King Arthur is a legendary English figure who baffles historians to this day with one question: was he real? Differing opinions aside, most history buffs agree that the stories were probably based on a real person, most likely a warrior who led armies against Saxon invaders in the 5th or 6th centuries.
A Legendary Figure or the Figure Behind Legend?
Tales of King Arthur’s battles and heroism have been around for centuries, and the first mention of the gallant monarch is from a Latin text dating back to 829 AD (Historia Brittonum). He also appears in the 12th-century work by Geoffrey of Monmouth (Historia Regum Britanniae).
An illustration of King Arthur from Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae (1155 AD).
Within these texts, Arthur rose to rule England after proving himself in many fights with mythological monsters and supernatural enemies. While these fantastical fairy tales may have been just that, their themes of heroism against all odds still inspired real rulers down the line. Henry VII named his first child Arthur, as he spent his childhood fascinated with the stories of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. In fact, he even redecorated the Winchester Round Table to match this obsessive aesthetic, which still hangs in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle today.
The Winchester Round Table displayed within the Great Hall in Winchester Castle.
Although the inspiration for King Arthur is centuries old, the morality of the tales in which he battles invaders to defend his home, fights for his true love, and endures through all his noble quests still ring true today and have stood the test of time. The legends remain important a thousand years later because of the values they instill, such as equality, bravery, loyalty, and love.
While King Arthur may not have been a real hero, he exists within the minds of all who learn his story, making him a true legend.
