The Dark Ages Return to Fifth-Century Britain: The 'Restored' Gallic Chronicle Exploded
R. W. Burgess
It is an unfortunate fact that historians of the Later Roman Empire are forced to derive much their chronological material from chronicles and consular fasti. I say unfortunate, for not nearly as accurate modern would like them be. This because they were exceptionally difficult type history compile, prone error at every turn, gathering sources copying final text, most chroniclers essentially ‘amateurs’, having little experience in doing research, thinking or writing historically, usually separated by considerable time space events describing. These facts constantly rankle with historians, some who have had rely heavily on rather than attempt methodological historiographical explanations why believe particular entries incorrectly dated, often taken easy way out tried solve problems emending away: alter texts themselves, offering excuses assumptions (usually only implicit) skilful access reliable sources, able present information accurately carefully, we now corrupted ignorant careless medieval scribes.
Britannia