Difference between revisions of "King Arthur"
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| − | + | '''King Arthur''' is the central and ruling character in the '''[[Matter of Britain]]''', along with his Knights of the Round Table. | |
| − | '''King Arthur''' appears to be the trace of an historical person in the sixth century C.E. This person was not so much a King as a warrior, and leader (''dux bellorum'') of warriors, among the British ([[Celtic]]) people who were resisting the Anglo-Saxons. He has been identified by some with Ambrosius Aurelianus, an equally obscure Briton of the time who appears in Gildas' ''De excidio Britanniae'' (?479 - 484). | + | *'''King Arthur''' appears to be the trace of an historical person in the sixth century C.E. This person was not so much a King as a warrior, and leader (''dux bellorum'') of warriors, among the British ([[Celtic]]) people who were resisting the Anglo-Saxons. He has been identified by some with Ambrosius Aurelianus, an equally obscure Briton of the time who appears (as Arthur does not) in Gildas' ''De excidio Britanniae'' (?479 - 484). |
| − | ::Nennius, a 9th century writer, lists Arthur's battles in his ''Historia Brittonum'', a not entirely reliable chronicle, "[Arthur] was twelve times chosen [as] commander [of the British], and was as often conqueror. The first ... was at the mouth of the river Gleni [perhaps in Northumberland]. The second, third, fourth, and fifth, were on another river, by the Britons called Duglas,[perhaps the Lothians; perhaps Lancashire] in the region Linuis. The sixth, on the river Bassas [perhaps the Bass Rock, in the [[Firth of Forth]]. The seventh in the wood Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Coit Celidon [the Caledonian Forest].) The eighth was near Gurnion castle [Cornwall, Norfolk and County Durham have been suggested]. where Arthur bore the image of the Holy Virgin, mother of God, upon his shoulders, and through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy Mary, put the Saxons to flight, and pursued them the whole day with great slaughter.(7) The ninth was at the City of Legion,(8) which is called Cair Lion [Caerleon | + | ::::Nennius, a 9th century writer, lists Arthur's battles in his ''Historia Brittonum'', a not entirely reliable chronicle, "[Arthur] was twelve times chosen [as] commander [of the British], and was as often conqueror. The first ... was at the mouth of the river Gleni [perhaps in Northumberland]. The second, third, fourth, and fifth, were on another river, by the Britons called Duglas,[perhaps the Lothians; perhaps Lancashire] in the region Linuis. The sixth, on the river Bassas [perhaps the Bass Rock, in the [[Firth of Forth]]]. The seventh in the wood Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Coit Celidon [the Caledonian Forest].) The eighth was near Gurnion castle [Cornwall, Norfolk and County Durham have been suggested]. where Arthur bore the image of the Holy Virgin, mother of God, upon his shoulders, and through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy Mary, put the Saxons to flight, and pursued them the whole day with great slaughter.(7) The ninth was at the City of Legion,(8) which is called Cair Lion [Caerleon in Monmouthshire, or Exeter]. The tenth was on the banks of the river Trat Treuroit [Brue, Somerset, or Ribble, Lancashire]. The eleventh was on the mountain Breguoin, which we call Cat Bregion [Cadbury, Somerset, or Edinburgh]. The twelfth was a most severe contest, when Arthur penetrated to the hill of Badon [Badbury Rings in Dorset; Bathampton Down near Bath, Somerset; or Bowden Hill, Linlithgow]." |
::::The Annales Cambriae give the date of Mons Badonicus as 516, and Arthur's death as occurring in 537 at the Battle of Camlann | ::::The Annales Cambriae give the date of Mons Badonicus as 516, and Arthur's death as occurring in 537 at the Battle of Camlann | ||
::On the other hand, 'Arthur' may be a decayed deity from pre-Christian times, or a legendary memory. | ::On the other hand, 'Arthur' may be a decayed deity from pre-Christian times, or a legendary memory. | ||
| − | + | The central character in the myths of '''[[Matter of Britain]]''', '''King Arthur''' does not play a prominent part in many stories. He is the ruler in [[Camelot]], and the exploits of the other characters usually begin and are reported there; but he himself plays a major part in the tales of [[Lancelot]] and [[Guinevere]]. The heroes of the other tales are his Knights of the Round Table. This was, in the myth, a table constructed for the King in order that no individual should have precedence over (higher status than) any other, in accordance with the chivalric code that developed in the myth of King Arthur. A table-top is still shown in Winchester as Arthur's: it was made in the thirteenth century, in the reign of [[King Edward#Edward I|Edward I]] or [[King Edward#Edward III|Edward III]], perhaps on the occasion of a tournament held to further contemporary ideas of chivalry. It was later painted on the order of [[King Henry#Henry VIII|Henry VIII]] with the names of 24 knights of King Arthur and the king himself, whose 'portrait' thereon has a striking resemblance to Henry. (Early accounts say that it seated 150 knights.) It was preserved, it has been speculated, to attract tourists to Winchester, where many relics of Arthur were shown, and he was said to be buried. Other versions tell that he lies in a state of suspended animation in various locations, and that he will return in Britain's hour of need. | |
| − | The | + | *The life of the legendary Arthur began when |
| + | **he was born to Igrayne, wife of King Gorlois of Cornwall, who had slept with King [[Uther Pendragon]] in the castle of Tintagel. Uther had been disguised as her husband through an enchantment cast by [[Merlin]]. The child was brought up incognito, perhaps under the influence of Merlin, perhaps by Sir Ector (father of [[Sir Kay]]). When Uther died with no heir apparent, after a period of disorder and anarchy a miraculous stone is found, with a sword embedded in it and the inscription ""Whoso Pulleth Out This Sword of this Stone and Anvil, is Rightwise King Born of all England", as [[Malory]] reports it. Many try to draw the sword from the stone and fail, but eventually Arthur (by then 15 years old) tries - and draws the sword with ease. Thus he begins his reign, with the wise magician [[Merlin]] at his side. | ||
| + | **He rules boldly, winning battles and making allies, amongst them King Leodegrance (or Lodegrean) of Cameliard. When Arthur helps expel King Rience after an invasion, he meets Lewodgrance's daughter Guinevere, with whom he falls in love. She becomes his Queen in his capital of [[Camelot]]. The story of the mutual love between her and [[Sir Lancelot]] is the central theme of much later Arthurian writing, and is the cause of the downfall of Camelot, the Round Table, and Arthur himself. | ||
| + | **The adultery of Guinevere having been exposed by his nephew [[Mordred]], Arthur is impelled to go to France to fight Lancelot. While he is there, [[Mordred]] usurps the British throne. Arthur returns to Britain, asking Lancelot's help. But the Battle of [[Camlann]] ensues unexpectedly quickly. In it Mordred is killed by Arthur, inflicting a mortal wound on him in return. Arthur is borne from the field and taken in a boat, by six women in black, to the island of [[Avalon]]. Hence he will return. | ||
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Latest revision as of 06:08, 15 May 2017
King Arthur is the central and ruling character in the Matter of Britain, along with his Knights of the Round Table.
- King Arthur appears to be the trace of an historical person in the sixth century C.E. This person was not so much a King as a warrior, and leader (dux bellorum) of warriors, among the British (Celtic) people who were resisting the Anglo-Saxons. He has been identified by some with Ambrosius Aurelianus, an equally obscure Briton of the time who appears (as Arthur does not) in Gildas' De excidio Britanniae (?479 - 484).
- Nennius, a 9th century writer, lists Arthur's battles in his Historia Brittonum, a not entirely reliable chronicle, "[Arthur] was twelve times chosen [as] commander [of the British], and was as often conqueror. The first ... was at the mouth of the river Gleni [perhaps in Northumberland]. The second, third, fourth, and fifth, were on another river, by the Britons called Duglas,[perhaps the Lothians; perhaps Lancashire] in the region Linuis. The sixth, on the river Bassas [perhaps the Bass Rock, in the Firth of Forth]. The seventh in the wood Celidon, which the Britons call Cat Coit Celidon [the Caledonian Forest].) The eighth was near Gurnion castle [Cornwall, Norfolk and County Durham have been suggested]. where Arthur bore the image of the Holy Virgin, mother of God, upon his shoulders, and through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy Mary, put the Saxons to flight, and pursued them the whole day with great slaughter.(7) The ninth was at the City of Legion,(8) which is called Cair Lion [Caerleon in Monmouthshire, or Exeter]. The tenth was on the banks of the river Trat Treuroit [Brue, Somerset, or Ribble, Lancashire]. The eleventh was on the mountain Breguoin, which we call Cat Bregion [Cadbury, Somerset, or Edinburgh]. The twelfth was a most severe contest, when Arthur penetrated to the hill of Badon [Badbury Rings in Dorset; Bathampton Down near Bath, Somerset; or Bowden Hill, Linlithgow]."
- The Annales Cambriae give the date of Mons Badonicus as 516, and Arthur's death as occurring in 537 at the Battle of Camlann
- On the other hand, 'Arthur' may be a decayed deity from pre-Christian times, or a legendary memory.
The central character in the myths of Matter of Britain, King Arthur does not play a prominent part in many stories. He is the ruler in Camelot, and the exploits of the other characters usually begin and are reported there; but he himself plays a major part in the tales of Lancelot and Guinevere. The heroes of the other tales are his Knights of the Round Table. This was, in the myth, a table constructed for the King in order that no individual should have precedence over (higher status than) any other, in accordance with the chivalric code that developed in the myth of King Arthur. A table-top is still shown in Winchester as Arthur's: it was made in the thirteenth century, in the reign of Edward I or Edward III, perhaps on the occasion of a tournament held to further contemporary ideas of chivalry. It was later painted on the order of Henry VIII with the names of 24 knights of King Arthur and the king himself, whose 'portrait' thereon has a striking resemblance to Henry. (Early accounts say that it seated 150 knights.) It was preserved, it has been speculated, to attract tourists to Winchester, where many relics of Arthur were shown, and he was said to be buried. Other versions tell that he lies in a state of suspended animation in various locations, and that he will return in Britain's hour of need.
- The life of the legendary Arthur began when
- he was born to Igrayne, wife of King Gorlois of Cornwall, who had slept with King Uther Pendragon in the castle of Tintagel. Uther had been disguised as her husband through an enchantment cast by Merlin. The child was brought up incognito, perhaps under the influence of Merlin, perhaps by Sir Ector (father of Sir Kay). When Uther died with no heir apparent, after a period of disorder and anarchy a miraculous stone is found, with a sword embedded in it and the inscription ""Whoso Pulleth Out This Sword of this Stone and Anvil, is Rightwise King Born of all England", as Malory reports it. Many try to draw the sword from the stone and fail, but eventually Arthur (by then 15 years old) tries - and draws the sword with ease. Thus he begins his reign, with the wise magician Merlin at his side.
- He rules boldly, winning battles and making allies, amongst them King Leodegrance (or Lodegrean) of Cameliard. When Arthur helps expel King Rience after an invasion, he meets Lewodgrance's daughter Guinevere, with whom he falls in love. She becomes his Queen in his capital of Camelot. The story of the mutual love between her and Sir Lancelot is the central theme of much later Arthurian writing, and is the cause of the downfall of Camelot, the Round Table, and Arthur himself.
- The adultery of Guinevere having been exposed by his nephew Mordred, Arthur is impelled to go to France to fight Lancelot. While he is there, Mordred usurps the British throne. Arthur returns to Britain, asking Lancelot's help. But the Battle of Camlann ensues unexpectedly quickly. In it Mordred is killed by Arthur, inflicting a mortal wound on him in return. Arthur is borne from the field and taken in a boat, by six women in black, to the island of Avalon. Hence he will return.
