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His extant works include:
Roman de Brut (c. 1155) was based on the work of Geoffrey of Monmouth. It cannot be regarded as a history in any modern sense, although Wace often distinguishes between what he knows and what he does not know, or has been unable to find out. Wace narrates the founding of Britain, by Brutus of Troy, to the end of the legendary British history created by Geoffrey of Monmouth. The popularity of this work is explained by the new accessibility to a wider public of the Arthur legend in a vernacular language. In the midst of the Arthurian section of the text, Wace was the first to mention the legend of King ArthurKing Arthur is an important figure in the mythology of Britain. He is the central character in Arthurian legends (known as the Matter of Britain), although there is disagreement about whether Arthur, or a model for him, ever actually existed and in the ea's Round TableFor other uses, see Round Table (disambiguation). In the legend of King Arthur, the Round Table was a mystical table in Camelot around which King Arthur and his knights sat to discuss matters crucial to the security of the realm. In some versions, the wiz and the first to ascribe the name ExcaliburThis article is about the mythical sword of King Arthur. For other meanings, see Excalibur (disambiguation Excalibur is one of two mythical swords of King Arthur. In surviving accounts of Arthur, two originally separate legends of his sword's origin have to Arthur's sword, although he on the whole adds only minor details to Geoffrey's text. The Roman de Brut became the basis, in turn, for LayamonLayamon or Laamon (using the archaic letter yogh), was a poet of the early 13th century, whose Brut (c. 1215) is a history of England in verse written in early Middle English. Although based on the earlier Roman de Brut written in Anglo-Norman by Wace (in's Brut, an alliterative Middle English poem, and Piers LangtoftPiers Langtoft (died ~1307) was a chronicler who originated from Langtoft in Yorkshire. He was an Augustinian monk at Bridlington Priory, and wrote his own history of England in Anglo-Norman verse. The history narrates from the legendary founding of Brita's Chronicle.
His later work, the Roman de Rou, was, according to LayamonLayamon or Laamon (using the archaic letter yogh), was a poet of the early 13th century, whose Brut (c. 1215) is a history of England in verse written in early Middle English. Although based on the earlier Roman de Brut written in Anglo-Norman by Wace (in, commissioned by King Henry II of EnglandHenry II ( March 25, 1133 July 6, 1189), ruled as Duke of Anjou and as King of England ( 1154 1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland, eastern Ireland, and western France. His sobriquets include "Curt Mantle" (because of the pract. A large part of the Roman de Rou is devoted to William the ConquerorWilliam I c. 1027 September 9, 1087), was King of England. Known alternatively as William of Normandy William the Conqueror and William the Bastard he was the illegitimate and only son of Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva, the daughter and the Norman ConquestBayeux Tapestry depicting events leading to the Battle of Hastings The Norman Conquest was the conquest of England by William the Conqueror ( Duke of Normandy), in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings and the subsequent Norman control of England. It is an impor. Wace's reference to oral tradition within his own family suggests that his account of the preparations for the Conquest and of the Battle of Hastings are reliant not only on documentary evidence but also on eyewitness testimony from close relations. The Roman de Rou also includes a mention of the appearance of Halley's Comet. The relative lack of popularity of the Roman de Rou may reflect the loss of interest in the history of the Duchy of Normandy following the incorporation of continental Normandy into the kingdom of France in 1204.
The Anglo-Norman language Wace wrote in is variously regarded as a dialect of the Norman language, a dialect of Old French, or specifically the precursor of Jčrriais. Writers in Jersey have looked on Wace as the founder of Jersey literature, and Jčrriais is sometimes referred to as the language of Wace although the poet himself predated the development of Jčrriais as a literary language. Wace is the earliest known Jersey writer.
Although the name Robert has been ascribed to Wace, this is a tradition resting on little evidence. It is generally believed nowadays that Wace only had one name.
Wace's descriptions of militarily strategic points on the coast of Normandy were used in the early planning stages of the Battle of Normandy.
There is a granite memorial stone to Wace built into the side of the States Building in Jersey's Royal Square. This includes a quote from the Roman de Rou that expresses the poet's pride in his place of birth:
Jo di e dirai ke jo sui
Wace de l’isle de Gersui
I say and will say that I am
Wace from the Island of Jersey