| Arthur is alluded to but not named in "On the Ruin of Britain" c. 540 |
Literature |
| He is first mentioned by name by the Welsh historian Nennius c. 830 |
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| Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th Century made Arthur famous in Europe |
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| Norman poet Wace translated the legend into French and added to it |
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| Since then many authors have adapted the tale of King Arthur |
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| King Arthur is most likely an amalgam of several ancient British warlords |
History |
| Arthur was a Briton. He fought AGAINST the English, not for them |
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| Britons beat the Saxons at the Battle of Badon. Arthur may have led them |
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| In the 6th Century the name Arthur became popular |
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| Historian A. Breeze claims Arthur was real and has supporting evidence |
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| Arthur was the first born son and heir of King Uther Pendragon |
Legend |
| He became king when he pulled a magical sword from a stone |
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| He gathered loyal knights around his "Round Table" |
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| Arthur held court at Camelot. Many places claim to be its site |
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| His most famous quest was for the Holy Grail |
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| Merlin the magician was Arthur's trusted advisor |
Characters |
| Morgan Le Fay was a witch and was Arthur's sister |
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| Mordred was Arthur's son or nephew. It was he who killed Arthur |
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| Lancelot was Arthur's foremost knight, but he betrayed his king |
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| Arthur's queen was Guinevere. She also betrayed him |
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| Mynty Python's "Holy Grail" is a hilariously silly version of the story |
Film |
| Disney made their own version of the myth, "The Sword In The Stone" |
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| Sean Connery played an aging Arthur in "First Knight" |
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| "Camelot" is a musical version of the story |
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| TV series "Merlin" was very loosely based on the Arthur myth |
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| Arthur received a magic sword, Excalibur, from the Lady of the Lake |
Magic |
| Morgan Le Fay could change shape and she could fly |
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| The Holy Grail could magically heal all wounds |
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| Merlin was very powerful with magic and had many spells |
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| The Lady of the Lake was either a goddess, a fairy or a witch |
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| When Arthur met Guinevere he fell instantly in love |
Romance |
| Tristan and Iseult are tragic lovers associated with King Arthur |
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| Sir Gawain married a lady who was cursed to be ugly |
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| Culhwch sought Arthur's help in several quests to win the hand of Olwen |
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| Pelleas was another romantic knight and Tennyson wrote about him |
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| Merlin's true name was Myrddin Wyllt |
Merlin |
| According to legend, Merlin’s father was a demon or the Devil |
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| Merlin was said to have built the Stonehenge with the help of giants |
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| As well as being magical, Merlin was also said to be mad |
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| Merlin discovered a red and a white dragon beneath a fortress |
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| Much of the Arthurian legend is based on pagan myth |
Religion |
| Christians "adapted" it to make it acceptable to the new faith |
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| Guinevere's sin brings down Arthur, as Eve's sin brought down Adam |
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| The Holy Grail of Christ was, in the original story, a magic cauldron |
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| Arthur is expected to return, just as Christ in Christian myth |
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| Arthur's downfall begins when his wife's affair is discovered |
Death |
| While Arthur fought Lancelot Mordred seized his kingdom |
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| Arthur and Mordred met in the Battle of Camlann. Both were killed |
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| Arthur's grave was said to be at Glastonbury Abbey |
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| Legend says Arthur will return when the Britons need him most |
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