Arthurian Historical Sites

The Legendary History of King Arthur

 

The history of King Arthur as a whole is one that is often questioned for its authenticity, but it is a rich history nonetheless. Whether the truth about who he was is ever discovered, most of the places influenced by his story are certainly real and contribute a lot to the world of Arthurian History.

Tintagel: A King’s Conception

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This Arthurian Historical Site holds its significance in the reason behind it being built. A religious leader, Geoffrey of Monmouth, deemed Tintagel as the place that King Arthur was conceived. Before reading any further, it is important to note that Geoffrey of Monmouth’s claims originated from a “pseudohistorical accout of British history,” meaning that there was no way to differentiate story from actual truth (10). Regardless of our clarity on the truth, the connection to the Arthurian world comes from the story that King Arthur was conceived through an affair between Britain’s king at the time, Uther Pendragon, and a baron’s wife, Ygerna, after he used a potion to transform himself into a replica of Ygerna’s actual husband (1). The likelier story is that Tintagel Island was occupied by Romans throughout their rule of Britain, and then the castle was built to feed into Geoffrey’s tale. It is said to not have been an impressive castle compared to others built in the time period, and it even fell to ruins two centuries after it was originally built due to lack of care and interest for the castle (10). Still, though, the historical site remains beautiful in its own way and is actually open to the public to be visited. Visitors must go through a series of hills and slopes, so they are advised to proceed with caution, but it is described as a positive experience for those who know the deep and fascinating history behind the site.

Glastonbury:  

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Just like the place where King Arthur’s life begun has gained popularity, his burial site is also one of the most historical places in relation to the Arthurian world. Many people believe that this is the place where King Arthur and his wife Guinevere were buried. This belief stems from a tale where two bodies were found by monks “with an inscription suggesting they were that of Arthur and his queen” (6). Of course, the previously mentioned tale by Geoffrey of Monmouth only exacerbated the attention that people paid to monuments from the Arthurian world- so much so that when this story came to light, people like Kings traveled from around the world to watch the bodies be reburied and sealed away into what is described as a black marble tomb (7). Nonetheless, this popularity did not stop King Henry VIII from having the tomb destroyed centuries later. Like the Tintagel Castle, current historians question the validity of the story behind Glastonbury. Different sources say different things, but Simon Fraser University supports the idea that it very well could have actually been King Arthur and Guinevere, as the bones found in Glastonbury Abbey were probably “royal bones,” since King Arthur was not the first British king to be suspected to be buried there. Again, though, Glastonbury is definitely a “bucket list moment” for those who take interest in all things relating to the Arthurian world. Luckily, the markings of said tomb still remain, and it is open for visitors even today.

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The Round Table

 

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Anyone who knows who King Arthur is knows about the famous Round Table where the King and his knights gather for discussing courtly business. The idea behind the Round Table was that since there was no “head” to the table, no one could be viewed as more important than the other; it was a true symbol of equality and a method to avoid tension or issues among the knights. This is a big deal because there were “hundreds of Knights associated with the Round Table and King Arthur” and they ranged from backgrounds of different countries (4). Some of the most famous knights include Sir Lancelot, Sir Gawain, Sir Galahad, Sir Percival, and Sir Kay. Merlin, a magician included in the Arthurian world by Geoffrey of Monmouth, made himself King Arthur’s mentor and actually crowned Arthur as the King of Britain himself. Later on in life, King Arthur married Guinevere and the dowry from their marriage is how he obtained the Round Table. His method to the structure of the Round Table was what truly allowed the chivalric code to flourish and carry on for time to come (8). The Round Table is seen in some of the most popular Arthurian stories like Le Mort d’Arthur and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and is a big part of the Arthurian world. The history of the Round Table is a lot more in-depth than can be accurately explained in a blog post, but I have linked a simplified summary video that may explain things better.

 

Works Cited

1. Ashbee, Jeremy. “Richard of Cornwall, King Arthur and Tintagel Castle.” English Heritage, https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/tintagel-castle/history-and-legend/richard-of-cornwall/. Accessed 4 September 2023.

2. D’Espinques, Evrard. King Arthur’s knights at the Round Table. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Table#/media/File:Holy-grail-round-table-ms-fr-112-3-f5r-1470-detail.jpg.

3. English Heritage. Tintagel. English Heritage,  https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/tintagel-castle/history-and-legend/.

4. “The Knights of the Round Table.” King Arthurs Knights, https://kingarthursknights.com/the-knights-of-the-round-table/. Accessed 6 September 2023.

5. “The Legends of King Arthur.” Simon Fraser University, https://www.sfu.ca/archaeology-old/museum/kingarth/4avala.html/. Accessed 6 September 2023.

6. Linwood, Jim. King Arthur’s Alleged Tomb. Atlas Obscura, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/king-arthurs-tomb.

7. Nicholls, Ethan. “King Arthur’s Tomb.” edited by A. Pendragon. Atlas Obscura, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/king-arthurs-tomb.

8. “Round Table.” Wikipedia, 27 August 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Table.

9. Slater, Steve. Abbey View. Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glastonbury_Abbey_church_view_from_east.jpg.

10.  “Tintagel Castle: Arthurian Legend Mixes with True History.” Ancient Origins, https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/tintagel-castle-and-legendary-conception-king-arthur-006831. Accessed 4 September 2023.