The Massacre of the Long Knives from ‘Nennius’ Onwards

HAL 2026 Book chapter

Authors: Alban Gautier
Cited by: 0

Abstract

This paper explores different versions of the same story, which appeared first in Nennius’ Historia Brittonum (ninth century) and was retold and adapted in several works over the next four centuries, most importantly in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia regum Britanniae. The ‘Massacre of the Long Knives’ is a classic story of treachery and atrocity: during a parley (or, in William of Malmesbury’s version, a feast), the invading Saxons killed most of the British nobility and, thanks to this, took possession of their land.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Medieval Literature and History Historical Literary and Cultural Studies Historical and Archaeological Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
HAL
Pages
65–77
Publication date
1 January 2026
Language
EN
Document type
Book chapter