Assignment on Gildas, The Ruin and Conquest of Britain (De excidio et conquestu Britanniae)

Read Ashley, Chapter 5: "Gildas: The Man Who Knew Arthur", pp. 89-113.

Concentrate on reading §§ 20 through 26 of Gildas' work. These sections are included in Ashley, Chapter 5, who then comments on them.

In addition to Ashley's commentary in this chapter, read footnote 41 on the text of Gildas on the great Arthurian page Vortigern Studies, one of the very best Arthurian websites in existence anywhere. All the notes are good, so read as many as you care to read, but be sure to read note 41.

Writing assignment: In Ashley's opinion, the year Gildas was born is "the most important date in in all Arthurian studies." (90)

Explain carefully why Ashley thinks this is so. Explain carefully -- i.e., make sure you fully understand, so you can explain it in your own words -- how Ashley arrives at the approximate year of the Battle of Badon Hil by analyzing Gildas' words.

350 words or a bit more. Email to me and to your group.