King Arthur He is one of the characters in history that has attracted the attention of people for generations. His deeds, his bravery, his chivalry, the mysticism that surrounds him, including Merlin the wizard, and his famous round table are part of what enchants so many.
In this article you will find the story of King Arthur summarized and with shocking images.
Origin of the legend of King Arthur
The legend of King Arthur begins at the beginning of the Middle Ages. In this period England was not yet considered a country, it was known as the kingdom of the Britons.
This kingdom was constantly attacked by invaders from Saxons, Angles and together, Germanic tribes from southern Scandinavia.
Statue of King Arthur on the cliffs of Tintagel, overlooking the ruins of its castle
According to tradition, King Arthur was in charge of stopping the constant invaders from entering the southwest of Great Britain, and therefore he was in charge of being the defender and protector of the Britons from their enemies.
Thanks to Arthur’s bravery and battle-winning skills, Britain continued to belong to the Britons for a time.
Transmission of the legend of Arthur to the present day
The story of King Arthur was initially transmitted through minstrels who went from town to town entertaining people with stories, songs of deeds and lyrical compositions, in exchange for money.
Later, during the Late Middle Ages, the story of Arthur began to be transmitted through writings. This has caused its story to grow and change over the years.
One of the first books to mention Arturo was titled History of the British (History Brittonum)written by a monk named Nennius in the year 830. In this book Nennius talks about, and even lists, the battles led by a king named Arthur.
Already in the 11th century the book The history of the kings of Great Britain (Historia Regum Britanniae) written, in the 11th century by Geoffrey of Monmouthdescribes Arturo’s entire life from his birth to his death.
Taken from: researchgate
One of the most famous ancient books about King Arthur is Thomas Malory titled The Death of Arthur (Le Morte D’Arthur). Most of the stories about King Arthur that we know today are based on this book. It was written in 1485 and contains a collection of Arthurian stories that Malory combined and reworked. The stories come from France and England and cover the birth, life and death of Arthur.
Summary of the story of King Arthur
King Arthur is known to this day and his character is identified with values of justice, bravery and courage. Let’s look at an important part of his history, from his birth until he marries his wife Geneva.
The birth of Arthur
Arthur’s father was a king of Great Britain called Uther Pendragon. Uther was a good king and his country was at peace for much of his reign. However, Uther was worried that he had not yet had a son to inherit his crown.
Uther met a woman named Igraine and he fell in love with her, but Igraine was married to a duke. So, to be with Igraine, Uther invited all the nobles to a great party at her castle, which Igraine and her husband attended.
Uther took the opportunity to chase Igraine all night. When Igraine’s husband noticed him, he became angry and left with his wife without saying anything to the king. This upset Uther greatly because no one had left a banquet given by the king without obtaining permission from her, which led Uther to war against Igraine’s husband.
While the battle was going on, Uther asked Marline He helps with Igraine because he was madly in love with her, and Merlin agreed. Uther promised Merlin to give him the son that would arise as a result of her meeting with Igraine.
Then Merlin changed Uther’s appearance so that he looked just like Igraine’s husband. Uther entered the castle where Igraine lived, posed as her husband and spent that night with her. After this meeting came news that Igraine’s husband had died in battle. It was not long before Uther and Igraine were married.
From their meeting that night, a baby was born, whom they named Arturo. Uther and Igraine kept their promise, giving the baby to Merlin, who in turn gave him to Sir Ector to raise. Merlin did not reveal to Sir Ector who the boy was.
When Uther died, shortly after handing over Arthur, and not knowing heir to his throne, a fight began in the country because everyone wanted to become the new king.
Arthur becomes King
Sir Ector did not treat Arthur well and especially his son, Sir Kay, constantly mocked him.
As Arthur grew older, Merlin began to visit him and teach him many things, but primarily he taught him that knowledge is more important than strength. Merlin wanted Arthur to become a wise king who could reunite all the groups that were fighting for the crown after Uther’s death.
Due to all the fighting that was happening in those lands, the English nobles went in search of Merlin’s help. What Merlin did was stick a sword into an anvil, and then place it on top of a rock. Then he told them that Whoever could pull the sword from the anvil would be the new king.
Although many men tried to draw the sword, none could do so.
When he was fifteen years old, Arthur went with Merlin to visit the sword that was in the stone. That day there was a large crowd and many people came by to try to draw the sword, including Sir Kay. When it was Arthur’s turn, he pulled the sword from the anvil with great ease and was declared the new king..
Arturo marries Guinevere
At the end of one of the battles that Arthur fought, he wanted to rest and spend the night in a local castle. Although Merlin tried to dissuade him, Arthur stayed in that castle that night.
While he was sleeping, Arthur heard the sound of a harp. Intrigued by the origin of that music, he followed it to its origin and found the person who played it: Geneva. Upon seeing her, Arturo thought that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and he was determined to marry her.
Merlin told King Arthur that Guinevere would bring him a lot of trouble, but he didn’t care. Arthur asked Guinevere’s father for her permission to marry her and he granted it. Shortly afterward they were married.
King Arthur’s sword
Arthur broke his old sword, the one he had taken from the stone, in his last battle. Then Merlin, worried about Arthur’s safety, decided to help him get a new sword and took him to a magical lake that had an island called Avalon.
Taken from: good
On that island lived the Lady of the Lake, although according to Malory there were two women he called that way. The Lady of the Lake gave Arthur a magic sword, the sword was named Excalibur.
This sword could cut iron and steel, but the most impressive thing was that the scabbard (which is the sheath where the sword is kept when you are not using it) would protect Arthur from any wounds he suffered. Merlin warned Arthur that he should always keep the scabbard at his side for protection.
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
This is a major component of the story of King Arthur, his knights and the way they sat arguing at this famous table that was in Camelot.
Roundtable
As a gift for your wedding, LodegreanceGuinevere’s father, presented Arthur with a round table. This table had originally been a gift from Uther, Arthur’s father, to Lodegrance.
Arturo was very happy with this gift because all his knights could sit in it and because, in addition, they could discuss things as equals since there was no headboard.
Each of the seats had the name of the gentleman who would sit there, although there was one seat that did not have a name. This seat was meant for the greatest knight in the world, and if any unworthy knight sat there, he would die.
Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table
A knight was expected to have the strength and skills to face combat in the violent Middle Ages, as well as temper this aggressive side with a chivalrous side.
Although there was no authentic Code of Chivalry For King Arthur’s Knights, there was some kind of moral system that went beyond the rules of combat and introduced the concept of chivalric conduct. These qualities were bravery, courtesy, honor and gallantry towards women.
Below we present the main knights of King Arthur’s round table, apart from him:
Sir Lancelot
It was him First Knight of the Round Table, never failed in his kindness, courage and courtesy. Sir Lancelot was the son of King Ban of Benwick and Queen Elaine.
Sir Lancelot was abandoned as a child on the shore of the Lake, where he was found by a Lady of the Lake, who cared for him as if he were her own and trained him to be one of the greatest knights in history.
Sir Percival
Although he was raised by his mother in ignorance of weapons and courtesy, due to his education he was one of the kindest and most innocent knights of the Round Table. The natural skill of this knight took him to Arthur’s court and as soon as he arrived there he set out in search of the knight who had offended Queen Guinevere at the time.
Percival was the knight who obtained the Holy Grailor one of the Grail Knights, in numerous medieval and modern stories recounting the famous quest for the Holy Grail.
Sir Gawain
He was the nephew of King Arthur. His parents were King Lot of Orkney and Morgause (although in some stories his mother is Anna). After King Lot Gawain died he became chief of the Orkney clan. This clan included his brothers Gaheris, Agravain, Gareth and his half-brother Mordred.
Just like Lancelot, Gawain is also known as the greatest knight of the Round Table.
Sir Galahad
Sir Galahad was the son of Sir Lancelot and Elaine. Galahad was brought to King Arthur’s court where he sat in the dangerous seat (the vacant seat at the Round Table reserved for the Knight who would one day succeed in recovering the Holy Grail).
Galahad was always known as the “Perfect Knight”, perfect in courage, gentleness, courtesy and chivalry.
Sir Kay
He was the son of Sir Ector and the adopted brother of King Arthur. At times, Sir Kay was unpredictable and had a cruel and violent temper, but he was Arthur’s guardian and one of his most faithful companions.
With Sir Bedivere, Sir Kay had many adventures, including killing both the Giant of St. Michael’s Mount and Wrnach the Giant.
In the stories Kay is recorded as a very tall man and a fierce warrior, as shown by his epithet, the tall.
Sir Tristan
He was the king’s nephew…