The Origins of Arthur – What Little There Is

In all the searching and reading, trying to locate an actual king Arthur, there are really only two original writings that hint at a potential historical Arthur. Both documents can be found in the collection, “Six Old English Chronicles,” published in 1900, compiled and edited by J.A. Giles. I am particularly pointing to “The Works of Gildas” written in the Latin about 536 A.D., and “Nennius’s History of the Britons,” written anywhere between 796 to 994 A.D. For that matter, the editor is not even sure Nennius is the author.

But here is what they say. From Nennius, “ Then it was that the magnanimous Arthur, with all the kings and military force of Britain, fought against the Saxons. And though there were many more noble than himself, yet he was twelve times chosen their commander, and was as often conqueror.”

That’s it!

OK, let’s see what Gildas says. “…that they might not be brought to utter destruction, took arms under the conduct of Ambrosius Aurelianus, a modest man, who of all the Roman nation was then alone in the confusion of this troubled period by chance left alive.”

That’s the closest we get! No wonder everything else is considered legend. All other writings come centuries later. The next historian to mention Arthur is Geoffrey of Monmouth, writing about 1150 A.D.

As I dug through books and maps and articles, one thing became increasingly clear: The legends and stories surrounding Arthur made no sense. With each passing century the stories were expounded upon and enlarged to include a whole array of characters from the ridiculous to the sublime. The themes began to branch out to adultery and treachery. So what was I to make of it all? Was there any truth to the legend?

Just as a common theme emerges from fairy tales the same is true regarding the Arthurian stories.

1. A country of peoples, the Britons, was in peril of being overrun by an enemy – the Saxon invaders.

2. A man was selected to take up arms and lead the Britons in a fight against the Saxons.

3. After many battles, he was successful in defeating the enemy so soundly they quietly stayed in their own borders for twenty years.

Whoever this man was, what he did left a lasting impression that spread from the British Isles to Normandy and Brittany in France. It lasted through the ages and spreads around the world with the English language. Whoever he was, he has been immortalized in prose and poem, in song, theater and film. Even today, he stands as the highest ideal of strength, morality, right and virtue.

T.H. White called him, “The Once and Future King.”

Legend calls him Arthur.

Next: Arthur – what means the name?