Early References to Arthur 

GILDAS:  perhaps Arthur's contemporary, or at least near contemporary; 6th-century author of De Exidio Britannia (On the Ruin of Britain); mentions Badon Hill which is later associated with Arthur, but not Arthur

BEDE:  8th-century author of  Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (The Ecclesiastical History of the English People); borrows from Gildas; mentions Vortigern, but not Arthur.  Later, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles also relate the tale of Vortigern. 

NENNIUS:  a Welshman whose name is on the preface of some editions of the 9th-century Historia Brittonum (The History of the Britons).  This work mentions Arthur by name and refers to his battle against the Saxons.

ANNALES CAMBRIA (Annals of Wales):  10th-century anonymous; mentions Arthur and Mordred (as Medraut)

    Mabinogion:  11th-century collection of Welsh tales which includes an Arthurian tale, Culhwch and Olwen. 

  Welsh Saint's Lives:   most collected in the 11th and 12th centuries.  Written in Latin, these works are filled with legend and include some references to  Arthur.

Life of St. Goeznovius:  Breton work with spurious date of 1019.  The author, William, has Arthur travel to Gaul, leaving some scholars to speculate a link between Arthur and a man who was dubbed King of the Britons,  Riothamus (or supreme ruler), who campaigned in Gaul around 460. 

WILLIAM OF MALMSESBURY:   author of Gesta Regnum Anglorum (Chronicles of the Kings of England), written in 1125.  William mentions Arthur and the battle of Badon Hill.  He also mentions Arthur's mysterious gravesite.

GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH:  12-century author of Historia Regnum Britannie (History of the Kings of England).  He is credited with giving Arthur a life story.

WACE:  12th-century author of Roman de Brut.  Wace draws on and "romanticizes" Geoffrey's work.  He introduces the Round Table and represents the transition from chronicle to romance.

LAYAMON:  12th-century author of the alliterative Brut.  Layamon draws heavily on Wace.  His work is the  first in English to mention Arthur.

Reference:  Lacy, Norris J. et al.  The Arthurian Handbook.  2nd edition.  New York:  Garland Publishing, Inc., 1997.

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