Table of Contents

ARGUMENTSINTRODUCTION…………..…………………….………...…1

Chapter I - King Arthur a Vivid Legend……………..2 Chapter II - King Arthur Before the Romances……... .5 Chapter III - King Arthur a Real Hero………………….7 Chapter IV - The real King Arthur……………………..9 Chapter V -King Arthur,death and burial….. . . .…….11

CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………... .12BIBLIOGRAPHY

Argument

A re as on fo r wh i ch I have c hose n “Ki ng Ar t hu r be tw ee n l egend a nd t r u th” i s t ha t I

am a b ig f a n o f t h i s l egenda ry k ing w ho has f a sc ina t ed m e f rom a m e a r ly age . I

f i r s t hea rd o f t h i s l e gend a t t he age o f n i ne ,w hen I s aw the mov i e , ”K ing A r thu r a nd

the K n igh t s o f t he Round Ta b le”a nd , s i nce t he n , I have kep t i t ve ry c lo s e t o my

hea r t . I l i ke , a s w e l l a s be l i eve i n t h i s o ld t heme , tha t t he good a l wa ys w in ove r t he

ev i l , and f rom t h i s t a l e , I a l s o found my de t e rmina t ion ,m y conc ep t o f

cou rage ,p r ide , a s w e l l a s hono r .

Ki ng A r thu r wa s a se mi - l ege nda ry Br i t i sh k ing , o f t en r ep re s en t ing the i dea l o f

ch iva l ry , bo th i n wa r and in peac e . T h i s l e genda ry k ing appea re d e i t he r a s a g r ea t

wa r r io r de f end ing Br i t a in f rom hum an and s upe rna t u r a l enem ies s ome t im e i n t he

l a t e 5 th t o ea r ly 6 t h cen t u ry , o r a s a mag i ca l f i gu re o f f o lk l o r e .

Th roughou t cen t u r i e s s t o r i e s abou t Ki ng Ar t hu r ' s popu la r i t y ha s g row n beyond the

bo rde r s o f Gre a t B r i t a in . I n Eu rope and Am er i c a i n pa r t i cu l a r have appea red

numerous l ege nds , s t o r i e s , books and f i lm s tha t enhanc e the f i c t i ona l un ive r s e o f

t he s e l ege nds . S o lv ing t he mys t e ry a bou t K ing A r thu r i s l i ke t r y i ng to a s se mb le a

huge j i g sa w puz z l e .M any ha ve t r i e d t o com ple t e t he p i c tu r e ,bu t ve ry o f t e n t he

p i ec es we re wrong l y a r r anged a nd un t i l r e cen t ly s ome w ere mi s s ing en t i r e ly .

Th i s pape r work i s one o f t hos e wh i ch com e to s uppo r t t he l a t e r hypo thes i s - the

ex i s t a nce o f K ing A r thu r a s a de f endan t o f t he poo r , a good w ar r io r , a nd l a s t bu t

no t l e a s t a g r ea t Ch r i s t i an and t r u th - s eeke r i n se a r ch fo r t he Ho l y Gra i l .

And l a s t bu t no t l e a s t , i s t he i r ony o f t he en t i r e s to ry .E ve ry de t a i l t ha t w e a r e

ce r t a in o f o r i g ina t e s f rom Fra nce .S o r e a l l y K ing Ar t hu r , t he “K ing o f t he

Br i t ons ”w as p roba b ly a f r e nch i nven t i on , a s t he r e a r e s o m any de t a i l s o f t he l ege nd

tha t come f rom thes e e a r ly F rench w r i t e r s .Fo r t h i s pu rpose I dec i ded to ana ly s e h i s

pe r s ona l i t y and dee ds a s t hey occu r r e d in ch ron i c l e s , l e gends ,my ths and romanc es .

Introduction

Li t e r a t u r e c ou ld no t ha ve e x i s t ed wh i thou t g r ea t he roe s l i ke : U l yss e s ,

Orphe us , Be owul f , a s f rom i t s ve ry be g inn ing i t cons i s t e d ma in l y o f my ths ,

l ege nds a nd he ro i c poe ms . I t i s w e l l known t ha t t he y a l l appea re d a s a r e s u l t o f

peop le ’ s need to l i s t e n t o t h r i l l i ng adve n tu re s a nd tha l e s a bou t c ou rageous

he roes and t o be l i e ve i n t he i r pow er t o s ubdue t he fo r ce s o f na t u r e .

The pe r s ona l i t y o f A r thu r , bo th d i s pu ted and cha l l eng ing , con t inuous ly s t i r

t he i n t e r e s t o f ma ny w r i t e r s and c r i t i c s w ho de vo ted a l l t he i r knowl edge and

t im e in t he a t t emp t t o r eve a l t he t r u th a bou t h im .The m y ths abou t h i s ex i s t ence

may ha ve a ba s i s a s t he r e i s poss ib l e t ha t t he h i s to r i ca l K ing A r thu r d id i ndeed

ex i s t i n t he s i x th cen tu ry A .D. ,bu t i t i s a l s o poss ib l e t ha t suc h a f i gu re d id no t

ex i s t .

Thus ,my work cons i s t s o f f ou r cha p te r s .T he f i r s t c hap te r i s a s o r t o f r ound

up o f t he A r thu r i an l e gends a nd the w ay t hey we re r e f l ec t e d bo th i n t he w orks

o f t he m os t impor t an t r om ance r s and h i s t o r i ans o f t he M idd l e A ges .

The s ec ond chap te r a s i t s t i t l e “ Ki ng Ar t hu r Be fo re t he Romanc es ” , dea l s

wi th K ing A r thu r a s he w as dep ic t ed i n t he o r a l t r ad i t i on , f o l k lo r e a nd o ld

manus c r i p t s and how cons t i t u t ed a s t a r t i ng po i n t f o r l a t e r w r i t i ngs .

The t h i rd and fou r t h chap te r , come to p rove tha t one o f t he mos t d i spu t ed

wa r lo rd i n E ng l i s h l i t e r a tu r e -K ing A r thu r - r ea l l y e x i s t ed , t he sa me a s o the r

cha ra c t e r s be l ong ing to h i s e n tou rage w ere p roved to have ex i s t ed .

The l a s t pa r t o f t he pape r con ta i n s c onc lu s ions focus ed on the

demons t r a t i on o f A r thu r ’ s ex i s t ence a s w a r r io r a nd ch i e f t a in de sc endan t f rom a

ru l l i ng f ami ly o f t he Ki ngdom o f G wyne dd .

I. King Arthur a vivid legend

Undoub t ed ly t he pe r s ona l i t y o f k ing A r thu r , t hough enve l oped in

mi s t e ry ,has been ove r t he yea r s a c ha l enge to eve ry r e se a r che r bo t h i n l i t e r a tu r e

and in t he h i s to r i ca l dom a in .F rom t h i s po in t o f v i ew ,Ki ng Ar t hu r ha s a lw ays

r ep re s en t ed a l a ndmark . T hus , f a s c i na t e d by the g r andour o f h i s c ha rac t e r and o f

h i s deeds , t he t r u th s eeke r s t h roughou t cen t u r i e s s e t o f f t o e luc i da t e t he m i s t e ry

wh i ch s u r rounds h i s m y th .

Le t u s t ake a l ook now a t t he wa y the l e gends and s to r i e s conce rn i ng K ing

Ar t hu r envo lve d in t i me .T he l ege nd sa ys t ha t i n a f a r -o f f t i me , w hen Br i t a in w as

dev ide d and w i thou t a k ing , ba rba r i an ho rds l a i d wa s t e t he once ma n who c ou ld

f r ee t he peop le .Bu t on ly he ,who d re w f rom the s tone a magn i f i cen t sw ord cou l d

p rove h im se l f t he r i gh t fu l l he i r .A f t e r many ye a r s , a young man s ucce eded w he re

even t he s t r onges t had ha d f a i l ed .The pe op le r e j o i ce d ; the k ing had com e and h i s

name wa s A r thu r .

Af t e r bu i l d ing the impre gnab le fo r t r e s s o f Ca me lo t and found ing a n o rde r

o f va l i an t w a r r i o r s , t he kn igh t s o f t he Round Tab l e , t he K ing s w ore fo r th t o sw ee p

a s ide t he ev i l w i ch had be se t t he l and .The l i be r a t ed pe asa n t s qu i ck l y t ook h im to

t he i r hea r t s , and A r thu r r e i gned j u s t l y ove r h i s new ly p ros pe rous k ingdom, t ak ing

fo r h i s queen t he beau t i fu l L ady G u ineve re .

Ar t hu r ’ s s ub j ec t s m oun ted a ques t t o de s cove r t he H o ly Gra i l , t he

f abu lous cha l i ce t ha t he ld t he se c r e t cu r e fo r a l l i l l s . Soon , a r ebe l l i on to r e t he

k ingdom apa r t , a n a rm y l e d by Modre d ,Ar t hu r ’ s t r a i t o rous nephe w.Y e t , t he r e w as

one pos se ss ed by da rk fo r c e s who l ay a t t he hea r t o f t he s t r i f e : t he mys t e r ious

and sa t an i c M organna . I n a f i na l ba t t l e ,M odred w as a t l a s t de f e a t ed and

Morga nna des t royed by M er l in , t he cou r t m ag ic i an .Bu t a l l d i d no t go w e l l , f o r

Ar t hu r h ims e l f wa s m or t a l l y w ounded . As he l ay dy ing on t he f i e l d o f ba t t l e , t he

l a s t r e ques t by the m igh ty k i ng wa s t ha t E xca l i bu r , t he s ou rce o f a l l h i s pow er ,be

ca s t i n to a s ac r e d l ake a nd lo s t f o r eve r t o mor t a l ma n .When t he mag i ca l sw ord

f e l l t o t he w a te r , a s y lph id a rm ro se f rom the s u r f ace , ca t c h ing i t by t he h i l t and

t ak i ng i t dow n in to t he c ry s t a l dep t h s .W hen t he g r e a t k ing wa s c lo s e t o dea th he

wa s s p i r i t ed a way on a ba rge t o t he i s l e o f Ava lon , a ccom pan ied by t h r ee

mys t e r i o s m a ide ns , ea ch d r e s s e r compl e t e ly i n w h i t e . Ma ny sa y tha t he d i ed a nd

wa s bu r i ed upon the i s l e , ye t t he r e a r e t hos e w ho be l i eve t ha t A r thu r ’ s s ou l i s no t

t o be found a mongs t t he dead . I t i s s a i d t ha t he on ly s l ee ps a nd wi l l one da y

r e tu rn .

T h i s i n e s s ence i s t he t a l e o f K ing At rhu r and the kn igh t s o f t he Round

Tab l e a s mos t peop l e know i t .T he re w e re m any au t ho r s t ha t w ro t e a bou t t h i s

l ege nd and a l s o f i l ms l i ke “Cam e lo t ” we re made a f t e r i t .Wi th t he pa s s i ng o f t im e

Ki ng Ar t hu r ha s been m any th ings t o m an t pe op le ,bu t i n r ece n t yea r s A r thu r i a n

my th -m ak ing has s u rpas s ed a ny l i mi t s .S ome o f t he more ex t r e me no t ions a r e

mind -bogg l ing , f rom A r thu r be ing an e x t r a t e r r e s t r i a l , t o h i s be i ng the k i ng o f

At l an t i s . .One r ecen t t heo ry t ha t a c tua l ly ga i ned a deg re e o f acc ep tanc e c l a ime d

tha t he w as t he f i r s t E u ropean t o d i s cove r A mer i ca .O bs ses ive s ha ve s pen t

f o r tunes t r y i ng to t r a ck h im down .S ome even c l a im ed to hev d i sc ove red h i s

r ema ins .

As we cou l d s ee t he mu l t i t ude o f s t o r i e s conce rn i ng h i s pe r s ona l i t y ha ve

cons t i t u t ed t he s t a r t i ng po in t f o r m any f a s c i na t ed a u tho r s s t a r t i ng wi th t he

Mi dd le A ges and con t i nu ing t i l l p r e sen t .The s to ry o f K ing A r thu r w e know t oday

wa s t he w ork o f S i r Thoma s M a l o ry .He d i d no t i nve n t t he s t o ry ,he s imp l y

co l l ec t ed t oge the r w ide va r i e ty o f ex i s t i ng t a l e s wh i ch w ere popu la r a t t he t ime

and r e to ld t he m. A s one the f i r s t book t o be p r in t ed , M a l o ry ’ s e s t ab l i s hed i t s e l f

a s t he s t a nda rd ve r s ion .

Ye t f rom t he M idd le A ges , t he e r a o f ch i va l ry and kn igh t s i n a rmour i n

wh i ch the t a l e s s eem to be se t , t he r e a r e no r ec o rds o f s uch a k ing ac t ua l l y

ru l i ng e i t he r i n Eng l and o r e l s ew he re .Even i f w e go ba ck to t he Norm an

Conques t i n 1066 ,w e f i nd no Ar t hu r . I f we go back s t i l l f u r the r t o t he n in th

cen t u ry w hen At he l s t an beca me the f i r s t Sa xon k ing o f a l l Eng l and , a ga in no s uch

mona rc hs e x i s t ed . S o w ho was A r thu r?H ow d id he be come s o f am ous?

Ac co rd ing to t he we l s h c l e r i c G eo f f r ey o f M onmou t h in h i s 1135 ’ s

work ,A r thu r w as bo rn a t T in t age l Cas t l e i n Cornw a l l a s t he sun o f t he Br i t i s h

k ing Ut he r P end ra gon .Af t e r be comi ng k ing ,A r thu r un i f i e s t he na t ion and r e igns

peac e fu l ly tw e l ve ye a r s w i th h i s que en G anhum ara .Be i ng aw ay in ba t t l e s w i t h h i s

a rmi e ,he i s f o r ce d to r e t u rn t o B r i t a in t o que l l a r evo l t l ed by h i s nephe w M odred

unwi se ly l e f t t o r u l e a s r egen t i n h i s abs ence .Al thoungh he s ucce eds i n c ru s h ing

the r e be l l i on a t t he ba t t l e o f Camla nn hav ing h i s m ag ica l s word Ca l ibu rn by h i s

s i de ,A r thu r i n m or t a l l y w ounded and t a ken to t he i s l e o f A va l on fo r h i s wounds

t o be t ended .G eof f r ey o f M onmou t h f a i l e s t o t e l l u s wha t t ha n becam e o f k ing

Ar t hu r .The a u tho r a l so w ro te t wo poe t i c works abou t Mer l in , t he gu id ing

in f lue nce beh i nd the t h rone .

II. King Arthur Before the Romances

Af t e r w e have t aken i n to acc oun t and d i sc uss ed the works o f s ome

romanc e r s f rom the M idd le A ges , i t wou l d be i n t e r e s t i ng to go ba ck i n t ime ,m ore

p r ec i se ly i n A r thu r ’ s t ime , to s ee how t he o r a l t r ad i t i on and fo l k lo r e con t r i bu t ed

to t he deve l opmen t o f t he s e roma nces .

We know tha t ove r t he yea r s much has be en m ade o f K ing Ar t hu r ’ s

i nc l u s i on in ea r ly We l sh l i t e r a tu r e ,m any w r i t e r s ha v ing emp l oyed i t i n s uppo r t o f

va r ious Ar t hu r i an t heo r i e s .U nfo r tuna t e l y , any e xami na t ion o f W e l s h l i t e r a tu r e i n

t he s ea r ch fo r h i s t o r i ca l a ccu rac y enc oun te r s a s e r ious d r a wba ck :none o f t he

su rv i v ing cop i e s o f t hos e w orks m en t ion i ng Ki ng Ar t hu r da t e s f rom the t ime

be fo re t he A r thu r i an Roma nces had becom e f i rml y e s t a b l i s hed . None the l e s s ,

maybe th i s Ce l t i c poe t ry and p rose p rov i de u s w i t h i n s i gh t i n to t he s t a tu s o f t he

Ar t hu r i an l egends a s t hey e x i s t ed w hen G eof f r ey o f M onmou t h and h i s im med ia t e

suc ces s o r s com pose d the i r works .Th i s i s p r e c i s e ly w hy I dec ided to p r e se n t t he

sou rc es w h ich cou ld have b rough t i n s p i r a t i on to t he p r e v ious ly men t i oned

romanc e r s .

The o ldes t s u rv iv ing manus c r i p t i s t he s even t h ce n tu ry poe m “ Y God d od in ”

wh i ch con t a in s one o f t he f i r s t r e f e r ences t o A r thu r a nd wi ch t e l l s u s o f a de f ea t

i n f l i c t e d on the Br i t ons by the A ng le s a t Yorks h i r e , and may ha ve a h i s to r i ca l

ba s i s .The se cond m anus c r ip t con t a in i ng a We l sh poem w h ich men t ions A r thu r i s

Th e B l ack Book o f C armarth en , compi l ed a round the mid t h i r t e en th

cen t u ry .Unfo r t una t e ly t he poems s upp l i e s u s w i t h no th i ng conc e rn ing the

h i s to r i c i t y o f A r thu r , bu t f o r de t a i l s c once rn he on ly encoun t e r s w i t h

demons ,mons t e r s a nd mys t i ca l bea s t s .

How eve r , t he t r ad i t i ona l k i ng and w ar r io r A r thu r i s a l so found i n “ Th e

Tr iad s ” .The ba t t l e o f Caml ann i s men t ioned a s a con f l i c t be t wee n A r thu r and

Modre d .One o f t he s t o r i e s i n” Th e Tr iad s -Th e Wick ed Un cove r in gs ” has A r thu r

b l am ed fo r t he u l t ima te de f ea t o f t he Br i t ons ,be i ng gu i l t y o f r e mov ing the head

o f t he god Bran tha t had been bu r i ed London’ s T owe r H i l l a s a t a l i sm an a ga in s t

f o r e ign i nvas ion .Wors e s t i l l , i n “Th e Th ree R avages ” ,Ar t hu r i s dep i c t ed a s a

cu r s e upon the l and i t s e l f ;w he re he goes no g r a s s w i l l g row fo r se ven yea r s .

F rom th i s e a r ly We l s h l i t e r a tu r e tw o conc lu s ions ca n be d r aw n :e i the r

Ar t hu r wa s i n t e rpo l a t ed i n to We l s h fo lk lo r e a f t e r he had becom e a t heme o f

popu la r r omanc e ,o r G e f f r e y o f Monm ou th a nd t he rom ance r s d r ew ma te r i a l f r om

suc h t a l e s t o e l a bo ra t e t he i r ow n s to r i e s .

The re i s a l s o an a r c hwa y on the no r th po r t a l o f M odena Ca thed ra l i n

Nor t he rn I t a ly ca rve d w i t h f i gu re s t ha t appe a r t o be f rom A r thu r i an

sc enes .Bes ides one o f t he f i gu re s i s t he i n s c r ip t i on”A r tu s de Bre t an i a ” .The

ca rv i ng wa s da t ed by expe r t s a s s ome whe re be tw ee n 1120 -1140 .The re i s t he r e fo re

a s t r ong pos s i b i l i t y t ha t i t p r eda t e s G eo f f r e y o f Monm ou th . I t i s pos s i b ly t he

ea r l i e s t monume n ta l sc u lp tu r e t o f ea tu r e t he Ar t hu r i an l egend .

III. King Arthur a Real Hero

Befo re l i f t i ng t he c loa k o f mys t e ry t ha t ha s c oncea l ed Ar t hu r ’ s t r ue i den t i t y

we shou l d t r y t o r e v i ew w ha t w e know abou t h i m s o f a r .

As w e have a l r ea dy se en much o f G eo f f r e y o f Monm ou th ’ s Ar t hu r i an s to ry

canno t be s uppo r t ed by h i s to r i ca l ev i dence ,bu t i t i s a l mos t c e r t a i n t ha t he d i d no t

i nven t K ing Ar t hu r .Tha t i s why the a im o f t h i s chap te r and the s ubse quen t

subc hap te r s i s t o p rove tha t one o f t he mos t d i spu t ed c ha rac t e r s i n h i s to ry ,K ing

Ar t hu r r ea l l y ex i s t ed and more ove r , t ha t he w as a g r ea t wa r r io r and l eade r .

As f a r a s h i s b i r t h p l ace and cou r t a r e c once rned the r e a r e m any

ve r s ions :The Ar t hu r o f popu la r i mag ina t ion w as bo rn a t T in t age l Ca s t l e on t he

Nor t h c oas t o f Co rnwa l l .T he e a r l i e s t m en t i on o f T in t age l i n a s soc i a t i on w i t h

Ki ng A r thu r appea r s i n Geo f f r e y o f Monm ou th ’ s “ His tor i a Br i t ton um ”w here

Ut he r Pe nd ragon , the f a the r o f Ar t hu r , ha s de s i r e s f o r Y ge rna ,w i f e o f Gor l o i s , t he

Duke o f Cornwa l l .A ide d by a mag i c po t i on ,p r epa red fo r h i m by M er l i n t he

mag i c i a n ,Ut he r i s t r ans fo rme d fo r a t ime in t o t he fo rm o f Gor l o i s and a s s uch he

v i s i t s t he Duke ’ s c a s t l e a t T i n t age l and s pends t he n i gh t s wi th h i s w i f e .Thus

Ar t hu r i s conce ived .O n t he de a th o f G or lo i s ,U the r ma kes Y ge rna h i s quee n and

Ar t hu r i s bo rn a t T in t a ge l Cas t l e .Bu t i n r ea l i t y t he p r e sen t c a s t l e cou ld no t have

been the b i r t hp l ace o f a w a r r i o r w ho l i ved cen t u r i e s be fo re t he ba t t l e o f

Ha s t ings (1066 ) . I t was on ly bu i l t i n t he ea r l y t we l f th cen tu ry fo r Re g ina l d ,Ea r l o f

Co rnwa l l .

Dur i ng t he t h i r t e en th cen t u ry l a t e r Romanc e r s began to make muc h m ore o f

Came lo t , de sc r i b ing in g r a ph ic de t a i l t he s p l e nd id c i t y and i t s i mpregna b le

ca s t l e .Bu t a l t hough the y d i f f e r c ons i de rab ly i n t he i r de s c r i p t i ons , t he y a r e un i t ed

i n t he i r f a i l u r e t o spec i fy i t s w he re abau t s .A cco rd i ng to Thom as M a l l o ry an

Eng l i sh w r i t e r , i t w as s i t e d a t W inches t e r i n H amps h i r e , a nd i n t he G ea t H a l l o f

Winc hes t e r Cas t l e t he mos t f amous o f a l l A r thu r i a n r e l i c s , ” the Round T ab le” s t i l l

ex i s t s .U nfo r tuna t e ly a s w i th T in t a ge l t he ex i s t i ng ca s t l e i s no t nea r ly o ld e nough

to be o f t he A r thu r i a n pe r iod ,hav i ng been bu i l t l a t e a s t he e l e ven th c en tu ry by

Wi l l i a m the Conque ro r .

As f a r a s t he Round Tab l e i s conc e rned , i t wa s p rove d by means o f

r ad ioc a rbon da t ing tha t i t w as m ade du r ing the r e ign o f E dwa rd I I I , p robab l y i n

1344 whe n the k i ng conce i ved the no t ion o f an o rde r o f ch iva l ry ba s ed on the

kn igh t s o f t he Round Tab l e a s dep i c t ed i n t he popu la r r omanc es , a round the edge

o f t he t ab l e a r e t he nam es o f Ki ng A r thu r ' s kn igh t s . H ence t he r e i s no l i nk wi th

t he r e a l A r thu r o f t he s i x th ce n tu ry .

The re a r e a l so o t he r pos s i b l e p l ace s i n E ng land w h ich c ou ld be Ca me lo t suc h a s

Cadbury Cas t l e , an I ron A ge h i l l f o r t i n S omer s e t a s s oc i a t ed w i t h Ki ng

Ar t hu r .Th i s p l a ce w as fo r many ye a r s p roposed a s t he s i t e o f Came l o t .The

t r ad i t i on may have a r i sen a s a r e s u l t o f t he word Cam e l be ing found i n t he

name s o f t he nea rby v i l l a ges :Q ueen Cam e l and W es t Cam e l .

IV . The Real King Arthur

Now tha t w e ha ve t r ace d K ing Ar t hu r bac k in t i me and e luc i da t ed the

mi s t e ry o f h i s f amous Cam e lo t , l e t u s go on and f i nd ou t h i s t r ue i den t i t y .

S ome h i s to r i c a l ev idenc e s how s u s t ha t he l i ved a round l a t e 5 th and ea r l y

6 th ce n tu r i e s .H e w as a mi l i t a ry l e a de r w ho fough t t he h i s to r i ca l ba t t l e o f Moun t

Badon and s toppe d a devas t a t i ng i nvas i on .We s t a r t w i th t he ba t t l e o f M oun t

Badon .The re w e re no eyew i tne ss a ccoun t s t he r e w as anyone nam ed A r thu r a t t he

sc ene ,bu t t he r e w as s omeone w ho’ s s t o ry se ems to r e vo lve a round t he de f ea t o f

t he s axons .T he t a l e i s t o ld i n a book w r i t t en i n t he 6 t h c en tu ry . I t de s c r ibe s a

g r ea t l e ade r ,wh i ch nam e i s Am bros i u s A ure l i anus , a rom an .At l e a s t one anc i en t

t ex t c r ed i t s h im w i t h t he v i c to ry o f M oun t Badon ,bu t beyond tha t ,we know

no th ing a bou t h im .

The re i s ano the r r oma n w hose mi l i t a ry exp lo i t s mi gh t ha ve be en m ixed up

wi th A ure l i anus ’ s s to ry .A r to r i u s Ca s t u s , l a t i n fo r A r thu r , a Roman mi l i t a ry

comm ande r f rom Br i t a i n i n t he s econd cen t u ry .Bu t t ha t ma kes h im abou t f ou r

hund red yea r s t oo young to have be en f i gh t ing the S axons .O ve r t he

cen t u r i e s , s ome ve ry A r thu r l i ke l egends ha ve c ome to be conne c t e d w i th

Ar t o r iu s .The r e a s on fo r t h i s i s an a s os i a t i on w i th t he un i t o f c ava l ry so l d i e r s

knoun a s sa rma t i ans .The s a rma t i ans w e re a l so know n to w orh ip t he s w ord s tuc k

in t he g round du r i ng s ome r e l i g ious r i t ua l .F u r t he rmore , s a rm a t i an l egends t e l l s

abou t a f ea r l e s s wa r r i o r w ho ha d by h i s s ide an uns t oppab le s word .W i th

connec t ions t o a m ag ic a l w a te r r i t ua l ,w h ich s ounds a l o t l i ke E xca l ibu r .The

name , the l ook , and the s word , a l l s e em to po i n t t o k i ng A r thu r .Bu t no t anyone

ag ree s t ha t A r thu r wa s a rom an impor t .Geo f f r e y A s he be gun to s tudy A r thu r

f i f t y ye a r s ago , and a f t e r deca des o f sh i f t i ng t h r ew ev idenc e he t h i nks he has a

p r ee t y good idea o f w ho Ar t hu r w as .He s ays t ha t Thoma s we n t t o F ranc e on a

r e s cue m i s s i on he lp ing t he roma ns t o f i gh t a ba rba r i a n a rmy .K ing A r thu r w as

t r ave l ing a b road a s we l l , a nd no t j u s t anyw here .L ike Reo Thoma s ,he t r ave l ed to

F rance .Re o Thom as ’ s cam pa ign u l t i ma t e e nded i n de f e a t , a nd muc h the s ame

th ing s uppos ed ly ha ppened to K ing A r thu r .A cc o rd ing to l egend ,he l e f t M odred

to gua rd Ca me l o t , bu t M ord red w as t he s un o f t he so r ce r e s s M organa . I t wa s t he

t r a i t o rous Mord re d who t ook h i s t h rone and m or t a l l y w ounded A r thu r .Th i s

en ju ry fo r ced h im to depa r t f o r t he l ege nda ry A va l on .He re i s aga i n an

i n t e r se c t i on be t we en A r thu r and Reo T homas .S ho r t l y a f t e r he w as

be t r a yed ,Thom as des appea red a nd w as l a s t s een in t he t ow n o f A va lon .Thom as ’ s

s t o ry has a s t r i k i ng r e s emb la nce t o t he A r thu r ’ s l ege nd .The on l y p i ece i t

does n ’ t s eem to f i t i s t he nam e .Reo T homas i s appa re n t ly a t i t l e , i s w ha t t he

I r i s h c a l l e d “ t he sup rem e k ing” .Bu t s u r e ly t he r ea l K ing Ar t hu r s hou ld be a

homegrow n he ro w ho ma de h i s name f igh t i ng in Eng l and , r a the r t han F ranc e .

As ano the r c l ue , a t e n th - cen t u ry m anus c r ip t de t a i l i ng t he f a mi l y t r e e s o f

impor t an t D a rk A ge ch i e f t a in s , p rov ides u s wi th t he a nsw er .   He i s one Ow a i n

Dda n tgw yn the s on o f a w a r l o rd named E nn iaun G i r t , whom the m anusc r ip t l i s t s

a s a k ing o f P ow ys in t he l a t e f i f t h cen tu ry . When they f i r s t d i s cove red the nam e

o f t h i s k ing , G raha m P h i l l i p s and M ar t i n Kea tma n we re d i s appo in t ed .   I t s eem ed

tha t t he k i ng w ho r e bu i l t and r e fo r t i f i ed Vi rocon ium , had no t been Ki ng A r thu r

a f t e r a l l .V i rocon ium w as t he pa r t i cu l a r p l ace t ha t w as c ons i de red to be t he

p l ac e o f a ve ry i mpor t a n t pos t -Roma n ch i e f t a in ,pos s ib ly A r thu r .   Tha t wa s un t i l

t hey d i sc ove red tha t t he name "A r thu r " m ay no t ha ve been a pe r s ona l nam e bu t

a ba t t l e -nam e ,a t i t l e .   T he l anguage o f t he Romano-Br i t ons w as Bry thon i c ( a

c ro s s be tw ee n La t in and the na t i ve Ce l t i c t ongue ) a nd i t s u rv ive s a lm os t i n t ac t

i n mode rn Wel sh .   The r e a s on be ing tha t ma ny o f t he Br i t ons we re d r iven i n to

Wa l e s du r ing the S axon i nvas ion .   S t i l l p r e s e rved in We l s h i s t he w ord A r th ,

mea n ing "Bea r " , a nd many l i ngu i s t s be l i eve t ha t t he name Ar t hu r de r ive d f rom

th i s word . I f t h i s i s r i gh t t hen A r thu r m ay a c tua l ly have been the k ing ’ s ba t t l e -

name - The Bea r .   T he na me o f an an i ma l , i n som e way typ i fy ing t he qua l i t i e s

o f t he i nd iv idua l , w as g iven to m any D ark A ge k ings a s an hono ra ry t i t l e . The re

i s compe l l i ng ev idenc e tha t O wa i n Dda n tgw yn , t he k i ng o f Pow ys a round A D

500 , ha d inde ed be en c a l l ed “ The Bea r” .  The i r d i r ec t de s cenda n t w as t he

S pence r f a mi l y .The S pence r s ha s t he f amous daugh t e r P r inces s Di ana .H er

sun ,W i l l i am i s se cond i n l i ne t o t he Br i t i s h t hone ,w h ich me ans t ha t i f “ t he

bea r” was t he r ea l K i ng Ar t hu r ,P r i nce Wi l l i am w ou ld be h i s d i r ec t

de s cendan t .The in t e r e s t i ng th i ng i s t ha t h i s m idd le nam e i s A r thu r .The the o r i e s

abou t K ing A r thu r ’ s t r ue i den t i t y a r e numerous , and ea ch i s conv i nc ing in i t s

own r i gh t .The theo r i e s a r e no th i ng more un t i l w e ’ve go t som e p roo f , and a nc i en t

docume n t s can ce r t an t ly be he l p fu l .

V.King Arthur,death and burial

The d i s appea rance o r de a th o f K ing Ar t hu r i s a ve ry i n t r i gu i ng pa r t o f t he

Ar t u r i an l ege nds . In s ome accoun t s ,K ing A r thu r w as t aken to t he i s l e o f A va l on

to be he a l ed , a nd wha t happene d to h im a f t e r r each i ng the i s l and i s a

mi s t e ry .Som e s ay he l i e s i n a c ave aw a i t i ng t he day he i s ne eded aga in by h i s

coun t ry ; o the r s s ay he d i ed a t Ava lon .A pa r t f r om the som ew ha t dub ious c l a im by

the monks a t G la s t onbu ry t o have found Ki ng A r thu r ’ s g r ave i n t he M idd le

Age s ,no r e a l ev i dence has e merge d fo r an Ar t hu r i an g r a ve .

The e a r l i e s t sou rc es show us d i f f e r en t and mu t ua l l y i ncom pa t ib l e conc ep t s

o f h i s dea t h em erged f rom loca l A r thu r i an fo l k - t a l e s by t he 10 th c en tu ry a t

l e a s t .The ea r l y l e gends a l l ow fo r t he poss ib i l i t y o f Ki ng A r thu r ’ s r e tu rn ing , a nd

c l a im t ha t he i s s l e ep ing i n a mag i ca l c ave un t i l B r i t a i n needs h im

aga i n .Cand ida t e s fo r t h i s c ave a r e Al de r l e y Edge and K ing A r thu r nea r t he t ow n

o f Ga na rew .S ome w r i t e r s s ay he wa s t r ans fo rm ed in t o a r aven .

The c oncep t o f K ing A r thu r ne ve r hav i ng d i ed appe a r s i n t he B l oack

Book o f Ca rma r then o f t he m id t o l a t e 9 t h c en tu ry ,w h ich may w e l l r ep re sen t

much o l de r t r a d i t i ons .T he poem i s a r eco rd o f t he bu r i a l p l ace s o f a nc i en t

he roes ,nam ed a s be long i ng” to l egend and fo l k lo r e r a t he r t ha n to h i s to ry” .The

no t ion o f A r thu r ’ s f u tu r e r e tu rn w as w ides p read by t he 12 t h c en t u ry , and i t was

r eco rde d in B re ton ,W el s h and Corn i sh fo l k lo r e .

The ba l ance o f p robab i l i t y i s t ha t K ing A r thu r w as a fo lk l o r e f i gu re , r a the r

t han a h i s to r i c f i gu re .He w as po r t r a yed a s a “P ro t ec t o r o f B r i t a in”w ho w ande r s

ac ro s s B r i t a in w i th h i s band o f c h iva l rous kn igh t s . I f t h i s i s t he con t ex t t hen in

h i s de a th e i t he r Ca mlann w as a genu ine h i s to r i ca l con f l i c t t o w h ich Ki ng

Ar t hu r ’ s na me w as a t t a che d ;o r t ha t bo th t he ba t t l e and A r thu r w e re fo lk lo r e

con t r i v ings .The e v idence tha t Camla nn i s a genu i ne h i s to r i c a l c on f l i c t i s

we ak . I t i s on l y f i r s t me n t ioned a s a h i s to r i c a l ba t t l e i n a m id 10 t h c en t u ry

docume n t , ove r 400 yea r s a f t e r i t i s s upposed t o have oc cu r r ed .