History
The three "Matters" were first described in the 12th century by the French poet Jean Bodel, whose epic Chanson de Saisnes contains the line:
- Ne sont que III matières à nul homme atandant,
- De France et de Bretaigne, et de Rome la grant.
- There are but 3 matters that no man should be without,
- That of France, of Britain, and of great Rome.
The name distinguishes and relates the Matter of Britain from the mythological themes taken from classical antiquity, the "Matter of Rome", and the tales of the paladins of Charlemagne and their wars with the Moors and Saracens, which constituted the "Matter of France". While Arthur is the chief subject of the Matter of Britain, other lesser-known legendary history of Great Britain, including the stories of Brutus of Britain, King Cole, King Lear, and Gogmagog, is also included in the Matter of Britain: see Legendary kings of the British.
Read more about this topic: Matter Of Britain
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