King Arthur
English Composition
Finding Truth in the Legends Surrounding the King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table There are many reasons to believe why the great King Arthur and his mighty knights of the round table were real men and not what fairy tales are made of. Throughout the centuries, men have longed to be like the infamous King Arthur. History has told tales of great feats on the battle ground; mothers put their children to sleep with tales of this enigmatic king. However, historians have had a battle with history telling a story of its own; in regards to King Arthur being a real man, a man made of many, or even existed at all. Further research has brought about two names one, a Celtic hero named Arthur and a Roman warrior named Ambrosius; these two warriors appear in the Dark Age Britian era in historical sources (Minard). History has noted that around 540 CE a monk called Gildas penned De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae (Daybell). In Gildas writings he notes that a man called Ambrosius Aurelianus, a descendant of noble Romans led the British against extremely cruel raiders in a number of successful battles, before his greatest victory at the Battle of Mount Badon (Minard). Not all historians agree with Gildas as they feel he is biased against the British people for moral failings and the disasters that befell Britian. Nor do the historians feel his chronological and geographical data to be correct (Minard). Some historians believe, Arthur was a hero from the Old North, the British Kingdoms of Elfed (Old Welsh: Elmet) (Minard). The reason historians believe this to be true, is due to poetry and medieval manuscripts that were left behind when the Britian’s fled to Wales. Historians found one piece of evidence to be quite significant. In the Battle of Mount Badon dux bellorum is a title meaning the general; the general’s name is Arthur (Minard). Gildas did describe this same battle, but historians believe that Ambrosius fought alongside
Finding Truth in the Legends Surrounding the King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table There are many reasons to believe why the great King Arthur and his mighty knights of the round table were real men and not what fairy tales are made of. Throughout the centuries, men have longed to be like the infamous King Arthur. History has told tales of great feats on the battle ground; mothers put their children to sleep with tales of this enigmatic king. However, historians have had a battle with history telling a story of its own; in regards to King Arthur being a real man, a man made of many, or even existed at all. Further research has brought about two names one, a Celtic hero named Arthur and a Roman warrior named Ambrosius; these two warriors appear in the Dark Age Britian era in historical sources (Minard). History has noted that around 540 CE a monk called Gildas penned De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae (Daybell). In Gildas writings he notes that a man called Ambrosius Aurelianus, a descendant of noble Romans led the British against extremely cruel raiders in a number of successful battles, before his greatest victory at the Battle of Mount Badon (Minard). Not all historians agree with Gildas as they feel he is biased against the British people for moral failings and the disasters that befell Britian. Nor do the historians feel his chronological and geographical data to be correct (Minard). Some historians believe, Arthur was a hero from the Old North, the British Kingdoms of Elfed (Old Welsh: Elmet) (Minard). The reason historians believe this to be true, is due to poetry and medieval manuscripts that were left behind when the Britian’s fled to Wales. Historians found one piece of evidence to be quite significant. In the Battle of Mount Badon dux bellorum is a title meaning the general; the general’s name is Arthur (Minard). Gildas did describe this same battle, but historians believe that Ambrosius fought alongside
Cited: Daybell, James. "The Arthurian Tradition." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. Pasco Hernando Community College. Hargan, Jim. "King Arthur Slept Here!" Linccweb.org. Pasco Hernando Community College. Minard, Antone. "The Real Men behind the Legend of King Arthur." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. Pasco Hernando Community College.