Studies in Medieval Literature King Arthur: From Myth to Modernity Arthur of History Was King Arthur A Roman Soldier?: The Lucius Artorius Castus Supposition School of Professional Studies Fall, 2018 Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence • Fragment of a mid-late 2nd - early to mid-3rd century CE Roman funerial monument • Set in the wall of the Church of St Martin on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia prior to 17th Century CE Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence A Possible Reconstruction of the Latin Text D(IS) M(ANIBUS) L ARTORI(US CA)STUS (CENTURIO) LEG(IONIS) III GALLICAE ITEM (CENTURIO) LE]G(IONIS) VI FERRATAE ITEM (CENTURIO) LEG(IONIS) II ADI(UTRICIS I)TEM (CENTURIO LEGIONIS) V MA(CEDONICAE) ITEM P(RIMUS) P(ILUS) EIUSDEM (LEGIONIS) PRAEPOSITO CLASSIS MISENATIUM (ITEM PR)AEFF(ECTO) LEG(IONIS) VI VICTRICIS, DUCI LEG G(IONUM) (DUARU]M BRITANICIMIARUM ADVERSUS ARM(ORICANO)S PROC(URATORI) CENTENARIO PROVINCIAE LIB(URNIAE) IURE) GLADI VIVUS IPSE ET SUIS (EX TESTAMENTO) English Translation based on the Lucius Artorius Castus Reconstruction of the Latin Text Archaeological Evidence In the Hands of the Infernal Gods Lucius Artorius Castus, centurion of the Third Legion Gallica, also centurion of the Sixth Legion Ferrata, also centurion of the Second Legion Adiutrix, also centurion of the Fifth Legion Macedonica, also chief centurion of the same legion, in command of the Misenum fleet, prefect of the Sixth Legion Victrix, commander of two British legions against the Amoricans, centenary procurator of Liburnia with the power of the sword. He himself set this up for himself and his family in his lifetime according to his testament. Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence NAME: Artorius = Arthur? LOCATION: Britannicimiarium = Britain? Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence NAME: Artorius = Arthur? LOCATION: Britannicimiarium = Britain? ROLE: “item praef(ecto legionis VI Victricis – Prefect of the Sixth Legion Victris”? Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence NAME: Artorius = Arthur LOCATION: Britannicimiarium = Britain ROLE: “item praeff(ecto legionis VI Victricis – Prefect of the Sixth Legion Victris” ROLE: “duci leg c(ionum) [duaru]m Britanicimiarum” – Leader of Two British Legions” or “duci leg c(ionum) [alar]m Britanicimiarum” – Leader of the British Legionary Cavalry Squadrons”? Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence NAME: Artorius = Arthur? LOCATION: Britannicimiarium = Britain? ROLE: “item praeff(ecto legionis VI Victricis – Prefect of the Sixth Legion Victris”? ROLE: “duci legg(ionum) [duaru]m Britanicimiarum” – Leader of Two British Legions” or “duci legg(ionum) [alar]m Britanicimiarum” – “gladi – of the sword”? Leader of the British Legionary Cavalry Squadrons”? Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence A Late 2nd - Early 3rd Century Roman • Artorius = Arthur • A Soldier • A High-Ranking Officer • Commanded a Legion Stationed in Britain • Led British Cavalry Units • Associated with “the sword” Et Voilà “King Arthur” Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence Logic and the Burden of Proof Simply Because Something Possibly Happened Is No Proof That It Actually Happened. A Late 2nd - Early 3rd Century Roman • Artorius = Arthur • A Soldier Argumentum Fieri Posse • A High-Ranking Officer Or • Commanded a Legion Stationed in Britain • Led British Cavalry Units “Conspiracy Theory Fallacy” • Associated with “the sword” Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence Logic and the Burden of Proof The data, facts which exist, and the logical connections between the data A Late 2nd - Early 3rd Century Roman must indicate to a critically thinking • Artorius = Arthur audience that the stated claim is at least • A Soldier • A High-Ranking Officer reasonable. • Commanded a Legion Stationed in Britain • Led British Cavalry Units • Associated with “the sword” Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence “Ockham’s Razor” Lex Parsimoniae - Law of Parsimony“ “Plurality must never be posited without necessity” A Late 2nd - Early 3rd Century Roman in other words • Artorius = Arthur • A Soldier “The problem-solving principle that the simplest • A High-Ranking Officer solution tends to be the right one.” • Commanded a Legion Stationed in Britain • Led British Cavalry Units In other words • Associated with “the sword” KISS “Keep It Simple, Student!” Lucius Artorius Castus Archaeological Evidence BOGUS!!!! • Lucius Artorius Castus died in the 3rd Century “Arthur” arises in the late 5th, early 6th century • Artorius is a common Roman nomen gentilicium The gens Artoria, was a minor plebeian clan ancient Rome, descended from the Etruscan origins. A Late 2nd - Early 3rd Century Roman No evidence that the name Artorius influenced naming • Artorius = Arthur conventions in Britain • A Soldier • Led British Cavalry Units • A High-Ranking Officer Based on one possible reconstruction of the damaged text, • Commanded a Legion Stationed in Britain “duci leg c(…]m Britanicimiarum” • Led British Cavalry Units • The Sword of Power: “Excalibur” • Associated with “the sword” More likely explanation of the statement “proc[...) centenario provinciae Lib[...] gladi” As Procurator he had the power to punish citizens King Arthur (2004 Film) General The 2004 Film, King Arthur ✓Irish-British-American Preoduction ✓ (Very) Quasi Historical Adventure ✓ Directed by Antoine Fuqua ✓ Based (very) loosely on o Lucius Artorius Castus Theory o Nennius / Geoffrey of Monmouth o Withdrawal of Rome from Britain o British Struggles against Picts / Saxons King Arthur (2004 Film) Characterization of Arthur ✓ Roman cavalry officer, Artorius Castus, ✓ Son of a Roman father (Uther Pendragon) and a British mother (Igrayne) ✓ Commands a unit of Sarmatian auxiliary cavalry in Britain ✓ End of the Roman occupation circa CE 409 ✓ Loyal to Rome and a devout Christian ✓ Follower of the teachings of Bishop Pelagius ✓ Stationed on Hadrian's Wall against the Woads (Picts) ✓ Woads led by Merlin King Arthur (2004 Film) Major Characters ✓ Arthur’s Band of Samartans: Lancelot, Bors, Tristan, Gawain, Galahad, and Dagonet ✓ Bishop Germanus as a Senior Cleric and Roman Commander ✓ Saxon king Cerdic and his son Cynric ✓Guinevere, a “Woad Princess” ✓Merlin, Leader of the “Woads” King Arthur (2004 Film) Narrative Elements 1. Artorius Castus, “Arthur,” is a Roman cavalry officer, commanding a unit of Sarmatian auxiliary cavalry, “knights,” in Britain. 2. His unit rendezvous with a convoy escorting the Bishop Germanicus to Hadrian’s Wall where they beat off an ambush by the Woads, unassimilated Britons. 3. Arthur and his surviving knights Lancelot, Bors, Tristan, Gawain, Galahad, and Dagonet expect to be discharged from their fifteen-year service commitment Rome and return home after this last mission 4. On the night when they are to receive their discharge, Germanus sends them on a final, and potentially suicidal, mission to rescue Alecto, the Pope's favorite godson, and his family who are threatened by the Saxons north of the wall. 5. The Saxons are led by their king, Cerdic, and his son Cynric. 6. Arthur tells his knights that he will not obligate them to go with him on this mission, but of course they all do 7. When the knights arrive at Alecto’s villa, they discover that his father, Marcus, has imprisoned a number of pagans, including Guinevere, a Woad and the daughter of the Woad chief, Merlin King Arthur (2004 Film) Narrative Elements 8. Arthur helps nurse Guinevere back to health from a fever caused by fingers mutilated by torture 9. Guinevere takes Arthur to meet with Merlin, her father and leader of the Woads. 10. (Flashback, Arthur mother, Igraine, died in a burning building during a Woad attack; Arthur hoping to rescue his mother, ran to his father’s, Uther Pendragon, grave and recovered his father’s sword, Excalibur.) 11. Merlin suggests an alliance between the Woads and the Sarmatian knights against the Saxons. 12. While fleeing on to the south, Alecto informs Arthur that Germanus executed Pelegius for his heretical teachings. 13. The knights lure a band of persuing Saxons led by Cynric onto a frozen lake; the ice breaks and Cynric’s band is destroyed; Arthur’s knight, Dragonet, is killed in the fight. 14. Upon their return to the wall, Germanus awards the knights their discharge papers but confirms that the Roman troops are being withdrawn. 15. Guinevere attempts to persuade Arthur to remain in Britain and defend the people from the Saxons; they sleep together which seems to seal the deal 16. Arthur decides to stay and defend the wall, but releases his knights from service to Rome. King Arthur (2004 Film) Narrative Elements 17. As the Roman garrison withdraws, the entire Saxon army arrives at the wall, led by both Cerdic, and Cynric. 18. The Woads, led by Merlin and Guinevere, arrive to fight against the Saxons under Arthur’s command. 19. Arthur, alone, confronts Cerdic north of the wall and demands he leave Britain 20. A Saxon detachment penetrates the wall but is slaughtered by Woad archers 21. Arthur’s knights, hearing the drums of the Saxon army, return to fight alongside Arthur. 22. Cerdic, seeing Arthur now with his knights on a hill overlooking the wall, leads the remaining Saxon army through the wall. 23. Using a smoke screen, Arthur and his knights attack the Saxons 24. The Woads reinforce Arthur and a general battle ensues • Cerdic kills Tristan in single combat • Guinevere attacks Cynric but is overcome by him • Lancelot rescues Guinevere resulting in both he and Cynric dying • Arthur kills Cerdic, and the battle is over. 24. Arthur asks the name of a hill overlooking the battle ground and is told, “Badon Hill.” 25. Arthur and Guinevere are married by Merlin, who declares Arthur king. 26. Arthur’s surviving knights decide to remain with him in Britain Et Voilà … fade into legend King Arthur (2004 Film) Historical Inaccuracies Inaccuracies – Historical and Otherwise General Rule of “Hollywood” Movies – Entertainment, Not Accurate Information King Arthur (2004 Film) Historical Inaccuracies 1. Chronology c. 409 CE Roman Withdrawal from Britain c. 475 – 510 CE Battle of Badon? c. 495 CE Cerdic and Cynric in Wessex (Anglo Saxon Chronicle) King Arthur (2004 Film) Historical Inaccuracies 1.