KING ARTHUR IN LITERATURE AND FILMS

2013

Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................3

The Legend of King Arthur and the origin of the name ....................................................................5
Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table....................................................................................9
Arthurian characters................................................................................................................................15
King Arthur and his Battles....................................................................................................................19
Excalibur,the magic sword of King Arthur........................................................................................22
King Arthur ,death and the burial.......................................................................................................24
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................................26
Bibliography and webography ..............................................................................................................27

Introduction

Why did I choose to talk about King Arthur? Because I know that King Arthur is a
significant character in British tranditions.
We've all heard of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. But who was Arthur?
Arthur was a legendary king of the Britans in ancient times and the major figure in
Arthurian legend.He expelled foreigners from Britain,brought peace to the country and
established a kingdom based on justice,law and morality.
As king, he united Britain and drove off the invaders from the land. His kingdom was
called Camelot, and his coat of arms was the red dragon. His wizard was Merlin, his queen,
Guinevere, one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom. He received his sword, Excalibur,
from the Lady of the Lake, a magical creature who made her home underwater. He held court at
his castle at Camelot and institude an order known as the Knights of the Round Table.Eventually
his realm crumbled and his illegitimate son Mordred grievously wounded him in battle.Many
versions of Arthurian legend say that Arthur will someday return when he is again needed by
Britain.
He may be considered a role model for modern societies because of the principles he
believed in:equality between individuals,freedom of thought. Because of Arthur`s qualities and
actions I believe thatThe Legend of King Arthur is an interesting and fascinating domain that
is worth knowing either to satisfy your curiosity or for a better understanding of the message it
sends.
The following pages are trying to represent a brief and clear presentation of some legends
about Arthur,about legendary places,his battles,figures that somehow had influenced the story.

Chapter 1

The Legend of King Arthur and the origin of the name

The Legend of King Arthur and the origin of the name

King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who,
according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders
in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and
literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians. The
sparse historical background of Arthur is gleaned from various sources, including the Annales
Cambriae, the Historia Brittonum, and the writings of Gildas. Arthur's name also occurs in early
poetic sources such as Y Gododdin.
The legendary Arthur developed as a figure of international interest largely through the
popularity of Geoffrey of Monmouth's fanciful and imaginative 12th-centuryHistoria Regum
Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain). Some Welsh and Breton tales and poems relating the
story of Arthur date from earlier than this work; in these works, Arthur appears either as a great
warrior defending Britain from human and supernatural enemies or as a magical figure of
folklore, sometimes associated with the Welsh Otherworld, Annwn. How much of
Geoffrey's Historia (completed in 1138) was adapted from such earlier sources, rather than
invented by Geoffrey himself, is unknown.
Although the themes, events and characters of the Arthurian legend varied widely from
text to text, and there is no one canonical version, Geoffrey's version of events often served as
the starting point for later stories. Geoffrey depicted Arthur as a king of Britain who defeated the
Saxons and established an empire overBritain, Ireland, Iceland, Norway and Gaul. Many
elements and incidents that are now an integral part of the Arthurian story appear in
Geoffrey's Historia, including Arthur's father Uther Pendragon, the wizard Merlin, Arthur's
wife Guinevere, the sword Excalibur, Arthur's conception at Tintagel, his final battle
againstMordred at Camlann and final rest in Avalon. The 12th-century French writer Chrtien de
Troyes, who added Lancelot and the Holy Grail to the story, began the genre of Arthurian
romance that became a significant strand of medieval literature. In these French stories, the
narrative focus often shifts from King Arthur himself to other characters, such as various Knights
of the Round Table. Arthurian literature thrived during the Middle Ages but waned in the
centuries that followed until it experienced a major resurgence in the 19th century. In the 21st
century, the legend lives on, not only in literature but also in adaptations for theatre, film,
television, comics and other media.
The historical basis for the King Arthur legend has long been debated by scholars.
One school of thought, citing entries in the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons)
and Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals), sees Arthur as a genuine historical figure, a RomanoBritish leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons sometime in the late 5th to early
6th century. The first datable mention of King Arthur is in a 9th-century Latin text. The Historia
Brittonum, a 9th-century Latin historical compilation attributed in some late manuscripts to a
Welsh cleric called Nennius, lists twelve battles that Arthur fought. These culminate in the Battle
of Mons Badonicus, or Mount Badon, where he is said to have single-handedly killed 960 men.
Recent studies, however, question the reliability of the Historia Brittonum.

The other text that seems to support the case for Arthur's historical existence is the 10thcentury Annales Cambriae, which also link Arthur with the Battle of Mount Badon.
The Annales date this battle to 516518, and also mention the Battle of Camlann, in which
Arthur and Medraut (Mordred) were both killed, dated to 537539. These details have often been
used to bolster confidence in the Historia's account and to confirm that Arthur really did fight at
Mount Badon. Problems have been identified, however, with using this source to support
the Historia Brittonum's account. The latest research shows that the Annales Cambriae was
based on a chronicle begun in the late 8th century in Wales. Additionally, the complex textual
history of the Annales Cambriae precludes any certainty that the Arthurian annals were added to
it even that early. They were more likely added at some point in the 10th century and may never
have existed in any earlier set of annals. The Mount Badon entry probably derived from
the Historia Brittonum.

The origin of the name Arthur

Arthur is a common masculine given name. Its etymology is disputed, but its popularity
derives from its being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur.
Art and Artie are diminutive forms of the name. A common spelling variant used in many
Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur.
The origin of the name Arthur remains a matter of debate. Some suggest it is derived
from the Roman nomen gentile (family name) Artrius, of obscure and contested etymology (but

possibly of Messapic or Etruscan origin). Some scholars have noted that the legendary King
Arthur's name only appears as Arthur, or Arturus, in early Latin Arthurian texts, never
as Artrius (although the Classical Latin Artrius became Arturius in some Vulgar Latin
dialects). However, this may not say anything about the origin of the name Arthur,
as Artrius would regularly becomeArt(h)ur when borrowed into Welsh.
Another possibility is that it is derived from a Brittonic patronym Arto-rg-ios (the root of
which, arto-rg- "bear-king" is to be found in the Old Irish personal name Art-ri) via a Latinized
form Artrius. Less likely is the commonly proposed derivation from Welsh arth "bear" + (g)wr
"man" (earlier*Arto-uiros in Brittonic); there are phonological difficulties with this theory notably that a Brittonic compound name Arto-uiros should produce Old Welsh Artgur and
Middle/Modern Welsh Arthwr and not Arthur (in Welsh poetry the name is always
spelled Arthur and is exclusively rhymed with words ending in -ur - never words ending in -wr which confirms that the second element cannot be [g]wr "man").
An alternative theory, which has only gained limited acceptance among scholars, derives
the name Arthur from the Latin Arcturus(the brightest star in the constellation Botes, near Ursa
Major or the Great Bear), which is the latinisation of the Greek (Arktouros) and
means "Guardian of the Bear", ultimately from (arktos), "bear" + (ouros),
"watcher, guardian". Classical Latin Arcturuswould also have become Art(h)ur when borrowed
into Welsh, and its brightness and position in the sky led people to regard it as the "guardian of
the bear" and the "leader" of the other stars in Botes.
A similar first name is Old Irish Artr, which is believed to be derived directly from an
early Old Welsh or Cumbric Artur. The earliest historically attested bearer of the name is a son or
grandson of edn mac Gabrin (d. AD 609)

Chapter 3

Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table

Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table

Camelot was the great castle of King Arthur. Camelot was the seat of power in Britain,
where inside a council was established. Camelot symbolised the Golden Age of Chivalry.
The Legends and stories about Camelot create an enduring impression of a wonderful,
mystical castle and land where Knights in shining armour lived to an honourable Code of
Chivalry. The legends of Camelot are so deeply ingrained in the myths and legends of the Britons
that we often look for evidence of exactly where, that mythical land, that was Camelot, existed.
A place now immortalised in the lyrics of the song where the climate of Camelot was perfect all
of the year, where winter and spring always started on exactly the same day and where there was
not a more congenial spot - a land of happy endings that was Camelot!
Where did the name Camelot originate?
The oldest known literature about King Arthur makes no reference to Camelot by name.
Camelot is first mentioned explicitly in the romance called Lancelot written by the French poet
Chretien de Troyes between 1170 and 1185. The patroness of Chretien de Troyes was the
Countess Marie de Champagne who was the daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine who married King
Henry II of England. The name Camelot is mentioned as follows:"Upon a certain Ascension Day
King Arthur had come from Caerleon, and had held a very magnificent court at Camelot as was
fitting on such a day." Chretien de Troyes mentions Caerleon, as had Geoffrey of Monmouth, but
in his work King Arthur had moved to another court in Camelot.
Where is Camelot today?

The stories locate it somewhere in Great Britain and sometimes associate it with real
cities, though more usually its precise location is not revealed. Most scholars regard it as being
entirely fictional, its geography being perfect for romance writers;

Arthurian scholar Norris J. Lacy commented that "Camelot, located no where in

particular, can be anywhere".
Nevertheless arguments about the location of the "real Camelot" have occurred since the 15th
century and continue to rage today in popular works and for tourism purposes.

Possible Identification
Caerleon
The town of Caerleon is mentioned so often in King Arthur's story, that it has become
synonymous with his very name. If it were his Capital City, surely it is the true Camelot
Caerleon was especially noted for "Arthur's Table", a huge grass-covered raised oval hollow
around which King Arthur and his knights often sat. At one meeting there, King Arthur
appointed St. Dyfrig as Archbishop of St. Aaron's Cathedral in Caerleon. He was later succeeded
by St. Dewi (David) who removed the archdiocese to Mynwyr (St. Davids). It was to St. Julius'
that Queen Gwenhwyfar retired after the Battle of Camlann, and here she apparently died.
Caerleon is also one of the possible sites of the well-known hidden cave where King Arthur and
all his knights are said to sleep, waiting to be called upon to rescue their country in its hour of
need. A local Caerleon farmer once met a mounted man in a three-cornered hat who took him to
the middle of a large wood, promising to show him an amazing site. The man stopped at a sheer
rock face where he pushed a great boulder aside to reveal the entrance to a long dark passage.
The two entered within and followed the path to a series of steps above which hung two huge
bells. From here they descended into a large underground cavern. All around them slept upwards
of a thousands ancient knights and, at their head, the guide pointed out King Arthur himself. On
leaving this solemn scene, the farmer accidentally knocked one of the great bells. Its loud clang
awoke the sleepers, who immediately asked, "Is it time?". "Not yet," replied the stranger, "sleep
on." The knights returned to their slumber and the two companions left for the surface. The
stranger mounted his horse and departed without a word. The farmer often searched for the cave,
in the years to come, but was never able to find it again.
Caerleon appears repeatedly in ancient Arthurian writings as one of King Arthur's major
residences. It was originally the Roman fortress of Isca Silurum, home of the 2nd Legion.
However, despite many of its grand buildings surviving well into the 11th century, indications of
occupation extending into the Dark Ages are slight
Despite Caerleon's strong Arthurian associations, it is unlikely to have been the original Camelot.
Certainly not in name and probably not in inspiration either. Indeed, Chrtien De Troyes, who
first mentioned the romantic place-name, treats the two places as completely separate. It seems
more likely that, during the Dark Ages, Caerleon was an ecclesiastic rather than a major secular
centre. Perhaps, as such, it was seen as an appropriate meeting place for Royal councils. Such

10

gatherings often met in circles in Celtic society, so what better meeting place than the old Roman
amphitheatre?

The Knights of the Round Table

Knights of the Round Table - The story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round
table are well known. Many knights were featured in the tale although most people remember the
main characters - Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad. King Arthur is the figure at the heart of the
Arthurian legends but the Knights of the Round Table play an important part in the story. The
legend revolves around the Code of Chivalry followed by the Knights of the Round Table Honour, Honesty, Valour and Loyalty. The Knights of the Round Table were ' Brothers in Arms'.
The significance of the Round Table is that no one person, not even the King, should sit at the
head of such a table. A round table enforced the concept of equality - completely at odds with the
concept of the Feudal System.
Knights of the Round Table - The Round Table - was first mentioned by the twelfth
century Norman poet Wace in his "Roman de Brut". This poem was based on a translation of the
Historia Regum Britanniae (the History of the King's of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth) into
French verse. The poem was called Roman de Brut which Wace presented Queen Eleanor of
Aquitaine, wife of King Henry II, in 1155. Wace embellished the Arthurian story and invents the
legend of the Round Table.
The Round Table was not only a physical table, but was also the highest Order of
Chivalry at the Court of King Arthur. During the Medieval era society was based on the
pyramid-shaped Feudal System. The King and the most powerful Lords were seated at a "high
table" on a dais. Wace writes in his Brut that King Arthur ordered the Round Table to be built in
order to resolve a conflict among his knights concerning who should have precedence. All seats
at the Round Table were favoured places, and all were equal. The Knights of the Round Table
were served their food as equals and none of them could boast that he had a seat of higher
dignity than that of any of his fellow Knights

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The Knights of the Round Table Code of Chivalry

The basic rules of the Knights of the Round Table according to Giovanni Boccaccio in his "De
Casibus Virorum Illustrium" were:
To never lay down arms
To seek after wonders
When called upon, to defend the rights of the weak with all one's strength
To injure no one
Not to attack one another
To fight for the safety of one's country
To give one's life for one's country
To seek nothing before honour
Never to break faith for any reason
To practice religion most diligently
To grant hospitality to anyone, each according to his ability
The Knights of the Round Table at Winchester
Some of the Medieval Legends about the Knights of the Round Table indicate that
Camelot was situated in the Historic City of Winchester. Winchester was first identified as the
Camelot of legend by Sir Thomas Malory in his "Le Morte D'Arthur" which was first printed by
Caxton in 1485. Geoffrey of Monmouth refers to Winchester by is the old Welsh name of CaerGuinntguic. An ancient Round Table can be found at Winchester which is reputed to be King
Arthur's Round Table. 'King Arthur's Round Table' at Winchester does not date from the early 6th
century when King Arthur was believed to have lived. Radiocarbon and Tree-ring
(dendrochronology) dating methods have revealed that the table was constructed in the 1270s, at
the beginning of King Edward I's reign. This date corresponds perfectly with the fact that King
Edward I used Arthurian legends and myths when he conquered Wales - see Caernarvon Castle
and Welsh Mythology. The large round wooden table in the Great Hall at Winchester, reputed to
be King Arthur's Round Table, is made of 121 separate pieces of oak and measures 18 feet
across, is nearly 3 inches thick and weighs nearly 1.25 tons. Scientific studies have also revealed
that a painting of a King was added to the round table around 1522. The King depicted bears a
striking resemblance to the Tudor King Henry VII! The Tudors claimed lineage to King Arthur as
justification for their reign and their claims to both the Welsh and English thrones! Knights of the
Round Table.

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The names of the Knights of the Round Table at Winchester are detailed on the following list
together with a brief comment about the Knight:Kyng Arthur ( King Arthur )
Sir Galahallt ( Sir Galahad - the illegitimate son of Sir Lancelot)
Sir Launcelot Deulake ( Sir Lancelot du Lac - was taken in by the mystical Lady of the Lake
who raised him - the greatest Knight of the Round Table who fell in love with Queen Guinevere
Sir Gauen ( Sir Gawain - famed for fighting the Green Knight )
Sir Percyvale ( Sir Percivale - famed for fighting the Red Knight )
Sir Lyonell ( Sir Lionel - brother of Sir Bors and cousin to Sir Lancelot)
Sir Trystram Delyens ( Sir Tristram de Lyones - the son of King Meliodas & Queen Isabelle of
Lyonesse - second greatest Knight of the Round Table )
Sir Garethe ( Sir Gareth - a young knight placed under the tutelage of Sir Kay)
Sir Bedwere ( Sir Bedivere - a giant of a Knight )
Sir Blubrys ( Sir Bleoberis - an arrogant Knight who later became a hermit )
Sir Brunor le Noir - Lacotemale Tayle ( La Cote Male Taile - arrived in Camelot wearing an illfitting coat which had belonged to his dead father, given the nickname by Sir Kay )
Sir Lucane ( Sir Lucan - a most loyal and trusted Knight )
Sir Plomyde ( Sir Palomides - a Saracen knight)
Sir Lamorak ( Sir Lamorak - the third greatest Knight of the Round Table )
Sir Bors De Ganys ( Sir Bors de Ganis - brother of Sir Lionel and cousin to Sir Lancelot )
Sir Safer ( Sir Safir - a Christian Knight of Saracen descent )
Sir Pelleus ( Sir Pelleas - of low birth but one of the bravest Knights )
Sir Kay ( Sir Kay - King Arthur's foster-brother )
Sir Ectorde Marys ( Sir Ector de Maris - a Ladies man! )
Sir Dagonet ( Sir Dagonet - King Arthur's jester )
Sir Degore ( Sir Tegyr - King Arthur's cup-bearer)
Sir Lybyus Dysconyus ( Sir Guinglain was Sir Gawain's eldest son also known as Le Bel
Desconneu - the Fair Unknown )

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Sir Alynore ( Sir Alymere - totally loyal to King Arthur )

Sir Mordrede ( Treacherous Sir Mordred - his real father was his own uncle, King Arthur)

Chapter 5
Arthurian characters

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Arthurian characters
Guinevere
Guinevere was the legendary Queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and
folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir
Lancelot. This story first appears in Chrtien de Troyes' Lancelot, the Knight
of the Cart, and reappears as a common motif in numerous cyclical Arthurian
literature, starting with the Lancelot-Grail Cycle of the early 13th century and
carrying through the Post-Vulgate Cycle andThomas Malory's Le Morte
d'Arthur. Guinevere and Lancelot's betrayal of Arthur was often considered as
having led to the downfall of the kingdom

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Merlin
Merlin is a legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in
the Arthurian legend.Merlin first appears in extant records (Armes Prydein, Y
Gododdin) from the early 10th century as a mere prophet, but his role
gradually evolved into that of magician, prophet and advisor, active in all
phases of the administration of King Arthur's kingdom. He was apparently
given the name Emrys (or Ambrosius) at his birth in Caer-Fyrddin
(Carmarthen).
Merlin was enchanted by the Lady of the Lake, became the guardian of the
young Arthur. He appeared as an old, wise man, giving his wisdom to four successive British
kings. He was known as the Wild Man of the Woods during which time he learned to talk to the
animals. Merlin was reputed to be a mystical Druid, a Celtic priest, Merlin the Wizard, Merlin
the Sorcerer, Merlin the Magician a man who possessed the knowledge and secrets of the
ancients. The mystical advisor to King Arthur at Camelot. The population knew, and believed,
the old legends and myths about Merlin and he was especially revered as a great prophet. Enter
the Medieval 'Spin Doctors' of the English Kings!
Some scholars believe there were two Merlins: Myrddin Emrys and Myrddin Wylt. The fact that
Merlin apparently lived from the reign of Vortigern (c.420) to the reign of Riderch Hael (c.580)
would certainly support this view. The stretch from Vortigern to Arthur is itself unlikely and early
versions of the "Vortigern at Dinas Emrys" story give the fatherless boy as Emrys Wledig
(Ambrosius Aurelianus) who was living in Campus Elleti in Glywysing. Despite Myrddin Wylt's
story indicating he may have had a conceptual origin in one of the wild-man-in-the-woods motifs
common to the ancient folklore of the British Isles, this man's historicity is quite well
established. His real name, however, may have been Lailoken.

Mordred
Many years passed, and the King and Queen lived happily together. Under the
King's wise leadership, Camelot prospered, and her people were happy.
One day, four strangers came to the gates of Arthur's castle. Standing on the
parapets with Merlin, he looked down at them. There were three women and a
boy of about fourteen.
Who are they? asked Arthur.

16

The women are your half sisters by your father, Uther Pendragon, Merlin told him. Two of
them have come to make their peace with you. But the third, Morgan le Fay, is evil. She seeks
your downfall. I hoped never to see her in Camelot.
Then Arthur looked at the boy. Who is he? he asked.
You don't want to know, Merlin warned. But Arthur insisted.
He is your son by your half sister, Morgause. She was the woman who came to you that night. It
was Morgan le Fay who planned his conception with magic. She will use him against you. He
will betray you.

Uther Pendragon
In Geoffrey of Monmouth, the father of Arthur. Uther spent his youth in
exile in Breton with his elder brother Aurelius Ambrosius. They return to
Britain to dethrone Vortigern, and Aurelius is made king. He sends his
brother and Merlin to Ireland in order to fetch the Giants' Ring. When
Aurelius is poisoned, a celestial portent appears and Merlin interprets this as
forecasting the glories of Uther and his unborn offspring. The main feature
of this portent is a luminous dragon, whence Uther's sobriquet "Pendragon".
Geoffrey explains it as meaning "a dragon's head", but more probably it
means "head dragon", which may be interpreted as "foremost leader" or "chief of warriors".
Uther becomes king after his brother's death and holds court in London. When the nobles present
themselves before the new king, Uther falls for Igraine, the wife of Gerlois, the duke of
Cornwall. She refuses to lie with him, infusing his desire for her even more. Determined to have
her, Uther leads an army to ravage the ducal lands. Gerlois rides out with his men to meet the
army and while he is away, Merlin magically alters Uther's appearance so that the king now
resembles Gerlois. Uther enters Tintagel and lies with Igraine, who mistakes him for her
husband. Thus, Arthur is begotten. The real Gerlois falls in battle, and Uther resumes his true
shape and marries Igraine. In exchange for his help, Merlin demands the offspring of this union.
The remainder of his life is troubled by ill health and aggressive Saxons. Some sixteen years
later he dies -- similarly to his brother -- by Saxon poison. Legend has it that he was buried
besides his brother at Stoneheng.

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Chapter 6
King Arthur and his Battles

18

King Arthur and his Battles

"The first battle was at the mouth of the river called Glein": This has been tentatively
identified as one of the two Rivers Glen in Britain today, one in Lincolnshire and one in
Northumberland. Unfortunately, Glen stems from the Celtic for "pure", so there were
probably many rivers thus named in 6th century Britain. A battle at the former would have
presumably been against the first Bernician settlers and at the latter against the northward
moving East Anglians. Either could be attributed to King Arthuis of the Pennines.
"The second, the third, the fourth and the fifth were on another river, called the
Dubglas, which is in the region of Linnuis": The River Dubglas is modern Douglas, meaning
"black water". If the Saxons translated this directly, it might be any one of the many Rivers
Blackwater around the country today. So, we must first turn to identifying Linnuis. The 2nd

19

century geographer, Ptolemy, recorded the associated name of Lindum at the Roman Fort of
Drumquhassle in the Lennox area of Scotland. The River Douglas still runs into the nearby
Loch Lomond, on the borders of Strathclyde. Could King Arthuis of the Pennines have
fought the Scots or the Strathclyde Britons here? The better known Roman Lindum, however,
is now the city of Lincoln. The surrounding area would beLinnuis: it is still called Lindsey
today. Unfortunately, there is no longer a River Blackwater or the like here, but one of the
waterways flowing off the muddy peat moors could easily have been originally described as
such. Geoffrey of Monmouth indicates this as the correct identification. His chronicle relates
how immediately Arthur came to the throne, he swore to rid Britain of the Saxon menace and
so set out to attack the Anglian stronghold at York. Hearing of this, the Deiran leader,
Colgrin, gathered together an alliance of Saxons, Scots and Picts and marched south to meet
him. They clashed on the River Douglas.
"The sixth battle was on the river called Bassas": Only one convincing possible
identification appears to have been forthcoming for this battle: Cambuslang in the southern
suburbs of Glasgow. This place already has Arthurian associations as the burial place of the
great King's Northern British enemy, Caw. Perhaps he was killed in the battle. Other
proposals include the Lothian coast near Bass Rock; Baschurch in Shropshire, Old Basing
and an obscure identification with the Battle ofCerdicesford, now Charford, both in
Hampshire.
"The seventh battle was in the Caledonian Forest, that is, the Battle of Celidon Coit": As
well as unconvincing arguments for the Chilterns and the Sussex Weald, some follow
Geoffrey of Monmouth in supporting a wood just north of Lincoln for the location of this
battle. However, Geoffrey appears to have been confused. He informs us that the battle took
place after the Saxon, Scottish and Pictish alliance fled north from the Battle of Lincoln. He
does not seem to have realized just how far they managed to travel before Arthur finally
caught up with them; for the seventh battle site can pretty certainly be identified as the
Caledonian Forest in modern Scotland: Coed Celyddon. It may originally have stretched
from the Solway to the Highlands, but Welsh tradition indicates the area of the Scottish
border.
"The eighth battle was in Guinnion fort, and in it Arthur carried the image of the holy
Mary, the everlasting Virgin, on his shield, and the heathen were put to flight on that day, and
there was great slaughter upon them, through the power of Jesus Christ and the power of the
holy Virgin Mary, his mother.": This quote suffers from the same problems as that for the
Battle of Badon in the Annales Cambriae: the Welsh words for shield and shoulder being
confused. Geoffrey of Monmouth explains that Arthur bore armorial bearings of both cross
and virgin: the arms later adopted by Glastonbury Abbey. Guinnion is another site that is
difficult to identify.
"The ninth battle was in the City of the Legion": The Urbe Legionis or "City of the
Legions" causes problems because there were two cities so called: Caerleon and Chester, at
either end of the Welsh border. It is also possible that York bore such a title. The idea that
many other Roman forts, like Carlisle or Exeter, once had similar names seems unlikely
though; as does identification with the Battle of Dyrham. Chester was Caer Legion, while

20

Caerleon was Caer Legion guar Uisc (that is "Caerleon-upon-Usk"), though the latter often
lost its suffix. Chester appears to be the likeliest candidate.
"The tenth battle was on the bank of the river called Tribruit": Tribruit is more
properlyTryfrwyd. The battle is mentioned in an eleventh century Welsh poem from the
Black Book of Carmarthen, Pa Gur. Cai Hir (the Tall), Arthur's foster-brother of traditional
legend, apparently fought there against a foe named Garwlwyd. Presumably therefore,
Arthur, as Cai's patron in the poem, was the British commander at the battle. Some people
identify it's location as the River Frew at Stirling; others, the River Ribble in Lancashire; the
Severn at Gloucester or the Eden at Carlisle.
"The eleventh battle was on the hill called Agned": Geoffrey of Monmouth
identifies Monte Agned as Edinburgh and there appears to be little evidence to contradict
him. The rock of Edinburgh Castle was certainly occupied at this time. It was a strategic
point of some importance at the centre of the Kingdom of Gododdin. Perhaps the battle was
connected with King Lot of Gododdin being one of the eleven kings who rebelled against
Arthur at the beginning of his reign. Edinburgh alias Din-Eitynspecifically relates to the
settlement on top of the rock of course. Geoffrey calls this the Castle of Maidens or the
Dolorous Castle.
"The twelfth battle was on Badon Hill and in it nine hundred and sixty men fell in one
day, from a single charge of Arthur's, and no-one lay them low save he alone.": It was at the
Battle of Mount Badon that tradition says the Saxon advance into Britain was finally halted.
It was Arthur's greatest victory and, not surprisingly, there are many claimants for its
location. with Bath, Caer Baddon, or, at least somewhere in its vicinity. Little Solsbury Hill
or Bathampton Down has been suggested.

Chapter 7
Excalibur, the magic sword of King Arthur

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Excalibur,the magic sword of King Arthur

The Name "Excalibur" was first used for King Arthur's sword by the French
Romancers. It was not the famous "Sword in the Stone" (which broke in battle), but a second
sword acquired by the King through the intercession of his druidic advisor, Merddyn
(Merlin). Worried that Arthur would fall in battle, Merlin took the King to a magical lake
where a mysterious hand thrust itself up from the water, holding aloft a magnificent sword. It
was the Lady of the Lake offering Arthur a magic unbreakable blade, fashioned by an
Avalonian elf smith, along with a scabbard which would protect him as long as he wore it.

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Towards the end of his reign, during the troubled times of Medrod's rebellion, Excalibur

was stolen by Arthur's wicked half-sister, Morgan le Fay. Though it was recovered, the
scabbard was lost forever. Thus Arthur was mortally wounded at the Battle of Camlann. The
King then instructed Bedwyr (or Girflet) to return Excalibur to the lake from whence it came.
However, when questioned about the circumstances of its return, Bedwyr claimed to have
seen nothing unusual. Arthur therefore knew that Bedwyr had kept Excalibur for himself and
sent him back to the Lake once more. Hurling the sword into the misty waters this time,
Bedwyr saw the mystic hand appear to catch Excalibur and draw it beneath the rippling
waters for the last time.
The deposition of swords, weaponry and other valuables in sacred lakes and rivers was
a popular practice amongst the Celtic peoples. Strabo records such rituals near Toulouse and
notes that other sacred lakes existed throughout Europe.
The emythology of the name is some what confusing for it is also said that the Welsh
name for Excalibur was Caladvwlch, equating linguistically with Irish Caladbolg, the name
of a sword borne by heroes in Irish legend, derived from CALAD (hard) and BOLG
(lightning). It goes with a story in which the sword is struck by lighting just as the (elven)
smith takes it out of the water after its final heating.
Caladbolg is also known as the sword of the Welsh legend Cu Chullain (see 'Morrigan' and
'Celtic literature' in the celtic section). Caliburn is also supposed to be the old Welsh name for
the sword, which was later transformed to 'Excalibur' by French poets like Chretien de
Troyes. It is supposed to mean 'Cuts steal'.

Chapter 8

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King Arthur ,death and the burial

King Arthur ,death and the burial

The disappearance or death of King Arthur is of the intriguing Arthurian legends . In
some accounts, King Arthur was taken to the Isle of Avalon to be healed, and what happened to
him after reaching the island is a mystery. Some say he lies in a cave awaiting the day he is
needed again by his country, others say King Arthur he died at Avalon. Apart from the somewhat

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dubious claim by the monks at Glastonbury to have found King Arthur's grave in the Middle
Ages, no real evidence has emerged for an Arthurian grave.
The earliest sources show us different and mutually incompatible concepts of his death
emerged from local Arthurian folk-tales by the 10th-century at the latest. The early legends allow
for the possibility of King Arthur returning, and claim that he is sleeping in a magical cave until
Britain needs him again. Candidates for this cave are Alderley Edge and King Arthur Cave near
the town of Ganarew. Some writers say he was transformed into a raven.
Then concept of King Arthur never having died appears in the Black Book of
Carmarthen of the mid to late 9th-century may well represent much older traditions. The poem is
a record of the burial places of ancient heroes, named as belonging "to legend and folklore rather
than to history". The notion of Arthurs future return was widespread by the 12th-century , and it
was recorded in Breton, Welsh and Cornish folk lore
King Arthur is absent from Armes Prydein, a poem of the 10th-century in which ancient
heroes are called upon to return to lead the British and their allies into battle against the Saxons
-- if Arthur was as widely known and as popular a hidden saviour in the 10th-century as some
references suggest in the 12th-century, then his omission from this poem is very odd.
10th-century Annales Cambriae date Camlann by the internal chronology of the text, to either
537 or 539 (Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th-century dates it 542). Camlan became the symbol
of calamitous defeat, so that when the last native prince of Wales was killed in 1282 the poet
Gruffudd ab yr Ynad Coch saw it in terms of Arthurs defeat: " as at Camlan".
The balance of probability is that King Arthur was a folk lore, rather than a historic,
figure. He was portrayed as a Protector of Britain who wanders across Britan with his band of
chivilous knights. If this is the context then in his death either Camlann was a genuine historical
conflict to which King Arthur's name was attached. Or that both the battle and Arthur were fork
lore contrivings. The evidence that Camlan is a genuine historical conflict is weak. It is only first
mentioned as a historical battle in a mid 10th-century document, over 400 years after it is
supposed to have occurred.
So two traditions have emerged. Either King Arthur is still alive in Avalon, awaiting his
moment to return, or he was killed in battle. The "still alive" version is the earlier version, while
the "killed in battle" version arose later. By the 12th-century most of the written accounts relate
to the of the Battle of Camlan, starting with Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Britanniae.
The earliest references to Avalon and King Arthurs death are found in Geoffrey of Monmouths
chronicles. In Historia Regum Britanniae it is asserted that King Arthur "was mortally wounded"
at Camlan but was then "carried off to the Isle of Avalon, so that his wounds might be attended
to." In this ambiguous statement we can see Geoffrey is reconciling the concept of Arthurs death

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in which he dies (King Arthur is mortally wounded) with that concept in which Arthur still lives
(his wounds would be healed in Avalon).
The third, rather odd tradition, is that King Arthur turned into a raven, or perhaps Cornish
Chough. The raven, this is a bird strongly associated with myth and legend. In Wales and the
West Country, it was held to be a royal bird.

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Conclusion
For over a millennium and a half King Arthur has captivated the minds of
all those who perchanced to hear the tales of his magnanimous deeds, his chivalric
court, and his immortal reign. As each generation encountered the "Once and
Future King", they utilized his name to propel their culture forwards. Monarchs
like Henry VII (who united the house of York and Lancaster in 1485) justified their
reign and lineage through the most grounded and respectable figure British history
had to offer--King Arthur. This propaganda was not only accepted by the masses,
but served as a remedy in a chaotic world, being viewed as the fulfillment of the
prophecy of King Arthur's "Return". People put their faith in Britain's greatest
warrior and protector, never questioning the validity of his actions. Nobility and
peasants alike needed a flesh- and-blood historical figure, not fairy tales, and they
managed to solidify such a man in their minds.
In Brittany, the shadow of King Arthur has been cast over the forest of
Broceliande for centuries. His amazing story inspires films, television programmes
and children's literature.
Arthur is the name that inspired people to think of the Age of Chivalry,
where the tall, impregnable castle overlooked the field of combats, a clash between
two opposing armies or tournaments between jousting knights, or where we
romanticised armoured knight embarked on a perilous journey to prove his
prowess and worth.
Arthur had gone through various stages, where rose from warlord of the
forgotten period to his status the warrior-king. Then later, he was reduced to a role
of passive ruler, while the knight, swore into the fellowship of the Round Table,
overcame monsters and enemies in his name.
Even if King Arthur was, or was not a true person , he remains one of the
greatest king of Britons.

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Bibliography
Geoffrey Ashe. (1985). The Discovery of King Arthur.
Mike Ashley. (2005). The Mammoth Book of King Arthur
Goodrich, Norma L. King Arthur

Webography
http://www.britannia.com/history/h12.html
http://www.caerleon.net/history/arthur
http://www.legendofkingarthur.co.uk/

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