Arthurian Legend I INTRODUCTION King Arthur Legend and lore surround the life of Arthur, a medieval king of the Britons. According to legend, Arthur was raised unaware of his royal ancestry and became king by pulling a sword from a stone. He is depicted here in a painting by Eleanor Brickdale. Hulton Deutsch Collection Limited/Woodfin Camp and Associates, Inc. Arthurian Legend, group of tales in several languages that concern the legendary King Arthur of the Britons, his realm, and the knights of his inner circle. The legend is one of the most enduring tales in recorded history. It first appeared in the 5th or 6th century AD and took its basic form between the 12th and 15th centuries. It continues as a popular subject in modern times. Morgan le Fay In Arthurian legend, the enchantress Morgan le Fay is King Arthur’s half sister. She rules the island of Avalon, where she takes Arthur after he is seriously wounded in a battle on Salisbury Plain. Art Resource, NY The legend presents Arthur as a leader in ancient times who defeats the Saxons and other enemies. He thereby unites the people of Britain in peace and harmony. Eventually his kingdom weakens from within—in part because of the illicit love between Arthur’s queen, Guinevere, and the knight Lancelot—and Arthur himself is struck down by his own illegitimate son, Mordred. Many stories then say that Arthur is taken to the island of Avalon for his wounds to be healed. The legend tells that he will return in the hour of Britain's greatest need. II THE LEGEND Merlin and Arthur In the tales of Arthurian legend, Merlin is an aged magician who helps bring King Arthur to power. Some authors also describe Merlin as the young king’s tutor. Corbis Arthur is conceived when King Uther Pendragon falls in love with a married woman, Ygraine, and arranges for the magician Merlin to transform him into the likeness of Ygraine's husband. The husband, Gorlois, dies in battle, and Arthur's parents marry soon thereafter. Arthur Receiving Excalibur According to legend, soon after King Arthur became ruler of Britain, he received his magnificent sword Excalibur from a hand that rose mysteriously from a lake. With Excalibur, Arthur led his armies to many victories over Britain’s enemies. Corbis But Merlin exacts a price for his assistance. Uther and Ygraine must give to him the child who will be born. When Arthur is born, Merlin delivers him to Hector (also called Antor), who raises Arthur alongside his own son, Kay, and trains him to be a squire to Kay once Kay becomes a knight. When King Uther dies, the land is left without a leader, so one must be chosen. Ensuing events take different forms from text to text, but virtually all include the story of the Sword in the Stone. King Arthur and His Knights Legend tells that once Arthur became king of Britain, he embarked on a series of wars to guarantee Britain’s independence and security. Early texts state that he defeated the Saxons, Picts, and Scots, as well as overrunning Ireland and Iceland. Later, he battled the Romans. Culver Pictures According to legend, Merlin announces to the assembled barons that God has established a test to identify the chosen successor to Uther. Before the cathedral they find a great stone, topped by an anvil in which a sword is embedded. Merlin informs them that no one other than the intended king will be able to draw the sword. All those present try and fail the test. Meanwhile, Arthur is sent to find Kay's sword. Unable to do so, he sees the sword in the stone and easily draws it. The barons make him repeat the test a number of times because they do not want to be ruled by a young commoner, but they eventually recognize his claim to the throne. Round Table In Arthurian legend, the Round Table at Camelot served as a gathering place for King Arthur’s knights. The table’s shape ensured that all who sat around it were equals. This replica of the Round Table can be seen at Winchester Castle in England. Jonathan Elderfield/Liaison Agency With Merlin as his adviser, Arthur begins his reign. He first fights Britain's enemies, and early texts describe him defeating the Saxons, Picts, and Scots and overrunning Ireland and Iceland. His conquests are made easier because of his marvelous sword, first called Caliburn and later known as Excalibur. He receives the sword from a hand that emerges from a lake. (In some versions of the story, Excalibur is the Sword in the Stone.) Lancelot In Arthurian legend, Lancelot, left, is one of King Arthur’s fiercest warriors. But when Arthur discovers that his wife, Queen Guinevere, has been having a love affair with Lancelot, the king and the knight become bitter enemies. Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France/Bridgeman Art Library, London/New York Arthur rules his land from Camelot, his favorite castle, and he meets, courts, and marries a beautiful young woman named Guinevere. Following his initial wars, he and his followers enjoy a period of peace, during which he founds a fellowship of knights known as the society of the Round Table. The shape of the table that serves as the group’s meeting place ensures that all who sit around it are equal in status. Galahad In Arthurian legend, the knight Galahad completes the quest for the Holy Grail, the sacred cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. Galahad was the son of the knight Lancelot. Corbis Men come from every land to be knighted by Arthur and to seek fame as members of the Round Table fellowship. One of the finest knights is a young Frenchman named Lancelot. He quickly becomes one of Arthur's favorites, but he also falls in love with Queen Guinevere, and she with him. Their illicit love is one of the major causes for the eventual destruction of Arthur's kingdom. But Arthur’s own flaws contribute to his downfall as well. Despite his valor and wisdom, he fathers a son named Mordred with his half sister Morgause. (Some versions present Mordred as Arthur's nephew rather than as his illegitimate son.) The Passing of Arthur According to legend, King Arthur was seriously wounded in battle by his illegitimate son, Mordred. Arthur’s half sister Morgan le Fay and a group of women then took him away to the island of Avalon to heal. English photographer Julia Margaret Cameron portrayed the scene in her 1875 image The Passing of Arthur. Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis Adventures and quests are an essential element of chivalry, and eventually most of Arthur’s knights embark on the greatest quest of all, the quest for the Holy Grail, which is understood to be the chalice that Jesus Christ used at the Last Supper. All the finest knights at the court swear to seek the Grail, however long the search might take. Arthur is displeased by these events, because he knows that the quest means the end of Camelot. Indeed, many of his best knights die in the quest, some of them even killing one another. Percival Questions Sir Owen According to Arthurian legend, Percival grows up ignorant of war and weapons by his mother’s choice after her husband and six older sons die in warfare. In this 1911 book illustration by British artist Walter Crane, Percival meets Sir Owen, a knight who explains battle and arms. As a result of their meeting, Percival vows to become a knight, much to his mother’s dismay. Percival embarks on a quest for the Holy Grail in early versions of the legend, and in some versions, he finds and retrieves this sacred cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper. Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth, UK/Bridgeman Art Library, London/New York As Arthur fathers an illegitimate son, so too does Lancelot, although he does so while under a spell that makes him think the woman (named Elaine) is actually Guinevere. Lancelot's son, Galahad, is entirely free of sin and weakness, and thus he alone is ultimately qualified to complete the quest and find the Holy Grail. (Sir Bors and Sir Percival accompany him, but they are excluded from the final holy vision that appears to Galahad as he reaches the Grail.) Once the quest is ended, peace does not last, and eventually Arthur's armies are embroiled in new wars, including one with the Romans, who demand tribute from Arthur and provoke a battle. Not all the conflicts involve foreign enemies, however. When Arthur discovers Lancelot and Guinevere's love affair, his system of justice requires that Guinevere be arrested and condemned to death. Lancelot flees but then returns to rescue her. During the ensuing battle, Lancelot kills the brothers of Sir Gawain, who remain loyal to Arthur. As a consequence, Gawain and Lancelot, formerly the closest of friends, become enemies. Arthur’s absence from court while battling the Romans and pursuing Lancelot offers Mordred the opportunity to seize the throne. He attempts to do so by buying the allegiance of Arthur's barons, and some texts say that he either marries Guinevere or attempts to do so after lying to her and telling her that Arthur is dead. The king learns of Mordred's treason and returns to reclaim his rights. During a great battle on Salisbury Plain, Arthur kills Mordred, but before dying the young man strikes Arthur a grievous blow. Arthur orders that his sword be thrown into the lake to prevent it from falling into unworthy hands.