Search results
King Arthur (Welsh: Brenin Arthur, Cornish: Arthur Gernow, Breton: Roue Arzhur, French: Roi Arthur), according to legends, was a king of Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain .
May 28, 2024 · King Arthur, legendary British king who appears in a cycle of medieval romances as the sovereign of a knightly fellowship of the Round Table. It is not certain how these legends originated or whether the figure of Arthur was based on a historical person.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- King Arthur is a legendary British king who appears in a series of stories and medieval romances as the leader of a knightly fellowship called the...
- Historians cannot confirm King Arthur’s existence, though some speculate that he was a real warrior who led British armies against Saxon invaders i...
- Stories about King Arthur became popular before the 11th century. Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia regum Britanniae, written between 1135 and 1139,...
- Legends disagree on how Arthur became king, though most involve his famous sword, Excalibur. Some involve Arthur fulfilling a prophecy by pulling E...
- King Arthur was married to Guinevere in most legends. Early traditions of abduction and infidelity follow Guinevere, who in some stories was carrie...
May 12, 2017 · The Arthurian legend of the Knights of the Round Table, Camelot, the Quest for the Holy Grail, the love affair of Lancelot and Guinevere, and the wizard Merlin have informed and inspired literary, musical, and other major artistic visions for centuries.
- Joshua J. Mark
Jun 27, 2024 · Learn about the historical and literary origins of the legendary king of Britain and his knights. Explore the places in Britain that claim a connection to Arthur and his adventures.
- Bob Brooke
May 27, 2024 · Arthurian legend, the body of stories and medieval romances centering on the legendary king Arthur. Medieval writers, especially the French, variously treated stories of Arthur’s birth, the adventures of his knights, and the adulterous love between his knight Sir Lancelot and his queen, Guinevere.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 16, 2017 · Explore the possible historical origins of the legendary King Arthur and his knights in the 5th or 6th century CE Britain. Learn about the sources, the legends, and the controversies surrounding the 'once and future king' of Britain.
Feb 17, 2011 · Explore the origins and evolution of the legendary king of Britain, from Celtic warrior to Christian hero to chivalric icon. Learn how Arthur was invented, reinvented and politicized in different historical and literary contexts.
