
Italy with his followers, and wanders the Mediterranean. In a vision, the
goddess Diana tells Brutus that his destiny is to lead the Trojans to an island
in the west, where he shall found a race of kings. Brutus eventually realises
the prophecy, founding Britain, and supplanting its primitive native giants.
Thus, Brutus’s tale exhibits the ‘Virgilian’ topoi of the outsider,
divine intervention and colonisation.
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| Brutus of Troy, represented here as founder of London |
Wace’s legend of Brutus provides for Britons a three for the price of one foundation story, Greek, Roman and Biblical. Brutus in this story, founder of the British race, is descended from the Greek world though his Trojan ancestors. Brutus is not simply a Trojan of the Greek world, but is also descended from Aeneas the legendary Trojan father of the Roman race. These two ethnic links to the classical world, serve to give Brutus and his descendants, a distinction and antiquity in the eyes of Latin Europe that other myths would not. The poem also mentions Gogamagog a giant, whose name is related to Gog and Magog also named at several points in the Bible. The author sees fit to announce the context of the poem in Biblical time, contemporising them with the priest Eli. This myth serves three purposes, it gives a classical dignity to the British peoples allowing them a comparison to Rome and Greece, it places their nation in an Old Testament context existing contemporaneously with the Israelites and participating actively in the Christian story finally and most importantly the myth brings the Britons into an important focus in the Latin world on par with the Romans, the Israelites and the Greeks in ethnic, political and religious terms.
ReplyDeleteThomas Daley
Good, succinct, write-up, Tom. The legitimations via both romanitas and the Bible really are key to understanding the mindset of the medieval period, I think.
ReplyDeleteWace’s Brut includes a number of effective aspects of foundation myths. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, it not only states that there is a direct ancestral link between the Trojans and the Britons, but effectively states that they are one and the same. This gives the British nation the legitimacy and authority of the great empires of antiquity. Secondly, the message from the goddess in Brutus’ dream gives the Britons a divine right to the island, as it is their destiny and fate. As the first inhabitants of the island, they have the most powerful claim to its lands. This claim to land is one of the most important parts of a national identity and pride that a foundation myth aims to create. Lastly, the greatness of the Britons is reinforced by the hardship of the quest and their direct ancestor, Brutus. They not only sail across the world, proving their bravery, but they defeat such threats as the Sirens and the Giants along the way, a feat at which few others have succeeded.
ReplyDeleteClare Rodda.
The legend of Brutus, in Wace's Brut, allows for the Britain's to align themselves with the Greeks, Romans as well as a biblical ancestry. Brutus, the protagonist in Wace's work, is the founder of the British race, and is a descendent from the Trojan ancestors. Furthermore he is also a descendent from Aeneas, the Trojan man who fled Troy in the great battle, to set up the Roman race. In allowing for this ancestry, Brut has been connected to the ancient Greeks as well as the Romans. Furthermore the work goes on to note of “Gogamagog” a giant, who appears in the bible several times allowing for the biblical heritage. The Work allows for Britain's to be connected historically to one of the greatest civilisations of all time, as well as the foundation myth for Rome, which works as a great foundation myth for Britain.
ReplyDeleteThe story told in Wace's Brut is considered a perfect foundation myth for Britain because it allows the British to relate to and align themselves with important and powerful people and ideals, namely the Romans and the Greeks, as well as link themselves to the Bible. This rich heritage of powerful ancestors and biblical significance would be considered an ideal back story of their nation and its founding. Brutus, the founder of the British race, is a descended from Trojan ancestors, thus linking the British to the Greeks. Brutus is also descended from Aeneas, the founder of Rome. This gives the British a tie to the Romans. Several biblical references can be seen within Brut, at the end of the text Wace mentions how these events took place in the time of “Eli...priest of Judea”, attempting to relate the story/events of Britains foundation to the Bible. Brutus receiving instructions from the goddess Diane is also important as it implies the Britons have a sort of divine right and claim to the land. The importance of these links and connections is that they allow Britain to identify with some of the most powerful and significant races/nations/ideas of the past and use these connections to increase legitimacy to their claims to the land and to the power/authority of their people.
ReplyDeleteI don't wish to cover the original question as everyone has summed it up well but one thing I did notice was that it seems that this foundation poem is "double dipping" for it has biblical references yet gives a prominent role to Diane (who arguably is an early Mother Mary figure) is Roman. Is this a problem or can this simply be described as the contemporary characters either not knowing any better or just a romantic device that enhances the mythical and archaic nature of the work?
ReplyDeleteIt is the perfect myth since gives Britain a divine identity and legitimises Britain as the next 'great civilisation', Aenaes was mythically the son of Aphrodite, and Brutus the descendant of Aenaes (we all know the myth so i won't say it again). At the time this perhaps gave Britain legitimacy over Europe rather than the Western Byzantine Empire, therefore if Britain could cement themselves as the predecessors of Rome, they in tern inherit the Christian world. Shifting Christianity from West to East It also ties Britain with ancestry to he gods of the ancient world, a high form of propaganda. The myths usage of Biblical narrative make Britain the focus of the Latin world.
ReplyDeleteThe use of Roman Gods to legitimate romanitas and Christianity does have a certain logic: writers knew there was a time before Christ when 'mistaken' beliefs were held, but, crucially, Christ was brought to all people through romanitas. Hence aligning yourself, even with pagan Roman Gods, aligns yourself with the Chosen People of God in a Christian sense: the Romans were preordained to bring Christianity to the nations of the world. Unlike, of course, the insular Jews, who kept God's Law to themselves. Gildas talks about Jeremiah and Paul's use of the metaphor of God grafting on/cutting off branches (ie nations) to the Olive Tree (ie the Church or the Covenant). A lot of these foundation myths are just that: grafting.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Brutus as read in Wace's Brut indeed provided Britain with a firm, legitimated history in many ways during a time of anxiety and uncertainty over their heritage and identity. Firstly, it confirms Britians glorious ancestory by claiming that Brutus was a descendent of the great Ancient Greek Trojans. Secondly, Britains ancestory is also traced back to the Ancient Romans, through Aeneas, the legendary Trojan father of the Roman race. And thirdly, the story of Brutus is set up in a way which one can observe biblical references, such as the story of the Goddess Diane who gave instructions to Brutus to claim the land of Britain. This implies that the Britons have a divine right to the land of of Britain. Not surprisingly, the 'history' was celebrated as an instant success to a country of people no anxious over their belonging or identity.
ReplyDelete