King Arthur

NAME King Arthur Pendragon

WHAT FAMOUS FOR King Arthur is most famous for leading the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries, as well as for his legendary sword, Excalibur, and his Knights of the Round Table. Before I go any further I'd better warn you that Arthur's life is too shrouded in legend for any of these or other details to be certain. His historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians so I'll leave it up to you how much you believe. 

King Arthur by Charles Ernest Butler (1903)

BIRTH The exact date and place of King Arthur's birth are shrouded in mystery and subject to legend. Some tales place his birth at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall in the late 5th century AD, while others suggest he was born in other regions of Britain.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Arthur's mother was Duchess Igraine of Cornwall and his father Uther Pendragon, a legendary king of sub Roman Britain. 

A some stage an enchanter and magician called Merlin took Arthur from his biological parents and brought him to the estate of one of his barons, Sir Ector. Merlin did not reveal the boy's true identity, and Ector took him on and raised him as his own son. 

CHILDHOOD Arthur was not informed of his royal ancestry by Sir Ector and was kept in obscurity until he pulled the mighty, magic sword Excalibur from a block of stone. This act could not be performed by anyone except by "the true king," which proved he was the rightful heir to Uther Pendragon's throne. According to Tennyson: "They found a naked child upon the sand Of dark Tintagil by the Cornish sea And that was Arthur; and they foster'd him Till he by miracle was approven king." 

EDUCATION Arthur received education in the ways of chivalry, leadership, and warfare from various tutors and mentors, including Merlin the wizard.

CAREER RECORD Well, the Excalibur story was a critical part of Arthur's CV so I'll start with that. According to Sir Thomas Mallory's Le Morte D'Arthur , in a churchyard at the "greatest church in London", there was a huge stone with a sword embedded in an anvil. On it was written the legend "Whoso pulleth out this sword from this stone and anvil is right and wise king born of all England". So Arthur, who was sixteen at the time, pulled it free, he became king and the sword became Excalibur. He made it sound so easy. 

Confusingly there is an alternative version that Excalibur was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake sometime after he began to reign.

Arthur receiving the later tradition's sword Excalibur in N. C. Wyeth's illustration for The Boy's King Arthur (1922),

His actual CV would read as follows: 519-552 This period is blank in the history of Britain. It is assumed that Arthur made his reputation then. In other words, nothing is known about the career of King Arthur. 

APPEARANCE  King Arthur was described in legend as a noble and handsome figure, with a regal bearing that commanded respect.

FASHION Arthur likely wore attire befitting his status as a king, often adorned in richly embroidered robes and armor during formal occasions and battles.

CHARACTER Arthur was chivalrous, a wise and valiant leader. He liked good conversation round a round table. Basically he was a good knight.

SENSE OF HUMOUR While Arthur's responsibilities as king were weighty, he likely possessed a dry wit and enjoyed the camaraderie of his knights during lighter moments.

RELATIONSHIPS Arthur's beautiful wife Guinevere, the daughter of his ally Leondegrance, fell in love with one of Arthur's most trusted knights, Sir Lancelot and their relationship brought about the last great battle and Arthur's death. Guinevere retired to a nunnery at Amesbury where she died. His fellowship of Round Table was also destroyed by Guinevere's love for Lancelot. 

MONEY AND FAME As king, Arthur would have had access to the wealth and resources of his kingdom, though his primary focus was on justice and the well-being of his subjects rather than personal riches or fame.

In the Middle Ages Arthurian legends were known throughout Western Europe as far as Italy.

FOOD AND DRINK Arthur likely enjoyed lavish feasts and banquets, showcasing the bounty of his kingdom. He may have favored traditional British fare such as roasted meats, hearty stews, and ale.

MUSIC AND ARTS While not explicitly mentioned in legend, Arthur's court would have likely been a patron of the arts, with musicians, poets, and artists entertaining the king and his guests.

LITERATURE King Arthur's legend has inspired countless works of literature, from medieval romances to modern novels and films.

NATURE Arthur's kingdom was closely tied to the natural world, with forests, lakes, and mountains featuring prominently in the Arthurian legends.

Cavall was known as Arthur's favorite hunting dog. Apparently, the mutt had a nose for a boar that could sniff out a truffle convention from a mile off.  They even had this posh custom where Cavall, being top dog (literally and figuratively), wouldn't get unleashed until the rest of the pack was already hot on the trail of a stag. Talk about pressure!

But Cavall's real claim to fame came with a legendary boar called Twrch Trwyth (though some sources insist on the terribly uninspired Troynt). The details are a bit hazy, as legend often is, but the gist is that Cavall proved himself a fearsome hunting companion.

Now, things get interesting. Some 9th-century bloke decided to spice up the story by claiming Cavall left his paw print right in a solid rock during this epic boar chase. Apparently, this wasn't your average doggy doodle – it was one of the "Wonders of Britain." They even said the print had a mind of its own, mysteriously returning to the rock no matter how far someone might try to cart it off. Makes you wonder what that boar was feeding on to leave paw prints that defy the laws of physics!

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Arthur likely enjoyed hunting, falconry, and tournaments, common pastimes among medieval nobility.

SCIENCE AND MATHS While not a focus of his reign, Arthur would have been aware of basic scientific and mathematical principles of his time, as they pertained to navigation, engineering, and military strategy.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Arthur's reign was characterized by a sense of honor, duty, and adherence to the Christian faith, though he respected the beliefs of others, including the Druidic traditions of Britain.

The members of the Order of the Knights of the Round Table at King Arthur's court were drawn from the finest English knights. The order consisted of 150 Christians from every race who vowed to oppose the progress of paganism, be loyal to the British throne, protect the defenceless and show mercy to the fallen. Its chief mission was to seek after the Holy Grail. (The chalice used by Jesus at the Last Supper). The round table was round to avoid arguments over who sits at the top of the table amongst the knights. The table is now in Castle Hall, Winchester.

The Round Table experiences a vision of the Holy Grail, an illumination by Évrard d'Espinques (c. 1475

SCANDAL The most infamous scandal associated with King Arthur is the affair between Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot, which ultimately led to the downfall of Arthur's kingdom.

Whether Arthur was just a rumour or reality has not been historically proven. Milton claims that Arthur never existed- he said of him "As to Arthur, more renowned in songs and romances than in true stories, who he was and whether ever any such reigned in Britain hath been doubted heretofore and may again with good reason." 

In the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Arthur explains that he is king because he got Excalibur from the lady of the lake. A peasant union leader replies "strange women in ponds is no basis for a system of government." 

MILITARY RECORD Arthur achieved numerous victories against the Saxons and other enemies of Britain, earning him a reputation as a formidable warrior and leader.

Britain's leading warrior of the dark ages began his martial career about 500 on becoming king when he declared war on the invading Saxons. The war lasted 20 years and the final battle at Mount Badon (approx. 522) near Bath, where Arthur carried a Christian cross on his shoulders, was so emphatic that the Saxon confederation was completely crushed. 

Dryden celebrated Arthur's feats at Mount Badon thus: "They sung how he himself at Badon bore, that day When at the glorious goal his British sceptre lay Two dais together how the battle strong he stood; Pendragon's worthe son, who waded there in blood Three hundred Saxons slew with his owne valiant hand." 

It is said that after seeing off the Saxon invaders Arthur conquered Gaul, Denmark, North Germany and Scandinavia. He was then called home to defend his country against his nephew Mordred. In the final Battle of Camlan both Arthur and his traitorous nephew fell. Some European historians substantiate this 

HOMES King Arthur had several residences, but his favorite was Camelot. The site of Camelot was either the modern Caerleon on the southern border of Wales, near Newport or the great Iron Age hill fort at South Cadbury in Somerset. Its meant to be Cadbury Castle, but you'd have to be a fruit and nut case to refer to the ancient fort as a proper castle. Actually many places in the west of England and Wales lay claim to being the site of Arthur's castle but no one has come up with any living proof. However to quote the wise words of Lerner and Loewe in their musical Camelot: "Don't let it be forgot That once there was a spot For one brief shining moment That was known as Camelot." 

TRAVEL Arthur's travels were primarily within the British Isles, as he sought to defend his kingdom from invaders and maintain order within his realm.

According to Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, after creating an Arthurian empire through his conquests of Ireland, Iceland and the Orkney Islands. After twelve years of peace, Arthur sets out to expand his empire once more, taking control of Norway, Denmark and Gaul. 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS As a warrior king, Arthur would have maintained a high level of physical fitness, honed through training, battle, and outdoor pursuits.

After being wounded at the Battle of Camlan, Arthur was mysteriously carried away to the island of Avalon to be healed of his wound. 

DEATH King Arthur was busy conquering all on continental Europe, when he was called home as his nephew Mordred had rebelled and seized the kingdom. In the final battle of Camlan at Slaughter Bridge, one mile north of Camelford in South West England both Arthur and Mordred fell pierced by each other's spears. 

On his deathbed he commanded that his trusty sword Excalibur be returned to the Lady of the Lake. Geoffrey of Monmouth records the death of Arthur as being in 537. After his death he was taken to Avalon (thought to be Glastonbury.) In Celtic mythology Avalon was the place of rest and reward for departed heroes. He was allegedly buried in the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey. 

On Arthur's tombstone according to Sir Thomas Malory was written "Hic Jacet Arthras rex Quondam Rexque futurus". (Here lies Arthur, the once and future king.) The implication being he may come again to reign. His grave was opened by command of Henry II in 1150. 

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA  1. The first allusion to Arthur is found in the Welsh poem Y Gododdin (about 600). He was first specifically mentioned in Historia Britonium by the Welsh monk Nennius, a historical work that was first written sometime shortly after AD 833. Or maybe it was all just a Dark Age wind up. 

The fully developed legend appears in the 12th century Historia Regum Brittaniae by the English chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth. Its popularity led to a stream of medieval Arthurian romances, culminating in Le Morte d'Arthur, a collection of Arthurian legends gathered together by Sir Thomas Malory in a single work in the late 15th century. 

Later King Arthur was used by Edmund Spenser as the "Perfect Knight" in his epic Elizabethan allegory The Faerie Queen(1590-99), 

Tennyson wrote a series of 12 narrative poems, Idylls of the King about Arthur between 1856 and 1885 and Mark Twain penned his early time travel novel, A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court in 1889. 

2. The original theatrical musical version of Camelot 1960 by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, which was all about Arthur's court. 

3. A number of films have been made about the life and times of King Arthur including:    

                    

(a) Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) where Arthur and his page Pasty look for that elusive Holy Grail.
(b) Camelot (1960). The film version of the 1960 musical with Richard Harris as the king. 

(c) The Sword in the Stone (1963). A Disney cartoon version based on the 1938 novel of the same name by T.H. White.

(d) Excalibur (1981) a modern version of Malory's Morte d'Arthur with Nigel Terry as Arthur. 

(e) First Knight (1995) with Sean Connery as King Arthur and that authentic Brit Richard Gere portraying a maverick Sir Lancelot. 

(f) King Arthur (2004) The 2nd century AD Roman military commander Lucius Artorius Castus is identified as King Arthur in this movie. Artorius is moved forwards 300 years to become a contemporary of the Saxons.

4 In a famous Carling Black label advert, the Lady of the Lake becomes one of a team of synchronised swimmers. 

5. In 1691 Henry Purcell wrote a five act opera King Arthur based on his battles with The Saxons. The dramatist John Dryden penned the words.

6. Rick Wakeman did a progressive rock concept album The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which was released in 1975. He also produced a musical spectacular on ice complete with a 45 piece orchestra and a 48 piece choir. 

ACHIEVEMENTS A cult figure of the Middle Ages, King Arthur not only protected England from the invading Saxons and possibly conquered parts of Northern Europe, but also invented chivalry. Shame he probably didn't exist.