William of Malmesbury

A Monk with a Passion for History

William of Malmesbury was born around 1090, probably of Anglo-Norman parentage. He became a Benedictine monk at Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire, where access to books, manuscripts and religious scholarship helped develop his interest in history.

Unlike many medieval chroniclers who concentrated primarily on religious matters, William sought to understand the history of England and its rulers. He studied earlier writers, gathered information from different sources and travelled to learn more about the places and people he described.

His work helped preserve knowledge of an earlier age at a time when written records were precious and historical accounts could easily be lost.

Recording the Kings of England

William’s most famous work was Gesta Regum Anglorum, meaning Deeds of the Kings of the English, completed around 1125. It traced English history from its early beginnings through the Anglo-Saxon period and into the reign of Henry I.

The work is particularly valuable for its accounts of kings such as Alfred the Great and Æthelstan. William wrote about events that had taken place centuries before his own lifetime, drawing on earlier histories, written records and local traditions.

His account of Æthelstan is especially significant because Malmesbury Abbey had strong connections with the king, who was buried there. William’s writing preserves important details about Æthelstan, although historians must also consider the abbey’s interest in celebrating its royal benefactor.

William also wrote Gesta Pontificum Anglorum, a history of English bishops and religious institutions. Through this work, he recorded information about monasteries, churches and the people associated with them, making his writings valuable beyond royal history.

Witness to a Kingdom in Conflict

William did not restrict himself to the distant past. During his lifetime, England experienced another period of political upheaval following the death of Henry I in 1135.

The resulting civil war, known as the Anarchy, saw King Stephen and Empress Matilda struggle for control of the kingdom. William began writing Historia Novella, or Modern History, to record these contemporary events.

His position as a monk, his connections with important figures and his access to historical documents gave him opportunities to gather information unavailable to many other writers.

However, William was not a modern historian. His accounts sometimes included legends, moral judgements and stories that cannot be independently verified. His works must therefore be read critically, comparing his claims with other surviving evidence wherever possible.

His Lasting Legacy

William of Malmesbury died around 1143, leaving behind a remarkable collection of historical writing.

His accounts remain important to historians studying medieval Britain, particularly the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, the Norman Conquest and the development of royal power. They also reveal how people in the 12th century understood and interpreted their own history.

William’s greatest achievement was not simply recording the deeds of kings and churchmen, but helping preserve stories, traditions and information that might otherwise have disappeared.

For anyone exploring Britain’s medieval past, his writings offer a valuable window into the people and events that shaped the kingdom — and a reminder that our understanding of history often depends on the dedication of those who chose to record it.