Andrew Breeze, <I>British Battles 494-937: Mount Badon To

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Andrew Breeze, <I>British Battles 494-937: Mount Badon To Mediaevistik 33 . 2020 395 and estates in the ninth and tenth centu- events both geographically and contextu- ries. The book provides an almost over- ally and better explain their significance. whelming amount of information about This work is not a cohesive study of early the sources for early medieval Milan and medieval Britain or British military histo- the scholarship engendered by them. Balz- ry, but does supply important additional aretti’s microhistorical approach to the information about the selected battles and charters of Sant-Ambrogio is successful demonstrates that Breeze’s method provi- in demonstrating the political, social, and des a sound approach for locating histori- economic complexity of Lombardy in this cal events with greater accuracy. period. While this study does not offer a Breeze’s first three examples cover new paradigm for treating charters as his- Arthurian battles from the sixth century. torical sources, as Barbara Rosenwein’s To In these studies, Breeze brings together Be the Neighbor of St. Peter: The Social recent scholarship and contemporary ac- Meaning of Cluny’s Property, 909‒1049 counts, along with examinations of Welsh did in 1989, it nonetheless demonstrates place-names and even the hydronyms the potential of these formulaic documents included in the names of these battle to to “shed light on the histories of ‘ordinary’ provide a clearer picture of the history of people in ways in which few other sorts of Britain during this period. Breeze locates evidence do for this period” (p. 24). the Battle of Mount Badon near Braydon in Scott G. Bruce, Wiltshire. He argues that the Britons in this Department of History, Dealy Hall 614, battle were commanded by Ambrosius Au- Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458; relianus, not Arthur, while at the same time sbruce3@fordham.edu asserting that Arthur was a historical figu- re, a Celtic chieftain from northern Britain, and even suggesting his likely burial place. The next three battles examined are Andrew Breeze, British Battles 494- all Celtic conflicts that predate the era of 937: Mount Badon to Brunanburh. New Viking raids. Breeze offers more precise York: Anthem Press, 2020, 140p. details about all of these battles, not only This book provides a valuable and detailed their locations, but also the identities of investigation of the locations of some im- important participants. This work helps portant battles in early medieval British better explain the significance of these history. More focused on the battlefields battles within the broader context of the than the battles themselves, it questions characters and dynasties that shaped Bri- the traditional sites and names for thirteen tish history during this period. major battles, with the goal of providing The third part of the book covers four students and scholars of Anglo-Saxon his- closely related battles in northern Bri- tory with a more precise understanding of tain from the mid seventh century, the these conflicts. The book builds on Bree- battles of Hatfield, Hexham, Maserfelth, ze’s previous work on early English women and Uinued. These chapters particular- and Dark Age Christianity and showcases ly showcase Breeze’s ability to trace the his philological methodology of re-analy- Latin, Welsh, and even hybrid etymolo- zing British and Welsh names in tandem gies of the names given to these battles to with the topography. This method enables determine more accurately their location, him to locate more accurately historical such as in one instance, he identifies a applyparastyle “fig//caption/p[1]” parastyle “FigCapt” 396 Mediaevistik 33 . 2020 2020 specific hill. These explanations illustra- to establish parameters that will encoura- te both the strategies used by the generals ge archaeological research at the sites that commanding the armies and the broader he identifies. If investigations had already historical importance of these conflicts. uncovered significant material evidence 00 The final chapters of this book analyze to locate the battles at these sites, Breeze’s three battles fought between the Saxons research would be unnecessary. As he ack- 00 and the Vikings. In these examples, nowledges, many of his conclusions, such Breeze demonstrates how to combine his as those about the Battle of Badon, are not 1 philological studies of battle names with wholly new, but they are significantly more local material evidence. He highlights the precise and better substantiated than ear- page 396 presence of a Saxon stone cross at one site, lier arguments that proposed similar loca- archaeological discoveries indicating a tions. In the case of the battles of Arthuret mass grave at another, as well as the stra- and Maserfelth, Breeze offers some of the 2020 tegic concerns of the Vikings, to support most precise locations for early medieval his proposed locations of these battles. battlefields in British history. His work not The findings of this book are fascinating only supplies more accurate explanations and Breeze’s interrogation and combinati- of the strategies of early medieval British on of different types of evidence is extre- generals and the location and importance mely impressive. In carrying out this work of these battles, but gives historians a bet- he has deployed his extensive knowledge ter sense of the authenticity of the literary of the different languages and linguistic sources that previously comprised the cultures that shaped British culture during main evidence for the locations and dates this period and any available textual evi- of these conflicts. dence about the battles, as well as previ- While Breeze successfully defends the ous scholarship, both contemporary and validity of his methodology, he has also pre-modern. With the rare exception of the missed an opportunity to show how the- second chapter, in which his argument for se findings might reshape Anglo-Saxon Arthur’s burial place is dangerously reli- history more broadly. Thirteen is a lar- ant on an argument from silence, and his ge number of case studies when Breeze somewhat clumsy comparisons of these does not provide a clearer explanation of battles to Agincourt, Waterloo, and twen- his decision to include each one. Many tieth-century ethnic cleansings, his con- of these chapters are also quite old. Half clusions are generally the cautious results were written previously, five or even eigh- of a thorough investigation of the evidence teen years ago. Those readers interested in woven together into a plausible narrative. this topic would surely appreciate a more At one point he memorably eviscerates unified study that demonstrates how his Catherine Clarke’s more cavalier approach approach has changed our knowledge of to interpreting Bede’s account of the batt- early medieval British history and gene- le of Drythelm in her 2006 work Literary ralship. Perhaps this distinguished scholar Landscapes and the Idea of England (80). will make that project his next endeavor. While more support from archaeologi- Richard Allington, cal and material evidence, best displayed in Eastern New Mexico University, Station the later chapters, would strengthen Bree- 19, 1500 S Ave K, Portales, NM 88130 ze’s arguments, in most cases he is trying richard.allington@enmu.edu.
Recommended publications
  • THE HISTORIAN England 932 AD A
    THE HISTORIAN England 932 A.D. A Kingdom divided. To the West- the Anglo Saxons, to the East- the French. Above nothing but Celts and some people from Scotland. In Gwynned, Powys, and Dyfed - Plague. In the kingdoms of Wessex, Sussex, and Essex and Kent - Plague. In Mercia and the two Anglias - Plague: with a 50% chance of pestilence and famine coming out of the Northeast at twelve miles per hour. Legend tells of an extraordinary leader, who arose from the chaos, to unite a troubled kingdom ... A man with a vision who gathered Knights together in a Holy Quest. This man was Arthur, King of the Britons ! And so, King Arthur gathered more Knights together, bringing from all the corners of the Kingdom the strongest and bravest in the land to sit at the Round Table. The strangely flatulent Sir Bedevere… The dashingly handsome Sir Galahad ...The homicidally brave Sir Lancelot ... Sir Robin the Not-quite-so-brave-as-Sir- Lancelot ... who slew the vicious chicken of Bristol and who personally wet himself at the Battle of Badon Hill. And the aptly named Sir Not-Appearing-in-this- Show. Together they formed a band whose names and deeds were to be retold throughout the Centuries ... The Knights of the Round Table! KING ARTHUR Hail good sir. I am Arthur, king of the Britons lord and ruler of all of England, and Scotland and even tiny little bits of Gaul. We have ridden the length and breadth of the land in search of knights to join me in my court at Camelot.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction: the Legend of King Arthur
    Department of History University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire “HIC FACET ARTHURUS, REX QUONDAM, REXQUE FUTURUS” THE ANALYSIS OF ORIGINAL MEDIEVAL SOURCES IN THE SEARCH FOR THE HISTORICAL KING ARTHUR Final Paper History 489: Research Seminar Professor Thomas Miller Cooperating Professor: Professor Matthew Waters By Erin Pevan November 21, 2006 1 Copyright for this work is owned by the author. This digital version is published by McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with the consent of the author. 2 Department of History University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Abstract of: “HIC FACET ARTHURUS, REX QUONDAM, REXQUE FUTURUS” THE ANALYSIS OF ORIGINAL MEDIEVAL SOURCES IN THE SEARCH FOR THE HISTORICAL KING ARTHUR Final Paper History 489: Research Seminar Professor Thomas Miller Cooperating Professor: Matthew Waters By Erin Pevan November 21, 2006 The stories of Arthurian literary tradition have provided our modern age with gripping tales of chivalry, adventure, and betrayal. King Arthur remains a hero of legend in the annals of the British Isles. However, one question remains: did King Arthur actually exist? Early medieval historical sources provide clues that have identified various figures that may have been the template for King Arthur. Such candidates such as the second century Roman general Lucius Artorius Castus, the fifth century Breton leader Riothamus, and the sixth century British leader Ambrosius Aurelianus hold high esteem as possible candidates for the historical King Arthur. Through the analysis of original sources and authors such as the Easter Annals, Nennius, Bede, Gildas, and the Annales Cambriae, parallels can be established which connect these historical figures to aspects of the Arthur of literary tradition.
    [Show full text]
  • Byzantium and France: the Twelfth Century Renaissance and the Birth of the Medieval Romance
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 12-1992 Byzantium and France: the Twelfth Century Renaissance and the Birth of the Medieval Romance Leon Stratikis University of Tennessee - Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Part of the Modern Languages Commons Recommended Citation Stratikis, Leon, "Byzantium and France: the Twelfth Century Renaissance and the Birth of the Medieval Romance. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 1992. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/2521 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact trace@utk.edu. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Leon Stratikis entitled "Byzantium and France: the Twelfth Century Renaissance and the Birth of the Medieval Romance." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Modern Foreign Languages. Paul Barrette, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: James E. Shelton, Patrick Brady, Bryant Creel, Thomas Heffernan Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation by Leon Stratikis entitled Byzantium and France: the Twelfth Century Renaissance and the Birth of the Medieval Romance.
    [Show full text]
  • Reconsidering the Origins of the Arthurian Legend Rae Marie Marotta '00 Illinois Wesleyan University
    Illinois Wesleyan University Digital Commons @ IWU Honors Projects English 2000 The oP wer of Perception and Origin Myth: Reconsidering the Origins of the Arthurian Legend Rae Marie Marotta '00 Illinois Wesleyan University Recommended Citation Marotta '00, Rae Marie, "The Power of Perception and Origin Myth: Reconsidering the Origins of the Arthurian Legend" (2000). Honors Projects. Paper 7. http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/eng_honproj/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Ames Library, the Andrew W. Mellon Center for Curricular and Faculty Development, the Office of the Provost and the Office of the President. It has been accepted for inclusion in Digital Commons @ IWU by the faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@iwu.edu. ©Copyright is owned by the author of this document. rmarotta: 7 1 Contemporary Theories and Arthur's Historical Prototypes "On the basic issue ofArthur's identity, there need never have been any mystery at all." -Geoffrey Ashe Riothamusl Geoffrey Ashe has made the most recent attempt to find a historical prototype of Arthur. According to Ashe, Arthur's history is more than just a medley of yams, more than just a saga in the" dream time" myth. It puts him within a definite period. It names definite places, and takes him to definite countries .... This is not to say that the official history is true. As it stands, it isn't. But its fullness and firmness, and its power of shaping a consensus, justify a search for the realities behind it. (Discovery 3) For Ashe, there is no need to consider the possibility that Arthur's roots are legendary.
    [Show full text]
  • S-3975 Kingarthur
    18 KING ARTHUR : A CRITICISM. dower, was bur. o.t Thorpe Malsor 1 Mo.rch 1727/8. After her death the estate passed, under the will of her husband's uncle, Robert Maunsell, dat. 19 Jan. 1704/5,IO to the testator's "cousin Thomas Maunsell (son of cousin John· Maunsell, of Ireland, :Eeq., commonly called Captain Maunsell) for his life," with rem. to his sons in tail male. This Thomas Maunsell (who was youngest son of Captain John Maunsell, a younger son of Thomas, the emigrant to Ireland in 1609, who was a younger brother of John Mo.unsell, the purchaser, in 1622, of the Thorpe Malsor estate) took possession of Thorpe Malsor accordingly and died there 27 Sep. 1739, in his 67th year, being ancestor of the Rev. Cecil Henry Maunsell, the present holder.'! [To be continued, with copies of extract& from parish reitisters, will, and other evidences, ou which the additions to the pedigree of 1634 have been 1nostly based.] KING ARTHUR: A CRITICISM. In all the literature of romance there is no more attractive figure than Arthur. The legend haa always had a fascination for me; and many an hour have I spent in vain endeavours to spin from it ever so slender a thread of history; but the task was like making ropes of sand, and I had not the wizard's secret. Eagerly therefore I took up 1'1,,. G"neafogut, hoping that a more cunning hand than mine might prove to have achieved success. Mr. Scott-Gatty's tentative pedigree gives a sad blow to these hopes.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Context for Arthur
    2 HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR ARTHUR THE POST-ROMAN PERIOD The Britons Arthur probably lived during the late fifth and early sixth centuries in a period formerly called the Dark Ages, a term that vividly indicates the scarcity of reliable contemporary written sources. The period has also been termed post-Roman Britain, sub-Roman Britain and the Brittonic Age.1 It was a turbulent time, when the Britons were under threat from foreign peoples: the Irish, the Picts and a newer threat, the Anglo-Saxons. The term ‘Briton’ had a different meaning in this context than it does today. The Britons were the Celtic-speaking peoples who had inhabited Britain from before the time of Christ.2 They were organised into tribes, each with their own king, and had a common Celtic language, British, an Indo-European language with close ties to Latin.3 In AD 43 the Britons began to lose political control of the island when the Romans invaded under Claudius. While under Roman rule, the British kings lost their power and Latin became the language of government and administration. Their Celtic language, British, lost prestige. It was probably not a written language in this period but remained the spoken language of the people in their home life, as argued by eminent Celtic linguist Kenneth Jackson.4 The Romans retained control for three and a half centuries, finally leaving by 410 to defend their crumbling empire on the continent. With the Romans gone, Britain came increasingly under attack from the Picts and the Irish. But the main threat lay elsewhere.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ARTHURIAN CAMPAIGN by JOHK EVANS, F.S.A
    Archaeologia Cantiana Vol. 78 1963 THE ARTHURIAN CAMPAIGN By JOHK EVANS, F.S.A. ARTHUR and his battles have been often debated as one of the many problems which make the history of the fifth and sixth centuries so tantalizing and yet so enticing to the student. For it is not only that the records of this period are so meagre, their meanings so often obscure and their value so doubtful, but, such as they are they often contradict each other. Ignoring the last and fatal, if dubious, battle of Camlann, Arthur is credited with twelve famous battles with the Saxons, in all of which he was victorious, or so Nennius tells us in a well-known passage.1 Here is the tale of them including the various readings of the site names from the different recensions of Nennius's book.2 First At the mouth of the river Glein (Glem, Glemu, Gem). Second, Third, On the river Dubglas in the region Linnuis Fourth and Fifth (Duglas, Linuis, Tnm'is). Sixth On the river Bassus (Lassus). Seventh In the wood of Celidon, which is Cat Coit Celidon (Callidonis, Calidon). Eighth In the castle of Guinnion (Guinnon, Guinon, Gunnion). Ninth In the city of the Legion, or Cair Lion. Tenth On the river Tribuit (Ribroit, Robroit, Trah- treuroit, Tractheuroit). Eleventh On the mount Agned (Bregomion, Agnet tha Bregomion, Agned Cath Regomion, Breguion, Breouin, Cat Bregion). Twelfth On the mount Badon (Badonis, Hadonis). Inserted in Nennius is a brief chronicle of events from the middle of the fifth century to the middle of the tenth which is known as the Annales Cambrics and in it the battle of Badon is listed as having been fought in the year 516.
    [Show full text]
  • The Origin and Development of the Arthurian Story in English Literature to the Nineteenth Century
    Scholars' Mine Masters Theses Student Theses and Dissertations 1927 The origin and development of the Arthurian story in English literature to the nineteenth century Nadine Matlock Sease Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses Part of the English Language and Literature Commons Department: Recommended Citation Sease, Nadine Matlock, "The origin and development of the Arthurian story in English literature to the nineteenth century" (1927). Masters Theses. 4617. https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/4617 This thesis is brought to you by Scholars' Mine, a service of the Missouri S&T Library and Learning Resources. This work is protected by U. S. Copyright Law. Unauthorized use including reproduction for redistribution requires the permission of the copyright holder. For more information, please contact scholarsmine@mst.edu. THE ORIGIl'I AND DEVELOPlviENT OF TI-IE ARTHURIAN STORY IN ENGLISH LITERATURE TO THE NIlffiTEENTH CENTURY. BY NADINE MATLOCK SEASE A TH,ESIS submitted to the faculty of the SCHOOL OF MINES AND METALLURGY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI in partial fulfillment of the work required for the Degree Of MASTER OF SCIENCE Rolla, Mo 1927 ( APPROVED BY ----~...-....-.........-------....,.,.- Professor of English. mE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF !HE ARTHURIAN STORY III ENGLISH LITERATURE TO THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. In the literature written in the EngliSh language there is probably no subJect which has been more popular than that of Arthur and his court. !his popularity has lasted probably a longer time, has oov~ ered a wider territory, and has had a wider range among the arts than has any other literary sUbJeot of British origin.
    [Show full text]
  • Was King Arthur a Living Hero Or a Popular Legend?
    Western Oregon University Digital Commons@WOU Honors Senior Theses/Projects Student Scholarship 6-1-2015 Legendary: Was King Arthur a Living Hero or a Popular Legend? Emily Walley Western Oregon University, ejw716@charter.net Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/honors_theses Part of the Medieval History Commons Recommended Citation Walley, Emily, "Legendary: Was King Arthur a Living Hero or a Popular Legend?" (2015). Honors Senior Theses/Projects. 84. https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/honors_theses/84 This Undergraduate Honors Thesis/Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at Digital Commons@WOU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Senior Theses/Projects by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@WOU. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@wou.edu, kundas@mail.wou.edu, bakersc@mail.wou.edu. 1 Legendary: Was King Arthur a Living Hero or a Popular Legend? By Emily J. Walley An Honors Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Graduation from the Western Oregon University Honors Program Dr. Elizabeth Swedo, Thesis Advisor Dr. Gavin Keulks, Honors Program Director Western Oregon University June 2015 2 Table of Contents Abstract 4 Introduction 5 The Legend 6 Literature Review 7 Textual Sources Concerning Arthur 23 Camlann: the Last Battle 37 The Debate of the Gaulish Campaign 47 Arthur’s Growing Fame 49 12 Battles: the Arthurian Campaign 56 Badon: the Introduction of Arthur 59 Tintagel: the Birth of a Legend 61 Solving the Matter of Britain 63 Conclusion 72 Bibliography 74 3 Abstract Despite being a well-known figure in Western culture, the historical evidence for King Arthur is very small, and scholars have not even been able to identify a specific person as the historical Arthur.
    [Show full text]
  • Eprize Arthur
    © 1996, TheTHE Concord CONCORD Review, Inc., REVIEW (all rights reserved) 1 Ralph Waldo Emerson Prize 1997 BEYOND LEGEND: ARTHUR RECONSIDERED Camilla Ann Richmond Abstract Written from the assumption that King Arthur did indeed exist, this paper endeavors to examine this ‘fictional’ character’s historicity, using the available resources to prove the thesis. The scope of the investigation centers on primary sources from the early medieval works of Gildas and Nennius, the defini- tive high medieval source Geoffrey of Monmouth, and the ro- mances from the late Middle Ages. Secondary sources include the traditional interpretation by historians of the primary sources, placing Arthur across England. A single, more recent source supports a differing hypothesis, locating Arthur primarily in the borderlands of Scotland and northern England, creating an interesting contrast between historical theories. The conclusion reached suggests that the evidence against the traditional theory is much greater than that supporting it, and therefore that King Arthur most likely resided in Scotland. More precise conclusions focus on the location of specific castles, battles, and the connec- Camilla Ann Richmond is in her second year at Stanford. She wrote this IB Extended Essay for Mrs. Susan Bittman at Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida, during the 1994/1995 school year. 2 Camilla Ann Richmond tion of the legends to known historical fact. The essay attempts to persuade the reader that King Arthur was real. Introduction The legend of King Arthur is one of the most universally known of any myth, particularly in Great Britain, the kingdom of this hero. Locations including Arthur in their title abound and are liberally spread across the nation, from Great and Little Arthur in the Scilly Islands to Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh to Arthur’s Chair in Wales.
    [Show full text]
  • Recovering the Historical Arthur Marcus Ladd Bucknell University
    Comparative Humanities Review Volume 1 Article 3 Issue 1 Conversation/Conversion 1.1 2007 Recovering the Historical Arthur Marcus Ladd Bucknell University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/chr Recommended Citation Ladd, Marcus (2007) "Recovering the Historical Arthur ," Comparative Humanities Review: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 3. Available at: http://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/chr/vol1/iss1/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Bucknell Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Comparative Humanities Review by an authorized administrator of Bucknell Digital Commons. For more information, please contact dcadmin@bucknell.edu. Recovering the Historical Arthur Marcus Ladd Bucknell University And at the feste of Pentecost alle maner of men assayed to pulle at the swerde that wold assay; but none myghte prevaille but Arthur, and pullit it oute afore all the lordes and comyns that were there - wherefore alle the comyns cryed at ones, 'We wille have Arthur unto our kyng. We wille put hym no more in delay, for we all see that it is Goddes wille that he shalle be our kynge - and who that holdeth ageynst it, we wille slee hym.' And therwithall they knelyd at ones, both ryche and poure, and cryed Arthur mercy bycause they had delayed hym so longe. And Arthur foryaf hem, and took the swerd bitwene both his handes and offred it upon the aulter where the Archebisshop was; and so was he made knyghte of the best man that was there. –Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur1 Much ink (and blood) has been spilled over the truth of the Arthurian saga, and though debates over the centuries have moved away from Breton streets2 and into journals, a conclusive stance has yet to be reached.
    [Show full text]
  • The Origins of the Arthurian Legend
    origins of the arthurian legends 1 The Origins of the Arthurian Legend geoffrey ashe After prolonged debate, the search for the ‘historical Arthur’ remains inconclusive, because of the nature of the evidence which historians take into account. Possibilities arise, however, from evidence of another kind. Literary inquiry can lead towards historical insight and identify an Arthur- figure who has been noticed at various times, but not adequately considered. (GA) o the question ‘Did Arthur exist?’ a straight yes-or-no answer cannot be T given. More is involved here than historical doubt. With, say, Robin Hood, the straight answer is likewise excluded, but solely by insufficiency of data. A new find might some day make it possible. With Arthur the difficulty cuts deeper. For any ordinary inquirer, the answer ‘yes’ implies the reality of the Arthur of romance, the idealized medieval monarch, at the centre of a sort of montage that includes Guinevere and Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table. Since Arthur in that sense is a literary creation and didn’t exist, the answer ‘yes’ is wrong. But the answer ‘no’ is also wrong. It implies that Arthur is fictitious as Don Quixote is fictitious, that he has no factual basis at all. The romancers themselves would never have accepted that, and it cannot be maintained as a definite statement. Actually, of course, the literary Arthur is a shape-shifter who has taken different forms over the centuries. But all versions presumably derive from a source or prototype earlier than any. There have been numerous attempts to work back to this point, and, more specifically, to pin down a ‘historical Arthur’ as the starting-point, so that the question of existence can be affirmatively answered … on the understanding that this is the Arthur who is meant.
    [Show full text]