The legend of King Arthur

King Arthur is among the most famous literary characters of all time. The legends of Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, Camelot, the Quest for the Holy Grail, Guinevere and Lancelot's Love, and the Sorcerer Merlin have influenced and inspired literature, music, and other great artistic views for centuries. With the Arthurian legend that developed in the Middle Ages in Europe between 1136 and 1485, countless books, great movies, operas, television programs, plays, toys, written games and comics either retell the legend or were inspired by it. revived and still remains popular today.

The great legendary king is based on a real historical figure, most likely from the 5th or 6th century. The reason why it is difficult to describe Arthur as a historical figure stems from the primary sources that first told his story.

There are early stories of Arthur closely related to the British victory over the Saxons at the Battle of Badon Hill, but this does not identify Arthur as the leader of the British. The figure of Ambrosius Aurelianus is given in the earliest sources, making Ambrosius the best candidate as the historical Arthur, but other sources show a man named Arthur as Ambrosius' warlord. It is generally accepted that the legendary Arthur is based on a real figure, but it is unclear who he might be. The most plausible idea is that the legendary Arthur is based on a great historical warrior named Arthur.

The claim that the legendary Arthur is based on a real person is supported by the fact that Arthur is a Welsh name derived from the Roman surname Artorius. It is suggested that the figure of Ambrosius Aurelianus may have been given the name Artorius. Roman names were widely used in England from the conquest under Claudius in 43 AD.

Rome began to withdraw its troops in the 3rd century AD to protect the empire from barbarian invaders. The severity of these troubles had been increasing for about 200 years until the 5th century AD, and Rome was constantly reducing its military headquarters in England as it needed troops on the continent. In the same year, the Goths plundered Rome. By 410, all Roman troops had withdrawn from England.

Rome's decision to remove its troops left the people of England vulnerable to invaders. The Roman army, deployed along Hadrian's Wall and other areas, had been the protector of the English for over 300 years. With the withdrawal of Roman forces, the Northern Picts and Scots saw opportunity and then moved to English farms and villages. They made raids.

At the same time, the Saxon confederation broke up across the continent, and Saxon immigrants and looters began to appear on England's southeast coast.

 When no help came from Rome, an English King named Vortigern invited the Saxons to join forces in order to repel the Scots and Picts. The Saxons accepted the offer, but when they defeated the invaders, they would remain in England. According to the historian Gildas (500-570 AD), Bede (672-735 AD), and Nennius (9th century AD), the Saxon exodus was an invasion in which England was constantly plundered (a claim disputed by modern scholars).

 At the same time a great English leader emerged, rallying the people around him and defeating the Saxons at the Battle of Badon Hill. This hero was named Ambrosius Aurelianus by Gildas and Bede, Arthur by the historian Nennius, who was the first to mention his name. Arthur was already before the work of Nennius. seems to be well known. The Welsh poem Y Goddodin, a lament for the warriors who fell at the Battle of Catraeth in AD 600, speaks of him as a great hero. Although extant manuscripts date only from the 13th century AD, the work is thought to have been composed shortly after the war.

It is clear from the foreword to The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth (1100 -1155 CE) that Arthur was considered a great king in his day, but Geoffrey's work would have elevated him to legendary status.