Constantine, King of Britain

The name Constantine, King of Britain appears in my genealogical records.  He lived during the early 6th century (500s a.d.).  Although there are various saints and kings named Constantine, we will use the one specified as King of Britain as that is the title listed on the genealogical record.

There are two competing stories about Constantine, King of Britain.  The first was written by a contemporary historian Gildas.  Gildas was a British monk in the southwestern part of England named Dumnonia where Constantine was king.  In Gildas' history, he was constantly encouraging King Constantine to repent.  He listed many of his sins such as the killing of two youths at the church altar and adulteries.  It was because of that constant call to repentance that the tradition spun the story that King Constantine gave up being king to join a monastery and was thereafter known as Saint Constantine.

The second history was written by a 12th century historian Geoffrey of Monmouth.  Because this history was written nearly 600 years later, it is often considered more of a mythical pseudo-history.  In its story line, Geoffrey names King Constantine as the successor to King Arthur, being his brother-in-law, and was crowned King by Arthur after King Arthur was mortally wounded in battle.  King Constantine's slaying of the two youth at the church was written in this history portraying the youths as traitors and part of the rebellion against the Round Table.  The only sin for Constantine in their killing was that the act was done in a church.  Constantine reigns for only 3 years.  His reign ends with his murdered by a nephew after which the country then plunges into civil war.