Who is this guy Arthur, anyway?

Facts• No hard evidence of a historical Arthur• Solely recorded in chronicles

– Geoffrey of Monmouth– Nennius– Gallet (Breton)– Bonedd yr Arwr (Welsh)

• Nearly all chroniclers claim Arthur as their own

Myth vs. Fact

• What’s the difference?– Myth has no proof

• relies on faith much of the time– Fact has at least partial proof

• Often myths are based on fact– Event or person is real– Becomes larger than life through retelling

Myth vs. Fact

• Myths based on fact– Jesus Christ

• depending on your POV– Daniel Boone– Davy Crockett

• Myths not based on fact– Paul Bunyan– Urban legends

• Poodle in the microwave, etc.

So Which Is Arthur?

• Grey area• Some evidence of a historical figure

– Battle of Badon Hill• defeated Germanic tribes

– Battle of Camlann• death of Arthur

– British ruler fighting in Gaul– British high or battle king

Geographical Evidence

• Stonehenge• Tintagel• Arthur’s Seat• Cadbury Castle• Merlin’s Cave• Carleton• Glastonbury Abbey and Tor

Bamburgh Castle

Arthur’s Seat

CarletonGlastonbury Abbey

Tintagel Castle

Tintagel

• Supposed place of Arthur’s birth– Geoffrey of

Monmouth– Local legend

Tintagel

Tintagel

Glastonbury

• Supposedly founded by Joseph of Arimathea

• Housed Holy Grail• Site of Avalon• Arthur’s burial place

Glastonbury

Glastonbury

http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/see/360/glastonbury/index.shtml

Carleton

• Arthur’s chief city– According to Geoffrey

• Central circle called “Round Table”• Current site

– Roman amphitheatre– Roman buildings

• bath houses• barracks

Cadbury Castle

• Associated with Camelot– John Leland, 16th century

• Iron-age fort• Refortified near end of

Roman Occupation

When Did Arthur Exist (If Ever)?

• Period between– 420 CE (Rome leaves)– 540 CE (Gildas)

• Celts– Had a “high king”

• may have been war king– Administered defense of Britain

When Did Arthur Exist (If Ever)?

• Superlative victory at Mt. Badon– Under Celtic High King– Stemmed (temporarily) Anglo-Saxon advance– Chroniclers associate with Arthur– May have instituted brief period of peace

• Camelot era?• Time of leisure and development?

Arthur’s Actions

• Continent– British war leader definitely went to Gaul

(modern France)– Fought Germans and/or Roman legions– Returned to Britain because of civil war

• regent claimed high kingship for his own

Arthur’s Actions

• Corresponds to:– Arthur’s campaign against Lancelot

• In “Lower Britain”– Probably Brittany

– Mordred’s betrayal• Imprisoning Guinevere• Seizing kingdom

– Arthur’s death