King Arthur

Arth tapestry2

King Arthur is a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and modern historians generally agree that he is unhistorical. 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.

Legendary Accounts

The legendary Arthur developed as a figure of international interest largely through the popularity of Geoffrey of Monmouth's fanciful and imaginative 12th-century Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain). In some Welsh and Breton tales and poems that date from before this work, 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 single 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 over Britain, 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, the sword Excalibur, his birth at Tintagel, his final battle against Mordred at Camlann, and subsequent rest in Avalon.

Later Adaptations

The 12th century saw the growth of the Arthurian legend in the works of Chrétien de Troyes and other writers in the Arthurian romance tradition. This tradition merged Arthur's legend with elements of the love story between Lancelot and Guinevere, the quest for the Holy Grail, and the role of the Knights of the Round Table. These stories would become a major theme in the literature of France, England, Wales, and Scotland.

In the later medieval period, the Arthurian legends were adapted and reinterpreted in various languages and cultural contexts, notably in the Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory, which in turn became a definitive source for many modern Arthurian works. The themes of Arthurian legend, particularly the Grail quest, have also been adapted in modern literature, not least by T. H. White in his popular The Once and Future King and in numerous films and television series.

Historical Basis

The historical basis for King Arthur remains a matter of academic debate. Early sources such as Gildas, the Annales Cambriae, and the Historia Brittonum provide vague mentions of Arthur or events associated with him. Some scholars suggest that Arthur was a real person, a Romano-British leader fighting against the invading Saxons. However, the lack of convincing early evidence means that the historical Arthur, if he existed, has been obscured by centuries of legend and myth.

Cultural Impact

King Arthur has had an immense impact on English and European literature and culture. Through the centuries, the Arthurian tales have been retold in numerous adaptations and have inspired poetry, novels, films, and plays. The themes of chivalry, romance, heroism, and magic, central to the Arthurian legend, continue to appeal to a wide audience. The figure of Arthur has also been used for various ideological purposes over the centuries, from the promotion of British imperialism to the celebration of chivalric virtues.

See Also

• Merlin
• Excalibur
• Knights of the Round Table
• Holy Grail