Marcia was the legendary third female ruler and a regent of the Britons, as recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth.[1] She is presented by Geoffrey as "one of the most illustrious and praiseworthy of women in early British history".[2]

Mythical account

Marcia became Queen consort when she married Guithelin[3] (Welsh: Kyhylyn) and ruled as regent for her son, Sisillius II. In her youth, she was a noblewoman and knowledgeable in all the arts.[2]

Queen Marcia ruled Britain for about five years after Guithelin's death because their son was just seven years old at the time.[4]

Geoffrey says that Queen Marcia was a learned woman who codified the Marcian Laws, the Lex Martiana. King Alfred the Great was later to translate the code into Old English as the basis of Mercian Laws, believing them to have been named after the much later Saxon kingdom of Mercia.[1][4]

Sisillius (Welsh: Saessyllt), came to the throne in ca 358 BC on Queen Marcia's death.[1][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Geoffrey of Monmouth (1842) [c. 1136]. "XIII. Guithelin reigning after Gurgiunt Brabtruc, the Martian Law is instituted by Martia, a noble Woman" . In Giles, J. A. (ed.). The British History of Geoffrey of Monmouth in Twelve Books. The monkish historians of Great Britain. Vol. 3. Translated by Thompson, Aaron. London: James Bohn. pp. 54–55. hdl:2027/mdp.39015002171711.
  2. 1 2 Barefield, Laura D., Gender and History in Medieval English Romance and Chronicle, Peter Lang, New York, 2003, p.27.
  3. ↑ Sacred Texts website, Histories of the Kings of Britain (Book III), by Geoffry of Monmouth, tr. by Sebastian Evans, (1904)
  4. 1 2 3 Cooper, B. "History of the Early British Kings". Retrieved 2011-02-07.


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