Geoffrey of Monmouth

Geoffrey of Monmouth was a twelfth-century cleric from Monmouth in Wales who became one of the main figures behind the popularity of the legends of King Arthur. He is remembered above all for his Latin chronicle The History of the Kings of Britain, which traces the supposed story of Britain from its settlement by Brutus of Troy down to the seventh century and contains one of the earliest developed narratives of Arthur. The work spread widely across medieval Europe, was translated and reworked into French, English and Welsh, and was accepted as true history for centuries, though it is now regarded as largely invented. He also wrote the Prophecies of Merlin and the hexameter poem Life of Merlin. His charters place him at Oxford, and he was consecrated Bishop of St Asaph in 1152, apparently without ever visiting his see. He died around 1155.