King Arthur

King Arthur is an important figure in the mythology of Great Britain, where he appears as the ideal of kingship in both war and peace. He is the central character in the cycle of legends known as the "Matter of Britain." There is disagreement about whether Arthur, or a model for him, ever actually existed: in the earliest mentions and Welsh texts he is never given the title "King." Early texts refer to him as dux bellorum ("war leader") and High Medieval Welsh texts often call him amerauder ("emperor").

The King Arthur of History

The possible historicity of the King Arthur of legend has long been debated by scholars. One school of thought believes Arthur to have lived sometime in the late 5th century to early 6th century, to have been of Romano-British origin, and to have fought against the pagan Saxons.

King Arthur: An important figure in the mythology of Great Britain, where he appears as the ideal of kingship in both war and peace.

His power base was probably in either Wales, Cornwall, or the west of what would become England, but controversy over the centre of his power and the extent and kind of power he wielded continues to rage.

Some members of this school, most notably Geoffrey Ashe and Leon Fleuriot, have argued for identifying Arthur with a certain Riothamus, "King of the Brettones," who was active during the reign of the Roman Emperor Anthemius. Unfortunately, Riothamus is a shadowy figure of whom we know little, and scholars are not certain whether the "Brettones" he led were Britons or Bretons.

Other writers suggest that Arthur should be identified as one Lucius Artorius Castus, a historical Roman of the 2nd century, whose military exploits in Britain may have been remembered for centuries afterwards. Yet the obscurity surrounding the historical career of Artorius makes this identification unlikely, as there seems to be little reason for him to have become a major legendary figure.

Another school of thought believes that Arthur is a half-forgotten Celtic deity devolved into a personage (citing sometimes a supposed change of the sea-god Lir into King Lear) or a possibly fictive person like Beowulf.

Subscribers to this school of thought argue that another Roman Briton of the period, for example Ambrosius Aurelianus, led the forces battling the Saxons at the battle of Mons Badonicus.

Further, historical persons may have influenced the later legends, like the Scots king Aedan mac Gabran, who had a son called Artuir and whose life was somewhat similar to Arthur's.

King Arthur External Links

King Arthur: A Man for the Ages
Explore King Arthur in history and in legend,in literature and on land.

King Arthur History
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Arturius : A Quest For Camelot
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King Arthur's Knights
Legend of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table.

The Mystic Realm of King Arthur
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The Ultimate King Arthur Web Guide
King Arthur Fact, Scottish legend or Myth? one of the fastest sites on the Arthurian legend.

King Arthur and his Associates, both in History and Literature
The earliest full stories concerning King Arthur and his exploits appear to be the little known Welsh tales of "Culhwch and Olwen" and the "Dream of Rhonabwy". Though dating from before the 11th century, these two stories...