King Arthur
Arthur was the legendary King of medieval Britain, and the hero of one of
the most exciting and often recounted cycle of legends and romances. He is said to have
been born in Tintagel in Cornwall, son of King Uther Pendragon and the Duke of Tintagel's
wife Igraine. The sorceror Merlin arranged the deceit that allowed the joining of the two,
and asked that the product of that union, Arthur, be turned over to him for nurturing and
learning. Arthur went on to become King of Britain and, with the help and support of his
advisor Merlin, he held court at Camelot as the leader of the Knights of the Round Table.
The knights rode out to accomplish great deeds and to seek adventure, their most notable
mission, the quest of the Holy Grail- in Christian legend the holy cup used by Christ at
the Last Supper. Betrayed by his wife Guinevere and his son or nephew Mordred, he was
mortally wounded in battle against Mordred and carried away to Avalon, the land of
immortal heroes. Legends tell that he will return from Avalon to lead his countrymen in
the time of their greatest peril.
Little is known of the real Arthur, though most historians agree that the Arthur of
legend is probably based on a British war-chief of the 6th century A.D named Roman
Artorius. He was likely a leader of the Romanized Britons against the Saxon war-bands
which invaded Britain from around 450 A.D onwards. In the Book of Complaints written by
Gildas around the year 540 AD, it says that the Saxons were defeated in a great battle at
Mount Badon in about the year 500. Although Arthur isn't mentioned by name in that
account, Nennius' History of the Britons written in the early 9th century says that Arthur
was dux bellorum of the Britons -- war chief -- or general, at the Battle of Mount Badon.
The Cambrian Annals written in the 10th century say that Arthur defeated the Saxons at
Mount Badon in 516, and also mentions the battle of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut
(Mordred) fell.
The Arthur of Celtic legend was a hero of Herculean proportions. He rid the land of
giants, and fought monsters and witches. He slaughtered the Demon Cat of Losanne, and
hunted the fabulous boar Twrch Trwyth, driving him into the sea. One of Arthur's titles
was 'The Boar of Cornwall. A Welsh poem, The Spoils of Annwn probably written in the 10th
century, refers to Arthur's raid on the land of the dead, the isle of Annwn. The object of
the raid was to seize the magic cauldron of Annwn, from which only the brave and the true
could eat. This cauldron may be the original Grail, and, supplying the food of immortal
heroes, Arthur may have gained immortality by seizing it. In the early Celtic stories
Arthur has a large band of comrades, including Cei Wynn (Sir Kay in the later romances),
Gereint (Sir Gareth), and Llenlleawc (Sir Lancelot). His wife is Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere).
The old Celtic Gods, now men, are also in these stories. Manawydan, Teyrnon, and Gwynn son
of Nudd, the master of Hell.
Before 1100 there were various stories of Arthur and his adventures which were popular
in Wales and Cornwall, and well known also in Brittany. Wandering Breton poets translated
the tales into French, embroidering and embellishing them, and the stories spread into
France. Bards and storytellers, who made their living telling tales from court to manor
house, further developed the details and the variations of the Arthurian legends. By 1100
the tales had spread as far as Italy..
According to Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain, Arthur was 15 when
Uther Pendragon died and was buried at Stonehenge. Arthur was crowned king at Silchester.
In the 15th century's Morte D'Arthur written by Thomas Malory, the story of Arthur's
ascension to the throne is elaborated upon. There was nobody to succeed Pendragon, and
various great barons struggled for the throne. Merlin instigated the Archbishop of
Canterbury to summon all the barons to London where he had provided great stone with a
sword stuck within it. Letters round the sword said Whoso pulleth out the sword of this
stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England. Nobody succeeded in pulling out
the sword, although many tried, until the young Arthur came by and removed it. Arthur was
then crowned king and defeated all rivals in a series of battles.
Monmouth's History has been on one hand described as the most successful work of
fiction ever composed and on the other condemned as an outrage on historical truth. He
tells how King Arthur, with his sword Caliburn which is forged in Avalon, subdued the
Scots, and conquered Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and France. In later variations,
the sword becomes Excalibur. Merlin and Arthur went to a lake, from the middle of which an
arm protruded holding a sword. The sword, Excalibur, belonged to the Lady of the Lake, who
gave it to Arthur. When Arthur dies and is carried away to Avalon, the sword is returned
to the lake. Arthur marries Guinevere, and by some accounts is gifted with the Round
Table, which seats 150, by his father in law as a wedding present. His sister married
Loth, Duke of Lothian, and by him had two sons, Gawain and Mordred. Later stories tell
that Arthur, not realizing that Loth's wife was his own sister, slept with her, and
conceived Mordred; it was this incest which brought Arthur and the Round Table to
destruction, as prophesied by Merlin.
Arthur, realizing that his wife Guinevere and his knight Lancelot are in love,
refuses to admit it to anyone because of his affection for Lancelot. But Mordred and
Agravaine, who hated Lancelot, insist on accusing him to the king's face, and the
accusation of treason and adultery is made public. Arthur gives leave to Mordred to seize
Lancelot, who escapes. Some of the knights go with Lancelot, others remain loyal to
Arthur, and when Arthur and Gawain take an army to France against Lancelot, many good
knights are killed on both sides. Mordred, left behind to rule England, siezes the crown
and tries to also sieze Guinevere, who resists. Arthur returns to England, and in a great
battle seeks out Mordred, killing him with a spear thrust. But the dying Mordred deals a
mortal blow to Arthur. Sir Bedivere helps Arthur away to the waterside, and upon his
instructions casts his sword into the lake. An arm comes out of the water to take the
sword, and then disappears. The mortally wounded Arthur is then taken on a fairy barge and
carried away to Avalon, the land of immortal heroes.
There is a tradition that Glastonbury was the Isle of Avalon. In 1191, the monks of
Glastonbury unearthed an oak coffin from 16 feet underground, which they claimed to be
Arthur's.
The inscription on a lead cross found within the coffin read Here lies buried the
renowned King Arthur with Guinevere his second wife in the Isle of Avalon. It was said
that written on his tomb was Here lies Arthur, the once and future king.
"And so they rowed from land, and Sir Bedivere beheld
all those ladies go from him. Then Sir Bedivere cried: Ah my lord Arthur, what shall
become of me, now you go from me and leave me here alone among mine enemies? Comfort
thyself, said the king, and do as well as thou mayst, for in me is no trust for to trust
in; for I will into the vale of Avilion to heal me of my grievous wound: and if thou hear
never more of me, pray for my soul." -Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur
Queen Guinevere
Arthur's marriage to Guinevere established his court. As her dowry,
Guinevere brought the legendary Round Table and the royal couple became the center of the
glittering circle of the chivalric knights.
Guinevere's heritage varies according to different legends. According to Malory,
Guinevere (in Welsh, Gwenhwyvar which means 'White Phantom') was the daughter of King
Leodegrance of Cameliarde. In Welsh tradition, her father is called Gogrvan or Ocvran. In
Thelwall's play The Fairy of the Lake (1801), it is suggested she is the daughter of
Vortigern. In some stories, she had a sister named Gwenhwyvach, and a French legend tells
of an identical twin sister called Guinevere the False. In yet another tale, she had a
brother called Gotegrin.
Once Arthur was firmly established on the throne, and despite Merlin's warnings she
would one day betray him, Arthur chose Guinevere, to become his wife. As a dowry she
brought the great round table capable of seating one hundred and fifty knights, made by
Merlin at the bidding of Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon.
In Gawain and the Green Knight, it is stated the reason Morgan le Fay sent the Green
Knight to Camelot was to frighten Guinevere. One reason given was because of an old
rivalry, dating back to the beginning of Arthur's reign when Guinevere had banished one of
Morgan's lovers from court. Another reason is the representation of Guinevere and Morgan
as two goddesses of very different aspect. Morgan, as her origin in the figure of
Morrighan indicates, is a dark goddess and represents the powerful qualities of winter and
warfare. On the other hand, Guinevere is called the Flower Bride, representing spring and
the unfolding of life. As such, these two women are constantly in opposition. Lancelot,
Guinevere's champion, becomes the bitter foe of Gawain, who is Knight of the Goddess -
Morgan's champion.
When the Arthurian legends were reworked by Christian writers, both Guinevere, the
goddess of flowers and light, and Morgan, the Dark Goddess, spent time in a nunnery.
As the Flower Bride, myth calls for Guinevere to be stolen away by one of her suitors
and then to be rescued by another representing shifting polarities with the change of
seasons. An example of this role is told in the Life of Gildas, by Caradoc of Llancarfan.
In this text, Melwas of the Summer Country carried off Guinevere and she was then rescued
by Arthur. The abduction scene reappears in several stories where the kidnapper is
Meliagraunce, a knight desirous of Guinevere. In this tale, the rescuer is Lancelot rather
than Arthur.
Eventually, she and Sir Lancelot fall in love. In one tale, the False Guinevere takes
Guinevere's place while she takes refuge with Lancelot in Sorelois. The False Guinevere
and her champion Bertholai finally admit their deception and after the False Guinevere's
death, the true Guinevere is restored to Arthur. By this time, Guinevere and Lancelot are
irrevocably in love and Lancelot's struggle with his conscience keeps him away from
Camelot pursuing quests. Just when Guinevere and Lancelot came to the decision to end
their affair for the good of the kingdom, Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son, captured
them in the queen's chamber. Lancelot fled and Mordred forced Arthur to condemn Guinevere
to the stake. Lancelot rescued her but in the process accidently killed Gareth and
Gaheris, Gawain's brothers, and a war ensued. While Arthur was away fighting Lancelot,
Mordred declared his father dead and proclaimed himself king and announced Guinevere will
become his wife. She refused and locked herself in the Tower of London. Arthur returned to
fight yet another war against Mordred and received a mortal wound in battle.
Following the death of Arthur, Guinevere entered a nunnery at Amesbury and stayed there
until her death. A different tale according to Perlesvaus, says she died as a prisoner of
the Picts. At her death, she was laid to rest beside Arthur.
It has been argued Guinevere is a mythical figure representing the sovereignty of
Britain over which would be rulers battle. In this respect she is a figure similar to
Eriu, the goddess of the sovereignty of Ireland. As well as the Flower Bride, Guinevere
represents the Sorrowful Queen or the Wounded Lady who suffers the burden of evil acts
carried out in ignorance of love in Arthur's kingdom.
Sir Lancelot
According to French sources and Malory, Lancelot was the son of King Ban of Benwick,
one of the young King Arthur's staunchest supporters, and his queen, Elaine. King Ban
became involved in a war with the neighboring kingdom of King Claudus. Claudus defeated
Ban and forced the king and queen to flee. As they were fleeing, Ban looked back and the
sight of his home in flames caused him to fall in a swoon from which he never rose.
Running to his aid, Elaine left Lancelot beside a lake and the Lady of the Lake stole the
child away and raised him in her underwater palace where he was known as Lancelot of the
Lake. In Ulrich's account, Lancelot was the son King Pant of Gennewis and his wife,
Clarine. Pant was killed in a rebellion and Lancelot was stolen by a fairy and raised in
Maidenland.
While growing up among the company of women and faery-like mermen of the Lady of
the Lake's palace, Lancelot quickly developed his great strength and skill in arms. At the
age of eighteen, he met his cousins, Bors and Lional, and his half-brother, Ector, and the
four men set out for Camelot. In memory of King Ban's support during his youth, Arthur
found great favor with Lancelot and dubbed him a knight on St. John's Day.
In some versions of the legend, one of Lancelot's first tasks as a knight was to fetch
Arthur's bride, Guinevere, to Camelot for their wedding. During this journey, Guinevere
and Lancelot fell in love. In other stories, Guinevere was already established at court
when Lancelot arrived, and he soon became one of the Queen's Knights, a sub-order of the
Round Table of which young, aspiring knights belonged before they had fully proven
themselves. Lancelot quickly established himself as the greatest knight of all time after
successfully completing several quests. Among other adventures, he conquered the dark
custom of a castle called Dolorous Gard, which afterwards became his own home renamed
Joyous Gard. Soon after, Lancelot returned to Camelot and became a full Knight of the
Round Table and Arthur's closest companion and champion.
When Guinevere was abducted by Meliagaunce, the son of King Bagdemagus, Lancelot
pursued him in a cart and had to cross a sword bridge to reach the castle. Bagdemagus
pleaded with Guinevere to stop the fight so Meliagaunce's life would be spared. Later,
Meliagaunce accused Guinevere of having an affair with Sir Kay, and so the battle between
him and Lancelot began again. Once again, Bagdemagus pled for his son's life. Eventually,
Lancelot slew Meliagaunce in combat at Arthur's court.
After joining the ranks of Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot helped Arthur put
down the rebellion of Galehaut the Haut Prince, who surrendered to Arthur after observing
Lancelot's chivalry and prowess in battle. Afterwards, Galehaut became Lancelot's closest
friend and acted as a secret go-between Lancelot and Guinevere. The pair also took refuge
in Galehaut's kingdom of Sorelois when Guinevere the False took the queen's place at
court. After the deception was discovered, Lancelot restored the queen to Arthur, but by
this time Lancelot and Guinevere were irrevocably in love.
Suffering from a guilty conscience, Lancelot pursued quest after quest in order to be
away from Guinevere. Lancelot visted King Pelles the Grail Guardian and saved his
daughter, Elaine of Corbenic, from a tub of boiling water in which she had been imprisoned
by enchantment for several years. Brisen, her nurse, arranged for Lancelot to think Elaine
was Guinevere and he slept with her. As a result, Galahad was conceived.
Lancelot, the greatest of Arthur's knights, destined to become part of the eternal
triangle with Arthur and Guinevere. Here he is seen with Elaine of Astolat, who died of
unrequited love for him.
It has been suggested by P.L. Travers that Lancelot might have taken a vow of celibacy
when he could not love Guinevere. The knowledge he had not only betrayed his love for
Guinevere but had also broken this vow drove Lancelot mad. Eventually, he is discovered by
Elaine of Astolat, with whom he returned to Joyous Gard. Elaine later died from her
unrequited love for Lancelot.
After a time, Lancelot's son Galahad appeared and they began their quest for the Holy
Grail. Lancelot had several visions of the Grail and finally found the door to the chapel
where the holy vessel was kept. He was prevented from entering by an angelic presence and
fell into a trance which lasted for several weeks. During this time, it was made clear to
him this quest was at an end and his failure was due to his love for Guinevere, which
exceeded his love for God. For a time, Lancelot was determined to renounce his love for
her, but once he returned to court their affair continued its course.
When Lancelot and Guinevere were discovered together in her chamber by Mordred, just
when they had decided to end their love affair, Lancelot fled and Guinevere was sentenced
to burn at the stake. Lancelot returned to rescue her, accidently killing Agravain, and
Gawain's brothers, Gaheris and Gareth in the process. War between Lancelot and Arthur
ensued, but was broken off when Arthur had to return to Camelot to deal with Mordred's
rebellion. Hearing of this, Lancelot returned to aid Arthur but arrived too late to save
him from a mortal wound. After the war, Lancelot visited Guinevere one last time in a
nunnery at Amesbury and then put aside his weapons and armor to become a hermit, which was
how he lived out the rest of his life. He was buried at Joyous Guard, and Sir Ector, the
last of the original Knights of the Round Table delivered the following eulogy:
"Ah Lancelot, thou are head of all Christians
knights, and now I dare say, thou Sir Lancelot,
there thou liest, that thou was never matched
of earthly knights. And thou were the courteous
knight that ever bare shield. And thou were the
truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrad horse.
And thou were the truest lover of a sinful man that
ever loved woman. And thou were the kindest man
that ever struck with sword. And thou were the
goodliest person that ever came among press of
knights. And thou was the meekest man and the
gentlest that ever ate in hall among ladies. And
thou were the sternest knight to they mortal foe that
ever put spear in the rest."
Merlin, and the Knights
of the Round Table
There were reputed to be between 50 and 1600 Knights of the Round Table. The table
itself was said to be a wedding gift to Arthur from Guinevere's father. One chair, the
Seige Perilous, would kill or maim all who were not worthy who sat in it, until Galahad
arrived. Galahad was permitted to return to Christ after finding the Grail, although it
was Perceval who found it and took it to Arthur.
Some of the knights were: Lancelot, Agravaine, Mordred, Galahad, Gaheris, Gawain,
Owain, Perceval, Bors, Kay/Cai/Cei, Erec, Cador and Pelles. Lancelot was far and away the
most famous. Until his affair with the Queen, he was the purest and most perfect of the
knights. However he had to do penance for his crime of adultery. Here there is great
debate as to the nature of his penance. At the least, he became either a hermit or a
wandering pilgrim, at the worst, he mutilated himself and wandered the land, unable to
die, seeking absolution.
Merlin was Arthur's magician and counsellor, and in many ways, the architect of his
reign. His first act of sorcery was to tell Vortigern why he could not build his fortress.
Underneath the foundations was a pool, and in that were two dragons, one red, one white.
The white slew the red, which Merlin prophesied would be Aurelius Ambrosius slaying
Vortigern. He advised him to errect Stonehenge over the spot. Later, he arranged for
Uther, brother, general and heir to Ambrosius, to seduce Igraine, who he later married,
and when Arthur was born, took him for safe keeping. Once Arthur became king, he remained
close by the kings side.
Introduction
othing
definite can be said about king Arthur's existence, there is no truth to rely on. If there
ever was an Arthur in early 6th century Britain, he was most probably not a king, but just
a warlord. The name king Arthur still has an authentic ring to it, but there are almost no
annoying historical facts to suffocate the imagination. 