Arthur

King Arthur is one of the most prominent figures in the mythology of the British Isles, where he appears as the legendary king of Britain. The legends known as the Matter of Britain are built around him. Most historians put his birth at between 460 and 470 AD, although it simply cannot be stated for sure that Arthur actually existed. There have been many credible theories regarding the existence of Arthur and he could be a mythical character placed into a historical setting or real person that myths were built around. In his earliest mentions and in Welsh tales, he is never given the title of King and many think that he was more likely to be a powerful Warlord as an early text refers to him as Dux Bellorum (Duke of Battles).

Historical Basis

‘The History of Britain’ by Geoffrey of Monmouth makes Arthur out to be a true king but this book contains little trustworthy historical fact, and most scholars believe that Geoffrey knowingly embellished the truth to make his ideas of British history more exciting. However, the historical writer, Geoffrey Ashe makes certain similarities between Geoffrey's Arthur and Riothamus, a British leader circa 470 AD. Ashe states that although the legendary Arthur is a composite figure, the career of Riothamus seems to underlie at least a major portion of Geoffrey of Monmouth's account.

There is now a strong view that Arthur was an authentically historical person, who was a Romano- British leader fighting against the invading Anglo-Saxons sometime in the late 5th to early 6th century. The late historian John Morris suggested that Arthur would have been most prominent at the end of the 5th century. However, in 'The Age of Arthur: A History of the British Isles from 450–650 (1973),' Morris finds little real evidence of an historic Arthur and the book covers little more that conjecture. If he existed, his power base would probably have been in the Celtic areas of Wales, Cornwall and the West Country. Nobody can be sure of the extent and kind of power he would have wielded.

Possible identity

There have been a number of real people who have been suggested as the historical basis for Arthur, ranging from Lucius Artorius Castus, a Roman officer who served in Britain in the 2nd century and the Roman usurper emperors like Magnus Maximus. There are also the sub-Roman British rulers like Riothamus, Ambrosius Aurelianus, Owain Ddantgwyn and Athrwys ap Meurig. Ambrosius Aurelianus could well be a Roman name for Arthur. Both had their greatest moment, militarily, at the Battle of Badon in 496 AD.

Earliest traditions of Arthur

Arthur first appears in Welsh literature in a surviving early Welsh poem, The Gododdin in which the poet Aneirin writes of one of his protagonists: "Like a wild boar's fury, was Bleidig ab Eli's, yet he was no Arthur.’ There are other very slight references.

One of the most prominent is in the Historia Britonum, attributed to the Welsh monk Nennius, who wrote about Welsh history 300 years after Arthur’s alleged lifetime. In this work, Arthur is referred to as a "leader of battles" rather than as a king. Arthur also appears in the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, a narrative usually associated with the Welsh tales commonly known as the Mabinogion. Culhwch visits Arthur's court to seek his help in winning the hand of Olwen. Arthur, who is described as his kinsman, agrees to the request, and the hero fulfils the demands of Olwen's giant father.

King Arthur in Literature and Film

The legend of King Arthur has remained popular into the 21st century. The 1900’s saw the creation of hundreds or thousands of books, poems, and films about King Arthur, both new works of fiction and analyses of the relevant historical and archaeological data.

Films

Camelot (1967) - Played by Richard Harris
Excalibur (1981) - Nigel Terry
First Knight (1995) - Sean Connery
King Arthur (2004) - Clive Owen
Knights of the Round Table (1953) - Mel Ferrer
Merlin (1998) TV - Paul Curran
Prince Valiant (1954) - Brian Aherne
Prince Valiant (1997) - Edward Fox
The Legend of Prince Valiant (1991) TV - Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (voice)
The Mists of Avalon (2001) TV - Edward Atterton
The Sword in the Stone (1963) - Rickie Sorensen

TH White
Find out about the famous Arthurian fantasy

Bernard Cornwell
Find out about his intriguing Warlord Chronicles

Marion Zimmer Bradley
Find out about her best selling Arthurian novel