King Arthur of Britain is an iconic figure in legend and history. No definitive evidence has proven his existence, he remains a key figure in the history, myth, literature, art and culture of the Western world.
Background and Lore
If Arthur existed, he most likely was a ruler who fought to repel Germanic invaders of England in the 5th and 6th Century. While later English writers such as Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century and Thomas Mallory in the 15th century wrote of Arthur assuming that he was real, modern historians are not so sure. What remains consistent in retellings of the story of Arthur is the proof of his legitimacy in being able to pull a sword from a stone, an advice-giving wizard named Merlin, a group of loyal warriors known as the Knights of the Round Table, the quest for the Holy Grail, and a magic sword named Excalibur. Whether Arthur existed or not, his myth served as inspiration and justification for the rule of several English monarchs.
King Arthur Literary Evolution
Notable King Arthur Films
The majority of the following links are to IMDb, which has pop-ups
1967: Camelot (Film Musical)
1981: Excalibur
1995: First Knight
1998: Merlin (TV miniseries)
2004: King Arthur
2007: The Last Legion
References
Fast Facts
-
Earliest Appearances
5th-6th Century A.D.
-
Fact:
Multiple versions of the legend exist
-
Fact:
Has inspired countless films, operas, novels, plays and TV shows
-
Fact:
His scabbard was supposedly blessed to keep him from bleeding in battle
-
Fact:
Excalibur was a gift from the Lady of the Lake
