The matter-of-fact title of Geoffrey's work seems to promise the truth about the historical Arthur. Instead, what we are given is one of the greatest works of medieval fiction (was taken as history by many generations of later writers). Geoffrey's work was the conduit by which the preciously oral legends entered the literary world.

Geoffrey was probably born around 1100 and seems to have lived in Oxford from 1129 onwards at a college of cannons called St. George's: he may have taught there. His family was either Welsh or Breton and he signed himself Geoffrey Arthur, implying that his father was called Arthur. He completed the History of the Kings of Britain in abour 1136.

Geoffrey must have known much of the Welsh tradition that had survived and many details can be traced back to this. The names of Arthur's weapons, for example, come from this source as do the names of many characters.

Be medieval standards, Geoffrey's work was a best seller; not only that, but most chroniclers accepted his work as true. Between 1150 and 1420, some 50 chroniclers had used it as the basis of their account of the early history of Britain and only a handful questioned it.

Barber, Richard, The Arthurian Legends: an Illustrated Anthology, Ch2. Rochester, NY: Boydell and Brewer Ltd., 1991