Arthurian Links
Gildas: Concerning the Ruin of Britain
David Nash Ford's Early British Kingdoms
the Historicity and Historicasation of Arthur
King Arthur-The Welsh Evidence
Arthuriana
King Arthur: Texts, Images, Basic Information
Books by Geoffrey Ashe
Camlan
Tintagel--King Arthur Country
At some time in the Sixth century an event or a leader, presumably Arthur, preserved and protected the Romano-Celtic British Isles from the onslaught of Germanic invaders from main-land Europe. After the Battle of Badon, which Arthur led, Britain had peace from its enemies for forty years. After this time, Arthur's Romantic-Celtic countrymen were forced into modern day Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and Brittany, where they were able preserve their cultural and political autonomy for several hundred years. Even to this day, these lands, though legally belonging to Britain and France, are still primarily Celtic in character. Contrast this scenario with the fortunes of the Gauls of France who haven't enjoyed cultural and ethnic identity for over 1500 years. Would it be too presumptuous to say that the man, Arthur, is responsible for the success of the British Celts?
The legend of Arthur began in Dark Age Welsh poems. In these renditions, he bears little resemblance to the man, Arthur, we know now from films such as CAMELOT, EXCALIBUR, FIRST KNIGHT, or from books such as THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING. Throughout the Middle Ages, the character of Arthur evolved from the time of Geoffrey of Monmouth in his HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF BRITAIN through the French renderings, through Sir Thomas Malory's MORT D'ARTHUR. The legend was later popularized in Victorian times by Alfred Lord Tennyson in IDLES OF THE KING, then in modern times by writers such as T.H. White, Persia Woolley and Mary Stewart.
In every age and rendition, something new is added to the legend. For instance, Lancelot, who was never dealt with in the original Welsh poems shows up for the first time centuries later in the French Arthurian stories. Currently the subject of Arthur is so large in scope that each and every character and theme of the Arthurian legend has become a study in itself.
I personally have always been intensely interested in the Arthurian fact that gave birth to the legend of Arthur. Was he a king? Was he merely some military warrior of chieftain? No one knows, though several historians claim they do(i.e. Geoffrey Ashe's THE DISCOVERY OF KING ARTHUR). The man, Arthur and the events he presided over, are now shrouded by 1500 years of time, so it is likely that no one will ever really know the core of truth within the Arthurian legend. There are historical sources for Arthur such as the 6th century Gildas, who does not mention him by name and and the 9th century Nennius who lists Arthur's battles. Geoffrey of Monmouth claimed that his HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF BRITAIN was based on an obscure historical document that conveniently disappeared. There are also archeological sites, such as Glastonbury Abby, Cadbury Castle, Tintagel Castle and Castle Dore. So far none of these sites has produced any conclusive facts regarding the existence of Arthur. Supposedly in 1184, monks at Glastonbury Abby did unearth the remains of Arthur and Guinevere, but these relics were destroyed by King Henry VIII's forces in the sixteenth century.
Though the full truth about Arthur might never be known or proved, I believe that only a great man providing leadership in a pivotal time of his nation's existence could have given birth to such legends. Like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill, he must have been a man that refused to give up despite the tremendous forces that rose against his people. I have no doubt that Arthur was an extraordinary man. It is a shame that we do not have a clear record of the man whose memory has inspired such great literature and entertainment over the centuries.
New Developments in the Discovery of King Arthur
July 4th, 1998, Scottish archeologists excavated a plate at Arthur's legendary birthplace, Tintagel Castle. The plate dating from the Sixth century has the name Arthur on its inscription. This insciption is the first definite archeological find that directly links Arthur to any particular place and time. For furthur information about this plate, visit Clue to King Arthur Discovered
Home Rhoda's BiographyRhoda Fort's Writing PagesThe Reluctant BarbarianLife's Greatest Treasure
