King ArthurThe legendary king and the legendary mystery R. Larrabee

Scholars debate..Whether or not King Arthur really existed.

Because there was no real written language, the stories of Arthur were passed down from generation to generation.The legends are based on folklore and some historical fact, but over time, the stories grew larger and more complex.

Arthur was the son ofKing Uther Pendragon of BritainIgraine of Cornwall

Arthur was born on Christmas Eve.He was born in Tintagel Castle in Cornwall.

On the night of Arthurs birth, he was secretly taken away by Merlin and hidden away until the time he could claim his birthright.

Arthur lived in obscurity for 14 years in the foster care of Sir Ector of Galava and his wife Griselda.

When Arthur is 14, Uther Pendragon dies unexpectedly without naming Arthur his heir.It is now up to Merlin to ensure Arthur claims his birthright as King of Britain.

On the sword was engraved:Whoso pulleth this sword from this stone is rightwise born King of all Britain.

Acting as Kays page, Arthur attends the tournament with Sir Ector, and his newly knighted cousin Kay.

At the tournament in London, Arthur pulls the sword from the stone and proves his birthright as King of Britain.

At Easter, Arthur is crowned King of Britain.

At the time of Arthur, Britain was splintered into various kingdoms each ruled by his own king or liege-lord.

Because each liege-lord was only responsible for his own territory, Britain became vulnerable to attack from outside invaders.

Britain was primarily a pagan country. Christianity was very new there, and many people still practiced the old pagan religions.One of Arthurs destinies was to unify Britain under one Christian God.

For Example:The character of the Lady of the Lake She is depicted as a magical being who lives under the water of a lake and gives Arthur his sword.

In reality, the Lady of the Lake was a pagan priestess of the shrine of the Mother Goddess. Her shrine was across the lake on a sacred and secluded island.

Another Example:Merlin the MagicianMerlin is considered a powerful magician who possesses both the power of prophecy and powerful magic.

In all actuality, Merlin was most probably a wise man of one of the pagan religions. Prior to and during the time of Arthur, there were men like Merlin who were gifted healers, prophets, and wise counselors.

Another Example:The Holy Grail

Some experts say that the Holy Grail was the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper.It has become an important Christian symbol.

Some scholars believe that the grail is not a Christian symbol at all, but a pagan object that was part of set of sacred pagan regalia that included a platter, a sword, and a lance.

Most recently, some scholars suspect that the Grail was not an object at all, but a person.Watch or read the DaVinci Code for a story about this theory.

Regardless of the various opinions of the scholars, in the Arthurian Legends, the Holy Grail is understood as the sacred chalice of Jesus.

Once the country is unified and peaceful, Arthur marries Guenevere and makes her his queen.

As a wedding gift, Gueneveres father gives Arthur a round table. It could seat 100 knights.

Some famous Knights of the Round Table

Sir Lancelot du LacBest and bravest of all the knights and King Arthurs best friend. Lancelot falls in love with Guenevere, Arthurs queen.

Sir GalahadThe only knight to see the Holy Grail. After Galahad beholds the Grail, he dies and his soul is take up to heaven by three angels.

Sir GawaineOne of Arthurs most loyal knights. He battles the Green Knight.

Sir PercivalIs shown a vision of the Holy Regalia: the Grail, the Lance, the Platter. He fails to find the Regalia because of his lack of faith.

Sir Tristram Also known as TristanDoes great deeds but dies from love far from home. Beloved of Isolde.

Sir BorsAccompanies Galahad on the Grail Quest. He returns to tell the story of Galahad.

Sir KayKay was Arthurs foster brother. Arthur appointed him the seneschal of all his lands.

Sir BedivereArthurs cousin. Arthur charges him to return his sword Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake.

Knights had to display bravery, loyalty, and chivalry. These qualities were prized above all other qualities.

What is chivalry?

ChivalryLive to serve King and Country. Live to defend Crown and Country and all it holds dear. Live one's life so that it is worthy of respect and honor. Live for freedom, justice and all that is good. Never attack an unarmed foe.

Chivalry continuedObey the law of king, country, and chivalry. Respect women. Exhibit Courage in word and deed. Defend the weak and innocent. Never abandon a friend, ally, or noble cause. Fight for the ideals of king, country, and chivalry. Die with valor. Always keep one's word of honor.

Other Important Characters in the Arthurian Legend

GuenevereArthurs wife. She later has an affair with Lancelot.

MerlinArthurs cousin, adviser, and powerful magician.

Morgana Le FeyArthurs sister who conspired against him and stole his sword Excalibur.

MorgauseArthurs half sister. She is the mother of Gawaine, Gaheris, Gareth, Agravaine, and Mordred. She is also the Lady of the Lake from whom Arthur gets the sword. She is one of the three women who bring Arthurs body to Avalon after he dies.

MordredArthurs son and nephew. He conspires to catch Lancelot and Guenevere together. He kills his father.

IsoldeBeloved of Tristram.

Elaine of AstolatWas in love with Lancelot. Deceived him into sleeping with her. She bore him a child-Galahad. After the child was born, Elaine takes her own life.

A Triangle of Love

Despite fighting their feelings for each other, Guenevere and Lancelot fall in love.

Mordred arranges a plot to catch the Queen and her true love.Although they attempt to hide their feelings, some of the knights suspect them.

On a night when Arthur is away from Camelot, Mordreds plan is acted out.Lancelot and the Queen are discovered together.

Guenevere is taken into custody, but Lancelot escapes killing the knights that try to stop him.

The Queen is convicted of treason and is sentenced to burn at the stake.

Lancelot rescues the Queen (as Arthur had hoped he would.)

Some say Guenevere entered a convent and lives out her life there. Others say she entered the service of the Lady of Avalon.She never saw Lancelot again.

Mordred and Arthur eventually go to war.Mordred hacks into Arthurs helmet with his sword. Arthur pierces Mordred with his sword.

Arthur and Guenevere are buried togetherAt Glastonbury Abbey

*Did Arthur really exist? Nobody knows for sure, but many scholars agree that the legends are based loosely on many different rulers.*The actual legends were passed along by word of mouth. Naturally, over time the stories grew bigger and grander.*Arthurs parents, according to legend, were Igraine of Cornwall and King Uther Pendragon.*Legend has it that Arthur was born on Christmas Eve in Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, England.*King arthurs father struck a deal with Merlin; in order to have his son, he would need to relinquish the baby to Merlin upon his birth. *Arthur was never aware of his royal birth. He was given to Sir Ector of Galava and his wife Griselda until he was 14.*When Arthur was 14, his natural father Uther Pendragon, died without naming an heir to the throne. Now, it was up to Merlin to make sure that the rightful heir, Arthur, claimed the position of king.*To enhance the legend, the sword was engraved, Whoso pulleth this sword from this stone is rightwise born King of all Britain.*Naturally, Sir Ectors son Kay wanted to try to pull the sword so he entered the tournament. Arthur attended as Kays page or helper.*As the story goes, Arthur forgot Kays sword. Kay sent him back to get a sword and on his way, Arthur saw an unusual sight-a sword stuck in a stone outside a church. Knowing he needed to get back quickly, Arthur pulled the sword out and went to give it to Kay. Upon examining the sword, Sir Ector realized the enormity of the present situation.*At Easter, Arthur is crowned King. Now, take note of when Arthur is born and when he becomes King. Do you see any common thread?*Britain in the time of Arthur was varied and diverse. Each kingdom was ruled independently with little reason to stay unified.*Each kingdom was ruled by its own liege-lord which made Britain very vulnerable to invasion. Most prevalent among these invaders were the Angles, Jutes, Saxons and the Irish.*Arthur was to unify Britain as a Christian country although most people were pagan. Paganism is any of various religions other than Christianity or Judaism or Islamism. Generally, Pagans revered nature.*Many pagan symbols are used throughout the legends. As you will learn, the Lady of the Lake is depicted as a magical being who gives Arthur his sword, Excalibur.*However, the real Lady of the Lake was a pagan priestess who lived across the lake on a secluded island, not actually under the water!*As you heard in an erlier slide, Merlin was considered to be a wizard or magician. He possessed power of prophecy and powerful magic*Most likely, Merlin was a wise man, or a man who knew the intricacies of the world. Just like our TV weathermen/women are able to predict the weather based on known information, Merlin probably did the same. He was able to tell when the heavens would be angry (thunder/lightning) and he was able to magically heal those who were sick by combining mysterious herbs (similar to our doctors and pharmacists)*The Holy Grail is another object associated with paganism and christianity*There have been many experts that conclude that the grail is the cup Jesus drank from at the last supper and has thus become a very important Christian symbol.*Other scholars believe that it is and object that was part of pagan regalia which included a platter, sword and lance. Three objects-remember the number three?*Recently there has been much controversy that the grail is a person, not an object. The book The DaVinci Code has prompted a lot of this controversy.*For Arthurian purposes, however, the Grail will be assumed to be the Chalice of Jesus*Arthur finally marries-Guinevere-and makes her his Queen. Note: many names in the legend are spelled different ways. Dont let this distract you!*Gueneveres father gave Arthur a wedding gift-a round table to seat 100 knights*Many of the knights lived long into legend.*One of the most famous is Sir Lancelot. He was considered the best and the bravest. He was also Arthurs best friend. However, he fell inlove with Guinevere*Sir Galahad becomes the only knight to see the holy grail but he dies right after he sees it. He is then carried to heaven by three angels (theres that three again)*Sir Gawain is one of Arthurs most loyal knights. You will read in 12th grade about gawain and the green knight*Sir Percival gets a vision of the regalia. He cannot find it because he lacks faith*Sir Tristram or Tristan dies far from home. He was in love with Isolde*Sir Bors accompanies Galahad and is the only one to tell the tale of Galahad and the grail.*As you learned earlier, Kay was Arthurs foster brother. Arthur appointed him seneschal, or landlord, of all his lands.*Arthurs cousin, Sir Bedivere, is responsible for returning Excalibur to the Lady of the lake*Knights needed to display bravery, loyalty and chivalry.

*What is chivalry? Here are only some of the important points written in the code of chivalry**Not just the knights gained fame. There were many other people involved in the legends.*Guinevere was thought to be the most beautiful woman in the land. She married arthur, as mentioned earlier, but had an affair with Lancelot.*Merlin, thought to be Arthurs cousin, was his adviser and magician*Morgana, or Morgan Le Fey is arthurs siter who conspired against him*Morgause is Arthurs half sister. Arthur has an affair with her, before he knew she was his sister. Read slide*Mordred is Arthurs illegitimate son with Morgause. He conspires against Arthur by catching Lancelot and Guinevere and eventually lying to Arthur. He ends up killing Arthur *Isolde is the beloved of Sir Tristram.*Elaine of Astolat was in love with Lancelot and deceived him into sleeping with her. She gives birth to Galahad, but then kills herself shortly after.*Medieval times were not without their own drama. Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot were involved in a love triangle.*Knowing it was wrong, Guinever and Lancelot eventually cannot help their feelings any longer and fall in love.*They tried to hide their love, but it did not go unnoticed. As mentioned before, Mordred plotted to catch them*Read slide*Read slide*Mordred convinces Arthur that Guinevere must be burned as any other traitor would be.*Many believe Arthur secretly hoped Lancelot would rescue her from certain death. Arthur loved her very much and probably didnt want her dead.*Nobody can say for certain what happened to her. Read slide*Read slide**Read tomb