The legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have, it seems existed since his supposed life in the fifth or sixth century. To understand the evidence and then to make a decision on his existence, we have to trust the writings of the time or in this case, the recordings of a Welsh monk by the name of Nennius who first mentions Arthur in the ninth century. So, already we are relying on someone who is writing about a person living 300 years before. That is not out of the question but you would suppose it rests on a great deal of the passing down of folk tales. And anyone who has played Chinese Whispers will know how quickly the message is misreported.
However, a number of battles are reported which we believe may have taken place and who Arthur has been associated with. Arthur is mentioned a few times in manuscripts written in the tenth and eleventh centuries. But, it would be Geoffrey of Monmouth writing in the twelfth century that brings the legend alive. It is here that we learn of Merlin, Guinevere and the fabulous and magical sword Excalibur. Earlier texts describe Arthur as a warrior chief or as a commander fighting off the Saxons. But Geoffrey has promoted him to king.
Once these characters and basic storyline had been written down, others followed, all adding something to the legend. Hence, we have the home of Arthur Camelot appearing along with Sir Lancelot and the other Knights of the Round Table. But, it would be “Le Morte d’Arthur” by Thomas Malory in the fifteenth century who would bring it all together in the form that we know today.
It is of course a great story which has lived on in many book adaptations, including this author, and in a lot of movies. Whether you choose to believe in the whole story or a part of it, is up to your judgment. Personally, I think there is some truth to the legend of Arthur. I believe there was such a warlord who perhaps brought some of the tribes of England together in order to fight the Saxons. I think there is evidence for that. But, I have to admit, would it not be a great thing if we found out that all the legends and stories around King Arthur were true?
John Pullen 