The Once and Future King

KING ARTHUR

True Story?• There are two primary schools

of thought:• Some ancient texts name a King

Arthur and describe specific battles, which leads many to believe that he existed• Historia Brittonum (History of the

Britons)• Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals)• These texts, like many ancient

histories, are colored by the beliefs of people who lived at the time they were written• Many scholars believe that legends

—including Arthur—are mixed in with real, historical facts.

• What is certain is that much of the commonly known story is invented.

Arthur (top centre) in an illustration to the Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight, late 14th century (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_arthur)

Historical facts• King of Britain (disputed area) in the late

5th-early 6th Century (c.450-550)• Warrior king who led many battles,

possibly defending Britain from Saxon invaders• Many historical figures of this period used

titles instead of names• This makes it difficult to follow their lives

through historical documents and contemporary stories.

• There are many versions of the name “Arthur,” and no one knows what his original name was

• He was sometimes known as “the Bear.”• May have been based on any of a number

of historical leaders, or may have been based on folklore only.• Historical texts conflict, and scholars cannot

agree!Image from Winchester Castlehttp://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/

arthur.html

Legends • Three primary authors added details to the story:• Geoffrey of Monmouth• c. 1100 – c. 1155 Welsh writer• Wrote the History of the Kings of

Britain• Pseudo-historical text

• Chrétien de Troyes• 12th Century French writer• Began genre of Arthurian romance• Added Lancelot/Guinevere affair and

the Holy Grail• Sir Thomas Malory• C.1405-1471 English writer• Very mysterious character• French influence/spoke French=

educated• Knight???http://www.ramsdale.org/legend.htm

Story Overview• Arthur’s father was Uther

Pendragon• He was conceived magically,

with the help of Merlin the magician• Mother, Ygrain, was married to

someone else, but Uther came to her in disguise

• Raised by foster father, Sir Ector• Had a foster brother, Kay/Cai• Brought to Ector by Merlin• Pulled sword from stone, or

received it from Lady of the Lake• Quested for the Holy Grail• Lost wife, Guinevere, to Sir

Lancelothttp://home.messiah.edu/~tp1180/page%202.html

Chivalry • Comes from French• Cheval= Horse; Chevalier=

Rider/Knight• Concept of heroism changed

drastically during medieval times• From 12th century, it meant a

moral, religious and social code of knightly conduct• Many variations of this• Usually came down to three

areas:• Duties to countrymen and fellow

Christians• Courage, mercy, protection of poor, etc.• Duties to God• Help good win out over evil• Duties to women(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry)

http://www.confederatecolonel.com/2011/07/not-all-women-appreciate-chivalry/

Chivalric Romance• “A narrative set in a world of

pure wish fulfillment, where the ordinary laws of nature are suspended, and where idealized and superhuman heroes …conquer the forces of evil” (158)• Very popular in higher social

circles during the medieval period• Often includes a knight errant on

a heroic quest to prove himself• Damsels in distress, dragons,

knights, etc.• Tied to French culture, but often

taking place in Britain• 1066!!!

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChivalricRomance