Arthur's Legacy and Influence
Arthur was a legendary figure of medieval Britain who became one of its greatest warriors, knights, and kings. He is credited with defeating giants, witches, and monsters and for founding the kingdom of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. He also became a powerful source of morality for writers and was an inspiration to many of England's rulers throughout history.
The Origins of King Arthur
The origins of the story of King Arthur are uncertain, but some sources suggest he may have been a Roman-affiliated military leader who killed Saxon invaders during the 5th to 6th centuries. The legend took on many embellishments and mutations as it spread across Europe, reflecting cultural intermingling, political influences, and writers' imaginations.
Early References to King Arthur
Early references to King Arthur include the Historia Britonum, written in 830 by Nennius, and the Annales Cambriae (Books of the Welsh), which was compiled in the 10th century by Lifris of Llancarfan and contains many stories about Arthur's adventures. Other writers, like Geoffrey of Monmouth, popularized the Arthurian legend.
Arthur's Battles with the Saxons
A Saxon invasion in the late fifth and early sixth centuries led to a number of battles involving King Arthur and his army. The British army fought back and won. These victories were immortalized in the vitae ("Lives") of sixth-century saints, such as Illtud and Gildas, and in the 12th-century Life of Cadoc.
Arthur as a Symbol of Christianity
The legend of King Arthur was told through poetry and prose, with some authors attempting to capture the essence of ancient Celtic society in their writings. In some cases, Arthur was portrayed as a god-bearing hero who fought for the Christian faith and against pagans and other non-Christians.
Arthur as a Hero for Britons
Some writers, such as Thomas Malory, drew upon the Arthurian legend to advance a particular religious or political agenda. In the early medieval period, Britons needed a hero to fight off the Saxons and restore Christianity to their land. To fulfill this need, historians blending fact and fiction created Arthur to serve as the ideal hero for the era.
Arthur's Leadership and the Knights of the Round Table
Despite the deception and adultery that characterize much of the story, Arthur was a successful leader who defeated the Saxons, establishing a thriving chivalric order and forming a powerful, unified kingdom. He also married Guinevere and founded the Knights of the Round Table, a group of noblemen who served at his court and who vowed to obey his Pentecostal oath as a guide for their knightly conduct.
The Sword in the Stone
The kingdom flourished, but an evil fairy enchanted Arthur's chief knight, Lancelot, and turned him into an adulterer with Guinevere. This event inspired the story of the Sword in the Stone, a prophecy that said whoever could pull out the sword would be the rightful king. Several powerful nobles tried to pull the sword from the stone, but none succeeded until Arthur.
The Symbolic Meaning of the Sword in the Stone
The Sword in the Stone was a powerful symbol for Arthur because it signified that he was born to rule, whereas most others were not. It was a way of showing the people that he was a true king, and not just a commoner.
