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King Arthur (Welsh: Brenin Arthur, Cornish: Arthur Gernow, Breton: Roue Arzhur, French: Roi Arthur), according to legends, was a king of Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain.
Apr 15, 2024 · King Arthur, legendary British king who appears in a cycle of medieval romances (known as the Matter of Britain) as the sovereign of a knightly fellowship of the Round Table. It is not certain how these legends originated or whether the figure of Arthur was based on a historical person.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 12, 2017 · King Arthur is among the most famous literary characters of all time. The Arthurian legend of the Knights of the Round Table, Camelot, the Quest for the Holy Grail, the love affair of Lancelot and Guinevere, and the wizard Merlin have informed and inspired literary, musical, and other major artistic visions for centuries.
- Joshua J. Mark
Apr 9, 2024 · The Arthurian Legend developed in Europe between c. 830, when the Welsh historian Nennius first mentions King Arthur through c. 1469 when Sir Thomas Malory composes Le Morte D’Arthur, the best-known version of the tales, which was published by William Caxton in 1485 and became a best-seller, as it has remained since its revival in the 19th century.
- Joshua J. Mark
- Content Director
Apr 9, 2024 · Explore the history and myth of the legendary king who fought the Saxons and founded the Knights of the Round Table. Discover the places in Britain that claim a connection to Arthur and his quest for the Holy Grail.
- Bob Brooke
Apr 2, 2014 · King Arthur is a mythological figure who may have been based on a 5th to 6th-century British warrior who staved off invading Saxons. Learn about his legend, his life, his battles, his knights and his legacy in literature, movies and TV shows.
Arthurian legend, the body of stories and medieval romances centering on the legendary king Arthur. Medieval writers, especially the French, variously treated stories of Arthur’s birth, the adventures of his knights, and the adulterous love between his knight Sir Lancelot and his queen, Guinevere.