Thomas Malory's King Arthur and Knights of Medieval Times
Who was King Arthur? Was he an historical figure or just a myth as many believe and how does his life compare with those of medieval times. How does the history of Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries relate to his legend. His life story was written about by Geoffry of Monmonth in 1138 and again by Sir Thomas Malory in 1486 as well as many others including Alfred Lord Tennyson. Each writer surely embellished his life, adding to the myth and legend. Separating fact from fiction can be extremely difficult as this King Arthur lived during the Dark Ages and not much tangible evidence is left of that period. The real story of his life would surely be much less glamorous. How would his …show more content…
Very possibly his name was Arturus. (Goodrich pg.4) Recently in Germany an Arthurian manuscript was discovered that told of a religious service involving King Arthur as a participant. (Goodrich pg.5) Was Arthur a christian king? Saint Gildas who was a contemporary of King Arthur wrote of the historical events of his life (Goodrich pg.13). So King Arthur was a real person in history. He was not a man of the middle ages or the age of chivalry, (Goodrich pg. 9). His father was one Uther Pendragon, said to be a descendant of Constantine the Great, so he would have been a Roman on his father's side. His mother was Igraine the wife of the King of Cornwall (Goodrich pg. 15). He then was British on his mother's side. It is said in legend that Uther Pendragon was in love with another man's wife and that through subterfuge with Merlin's assistance transformed himself into the likeness of his love's husband and thereby conceiving Arthur. It is also said that as payment for Merlin's help Uther agreed to give the child to Merlin to raise. It is very probable that this is one of those embellishments written of by Thomas Malory and Goeffry of Monmouth as this does not stand the test of probabilities. Geoffry Ashe states in his book The Quest for Arthur's Britain, that “Merlin was an invention of Geoffry of Monmouth but he is not completely devoid of fact, however his legendary role is …show more content…
King Arthur fought the Saxons in their invasion of what was then called Britannia. His first battle was at the mouth of the river Glein. His second, third, fourth, and fifth battles were fought on the banks of another river called Dubaglas in a region called Linnuis. His sixth battle was on a river called Bassas. His seventh battle was in the woods of Celidon. His eighth battle was by the Castle Guinnion. His ninth battle was in the city of the Legion. His tenth battle was on the banks of a river called Tribruit. His eleventh battle was fought at Agned Hill. His twelfth battle at mount Badon. His thirteenth and final battle in which he was mortally wounded was called the battle of Camlan . It is written of this battle that while he was away for an extended time Mordred, his son-nephew by his half sister Mordaces, had taken over his kingdom and his wife. King Arthur then returned to do battle with Mordred where both were mortally wounded (Ashe pg. 56). It is also written in documents of the Dark Ages that his wife went to spend her remaining years in a nunnery after Arthur's
Who was King Arthur? Was he an historical figure or just a myth as many believe and how does his life compare with those of medieval times. How does the history of Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries relate to his legend. His life story was written about by Geoffry of Monmonth in 1138 and again by Sir Thomas Malory in 1486 as well as many others including Alfred Lord Tennyson. Each writer surely embellished his life, adding to the myth and legend. Separating fact from fiction can be extremely difficult as this King Arthur lived during the Dark Ages and not much tangible evidence is left of that period. The real story of his life would surely be much less glamorous. How would his …show more content…
Very possibly his name was Arturus. (Goodrich pg.4) Recently in Germany an Arthurian manuscript was discovered that told of a religious service involving King Arthur as a participant. (Goodrich pg.5) Was Arthur a christian king? Saint Gildas who was a contemporary of King Arthur wrote of the historical events of his life (Goodrich pg.13). So King Arthur was a real person in history. He was not a man of the middle ages or the age of chivalry, (Goodrich pg. 9). His father was one Uther Pendragon, said to be a descendant of Constantine the Great, so he would have been a Roman on his father's side. His mother was Igraine the wife of the King of Cornwall (Goodrich pg. 15). He then was British on his mother's side. It is said in legend that Uther Pendragon was in love with another man's wife and that through subterfuge with Merlin's assistance transformed himself into the likeness of his love's husband and thereby conceiving Arthur. It is also said that as payment for Merlin's help Uther agreed to give the child to Merlin to raise. It is very probable that this is one of those embellishments written of by Thomas Malory and Goeffry of Monmouth as this does not stand the test of probabilities. Geoffry Ashe states in his book The Quest for Arthur's Britain, that “Merlin was an invention of Geoffry of Monmouth but he is not completely devoid of fact, however his legendary role is …show more content…
King Arthur fought the Saxons in their invasion of what was then called Britannia. His first battle was at the mouth of the river Glein. His second, third, fourth, and fifth battles were fought on the banks of another river called Dubaglas in a region called Linnuis. His sixth battle was on a river called Bassas. His seventh battle was in the woods of Celidon. His eighth battle was by the Castle Guinnion. His ninth battle was in the city of the Legion. His tenth battle was on the banks of a river called Tribruit. His eleventh battle was fought at Agned Hill. His twelfth battle at mount Badon. His thirteenth and final battle in which he was mortally wounded was called the battle of Camlan . It is written of this battle that while he was away for an extended time Mordred, his son-nephew by his half sister Mordaces, had taken over his kingdom and his wife. King Arthur then returned to do battle with Mordred where both were mortally wounded (Ashe pg. 56). It is also written in documents of the Dark Ages that his wife went to spend her remaining years in a nunnery after Arthur's