Arthur, King?
Posted: Sunday, March 07, 2010
by Jack H. Schick
The most famous British King was not English. He did not wear shining armor, or search for the Holy Grail. He may have actually not been a king. In fact, he may not have existed at all. The legend of King Arthur emerged from the mists of ancient history among the Welsh and the displaced Britons of France nearly half a millennium after the Celtic chieftain may have existed. To gain a mere glimpse of the truth one must peer into the obscurity of the Dark Ages, and then expect to glean only a shadowy image of this mythical man.
Britain was a province of Rome for over 300 years. In the year 350a.d. a person born in London had the same rights and privileges as one born in the Eternal City. The culture in Britain was as advanced and organized as that of Greece or Egypt. But, the Empire became bankrupt and corrupt. Civil wars broke out. Remote provinces were expensive to maintain. Control and the fulfillment of obligations became tentative. Primitive tribes saw a ripe plumb worth picking. The Germanic invasions began.
To protect itself from invasions along the Danube and across the Rhine, Rome withdrew troops from Britain. Gaul was left in ruins as the Vandals swept in. Goths came from the east and, finally, in 410, sacked Rome itself. Still part of the crumbling Western Empire, Britain was isolated. Rome could not support them and Britain became an independent kingdom.
Independent Britain was a Celtic nation held together by the structure left by Rome. Celts were notorious for inter-tribal squabbles. The government held together for several decades under King Vortigern and his son Vortimer. They were at constant war defending the kingdom against invading Picts and Irish. German Angles and Jutes crossed the sea from the continent and settled on the coasts. Saxon mercenaries were brought to Britain to help retain control. It was a disastrous mistake. In about 440, the Saxons revolted. The conflict precipitated a civil war between the Britons supporting Vortimer and those supporting Ambrosious.
Ambrosious was finally victorious. Before he died in about 470, he drove the Saxons back to the coast and ended the revolt, but Britain was in ruins. The kingdom was beset on all sides by the Picts, Irish and Germans. It was the darkest period in the history of the British Isles. Rome was long gone. Independent Britain a feeble shell. The people lived in fear and poverty.
But, for a brief period the Britons rose again from the ashes. Old Welsh legends say "Artoros" came. A military Captain succeeded Ambrosious, perhaps Ambrosious' son. We now call him Arthur. There is archeological evidence that, starting about 475, the Angles were driven back to the coast north of London and hid behind large earthen dikes. A dozen battle sites have been discovered around Hadrian's Wall and in southern Scotland from that period. The Picts were driven out. Buried piles of armor and weapons have been found in eastern Wales where the Irish were repelled.
The great Battle of Badon Hill was fought in the West Country about 480. The united armies of the English (Saxons, Angles and others), besieged the British forces under Arthur in a hill fort near the city of Bath . After several days the defenders broke out and completely destroyed the English army. English kings Oesc of Kent, Cedric of Wessex, Aelle of Essex were killed. 960 English fell in Arthur's initial cavalry charge. The English army disintegrated and was slaughtered as they tried to escape.
The invaders and enemies were defeated. Arthur's victories reestablished the boundaries of Roman Britain. For the next 20 years there was peace and unity. Perhaps the Celtic chieftains did meet around a large round table. Perhaps there was restored glory and pageantry in a castle called Camelot. But, as the legends also tell us, there was betrayal and treason and another civil war. Arthur was killed and Britain again fell into darkness.
Within fifty years Britain became England. The Celtic Britons were driven into Wales and Cornwall and across the channel to Brittany. The Welsh bards wrote poetry and sang songs lamenting for their heroic Once and Future King and the glorious days of his reign. The Britons in France told the stories as well. They are the basis for the Romantic legends that emerged in France five centuries later and continue to this day.
Was Arthur real? We can only suppose. Was he a king, a chieftain or a general? We will never know for sure. Was there ever that certain spot, known as Camelot? We can only believe. History, lore and legend are often interwoven. Regardless of the truth which we will never know, King Arthur remains the most famous British king. His memory will live on. We will be telling his stories for another 1500 years.
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More commentsInteresting insights - I guess we can speculate on, eh? Thanks for taking time to write this Jack!Thanks for continuing to read and support me.
Thanks for writing the article. Interesting bits of information. King Arthur is a classic legend that still inspires.
Great article Jack...It's often believed that Artorus, or Artorius was a Dux Bellorum (Romanized Briton and military commander) who lived around 425-525 CE and fought 4-10 battles against invading Saxons, Angles and Jutes. "He" rose after the Empire abandoned Britain in the early 5th Century CE, and was successful enough that he provided roughly a generation of "peace" (perhaps 25-40 years). That "he" has been remembered in rumours and folk takes for 1500 years is amazing, though he became mainstream in the late middle ages or early Renaissance through one of the first "novels" in Western culture. Great article, Jack.Your are correct. Read The Age of Arthur, by Morris?Not yet...but I will as soon as I can afford to buy it!
This article gave a great picture of early Britain and the foundation for the legend of Camelot. I enjoyed it!Tahnks for reading
This is great, thanks for sharing. I always like to learn new things about myths and legends.Thanks for reading
History is alway interesting. Hard to believe as a race we seem destined to warit's not just our race. Black nations and Oriental nations war too. I think you made sort of a racist comment.I was meaning the human race will be a little clearer next time certainly no intention of racismThanks- I guess I under stood
Thanks for giving an insight on some history of Britain. I don't know much about them expect that in history, they fought the French and won my home island of St. Lucia. Then we got our independence from them on February 22, 1979...Im proud to be a St. Lucian though :) Good article!!!thanks for reading.
Very well written and researched and most interesting. I will look forward to reading more from this contributor.Thanks for reading and commenting
Excellent article about King(?)Arthur. Jack, you sure have done some historical excavating to mine all that information. Good job!Thanks for reading- I've always been a buff
Interesting article, keep it up.Thanks for reading
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