King Arthur

King Arthur

1101 郑迦予10508178 1、Historical Arthur

The historical basis of King Arthur is a source of considerable debate among historians. If there is a historical basis to the character, it is clear that he would have gained fame as a warrior battling the Germanic invaders of the late fifth and early sixth centuries. King Arthur united the British and drove the Saxons back with his magical sword. In addition, he was presented as a military leader in early Latin history book. Some details ware also pointed out both the location of Camelot and Arthur's final resting place of Avalon which was said near to Hadrian's Wal l①.

Since there is no conclusive evidence for or against Arthur's historicity, the debate will continue. But what cannot be denied is the influence of the figure of Arthur on literature, art, music, and society from the Middle Ages to the present.

2、Legendary Arthur

King Arthur is a mythic figure at the heart of the Arthurian legend. According to legendary stories, Arthur was the bastard of the king of England. Arthur was brought up secretly by an ordinary man. When he grew up, he got the supernatural sword from the stone. Since then he was made sure the king of England. Then he defeated the barbarians in a dozen battles and conquered a wide empire. However, once he returned home from a war with the Romans, he found Guinevere, the queen, committed adultery with one of his best knights---Sir Lancelot. What’s more, during this time, his nephew Mordred had raised the standard of rebellion. From then on, King Arthur’s final battle took place.

In the end, Arthur slew Mordred, but he was also gravely wounded. Thereupon, King Arthur asked his last knight to drew the sword into the lake where it came from, then he was gone forever from the world.

3、The Meeting of The Round Table

According to the story, when King Arthur married Queen Guenevere, her father gave him a round table as dowry that can accommodate 150 people which called “The Winchester Round Table”. Every year since then, Arthur’ s most trusted knights will be gathered in the castle of Camelot. The round table symbolized love and equality. Therefore, any knights seated at the round table would not find a lower status than other, everyone who sat around it were equals. And they won’t feel aggrieved.

4、The knights of The Round Table

King Arthur’s twelve major knights called the knights of the round table. They lived by a code of chivalry built on courage, honor, dignity, courtesy, nobleness and respect. In the fellowship of the round table, all of them were treated equally. Loyalty was owed to the God and king. They protected ladies and damsels, honored and fought for king, and undertook dangerous quests. Truth and love were seen as worth dying for.

References:

①Hunt, August. 2010. King Arthur: Shadows in the Mist. London: BM Avalonia Published.