How Mediaeval Britons Remembered the Fall of Roman Britain

[Duncan Head]

Mostly Gildas.
https://www.thecollector.com/legions-legends-fall-roman-britain/

[Jim Webster]

Mostly Gildas.
https://www.thecollector.com/legions-legends-fall-roman-britain/

Interesting the distance between Gildas and the events he recalls is about the same as between us and the wars of Napoleon.
Assuming in his day, Gildas had access to some historical records is he attempting to do what we would be doing if we attempted to write the history of Europe from 1790 to 1820 having in our possession two or three randomly surviving books from the Sharpe series?

[stevenneate]

At least Bernard Cornwell names the cast of characters.

[Imperial Dave]

Thanks Duncan

[nikgaukroger]

Mostly Gildas.
https://www.thecollector.com/legions-legends-fall-roman-britain/

Interesting the distance between Gildas and the events he recalls is about the same as between us and the wars of Napoleon.
Assuming in his day, Gildas had access to some historical records is he attempting to do what we would be doing if we attempted to write the history of Europe from 1790 to 1820 having in our possession two or three randomly surviving books from the Sharpe series?

Not really. It is a sermon/polemic decrying the behaviour of the times, not a history.

[Jim Webster]

Mostly Gildas.
https://www.thecollector.com/legions-legends-fall-roman-britain/

Interesting the distance between Gildas and the events he recalls is about the same as between us and the wars of Napoleon.
Assuming in his day, Gildas had access to some historical records is he attempting to do what we would be doing if we attempted to write the history of Europe from 1790 to 1820 having in our possession two or three randomly surviving books from the Sharpe series?

Not really. It is a sermon/polemic decrying the behaviour of the times, not a history.

Yes, it's a very frustrating document to read. But he has to have enough history correct (in the eyes of his readers) to ensure that they aren't dropped out of the flow of his argument by glaring errors.

[Nick Harbud]

Really?  This has never concerned many recent politicians.   

[Imperial Dave]

Don't forget that 2 generations pass and eye witness accounts fade fast...