Androgeus

Androgeus is a legendary prince of the island of Brittany (current Great Britain), whose “history” is reported by Geoffroy de Monmouth in his Historia regum Britanniae (towards 1135). He is the son of the king Lud, which he does not succeed but is named duke of Trinovantum and Kent. He is known for his relations (supposed) with Jules César.

The kingdom of the island of Brittany

After the Trojan War, Énée arrives in Italy, with his/her son Ascagne and becomes the Master of the kingdom of the Romans. Its grandson Brutus is constrained with the exile after having accidentally killed his father. After a long navigation, Brutus unloads in the island of Brittany, occupies it and makes its kingdom of it. He marries Innogen of which he has three wire. With its death, the kingdom is divided in three parts and its sons succeed to him: Locrinus receives the center from the island to which it gives the name of “Loegrie”, Kamber receives the “Cambrie” (current Wales) and its name gives him, Albanactus inherits the area of north and calls it “Albania” (Scotland). Following the invasion of Albania by Huns and of died of Albanactus, the kingdom is reunified under the sovereignty of Locrinus. It is the beginning of a long list of sovereigns.

Biography of Androgeus

With died of the king Lud, successor of Heli, its Androgeus sons and Tenuantius are too young to reign. It is their uncle Cassibellan who is crowned. According to the chronicle, it is a generous and honest man. So that its nephews are not injured, it gives the town of Trinovantum and the duchy of Kent to Androgeus and the duchy of Cornouailles with Tenuantius.

Jules César, having conquered the Gaulle, decides to invade the island of Brittany and addresses a message to the king. Cassibellan refuses to subject and pay a tribute. César arms its fleet and takes the sea as soon as the winds allow it. Whereas it approaches in the estuary of the Thames, Cassibellan and its army go to its meeting. In the town of Dorobellum, it joins together the noble ones, of which Androgeus and Tenuantius, to know how to drive out the invaders. It is decided to attack the camp of César immediately, before it seizes a city. With the first combat, the Breton ones take the advantage on the Romans and at the end of this day, they are victorious. César regains its ships with the remainder of its troops and decides to turn over as a Gaulle. Two years later, César reiterates forwarding, without more success.

The Breton ones celebrate their last victory with Trinovantum by sacrifices with the gods of the fatherland, feasts and plays. At the time of a singular combat, Cuelinus, nephew of the duke Androgeus, cut the head of Hirelglas, nephew of the king. Cassibellan requires that the murderer be brought to him to make justice, but Androgeus answers that it has his own court. Cassibellan attacks its nephew and devastates his grounds, Androgeus decides to call upon César and sends a letter to him promising the sovereignty of Brittany to him. César requires hostages of him, Androgeus sends his/her noble Sceva son and thirty young people to him.

The Romans unload in Richborough, Cassibellan which besieged Trinovantum raises the seat and goes to their meeting. Androgeus, extremely of its army of 5.000 men, attacks Cassibellan, which must flee. It takes refuge with the survivors on an impregnable hill, pushing back the attacks and massacring the men of César which decides to starve them. At the end of two days, Cassibellan sends a message to Androgeus, in order to negotiate with César. Androgeus meets the emperor and asks him pity for his/her uncle, against tender and payment of a tribute of 3.000 books. Peace is concluded between the two sovereigns.

Androgeus accompanies César as a Gaulle, the following year, from where they go on Rome to face Pompée.

With died of Cassibellan, it is Tenuantius, duke of Cornwall, which succeeds to him. It is under the reign of his/her son Kimberlin that is born Jesus-Christ.

Source

  • Geoffroy de Monmouth, History of the kings de Bretagne , translated and commented on by Laurence Mathey-Mesh, Beautiful letters, coll “the Wheel with books”, Paris, 2004.

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