by Dorothy Baum

Created on: July 17, 2008   Last Updated: August 13, 2008

The debate over whether King Arthur historically existed dates back to the Renaissance. With the invasion of the Saxons and Angles and later the Normans from Normandy, it was a time when Britain needed a hero to believe in; King Arthur was just that. He was the epitome of good over evil, light against dark, and right from wrong. There was one common belief that Arthur was a famed warrior who battled against the Germanic invaders in the late fifth and early sixth centuries.

The Tudor monarchs, who claimed their lineage leads back to him and his father, Uther Pendragon, defended the credibility of King Arthur. Of course, this defense was purely to bolster the justification to their respective reigns. Who would not be highly regaled as nobility if they could lay claim to an Arthurian bloodline?

Add to the mix of proving the authenticity of King Arthur is determining the country of his origin. Most popularly, it was Briton. There is also the slant that he was born in Wales, the bastard child between Uther Pendragon and Ingraine, who was then the wife of Duke Gorlois of Cornwall. To protect the child, the infant Arthur was sequestered away to Briton to be raised by a foster-father, Ector. This latter version birthed the story of "The Sword in the Stone" by which Arthur's freeing the sword, Excalibur, proved him the true and rightful King of England.

In all this, Geoffrey of Monmouth titillated the visage of King Arthur to the masses. He gave the Britons the hero they so sorely needed. Someone liken to Charlemagne but more. Charlemagne was a true historical figure, a Holy Roman Emperor and king of the Franks. The tales of Arthur, the Round Table Knights, defending kingdom and damsels and the quest for the ever-elusive Holy Grail, surpassed the fame of Charlemagne.

It has been from many reputed accountings that Geoffrey garnered his information from a book from Archdeacon. This later proved to be fictitious. Geoffrey was neither the first nor the greatest purveyor of the Arthurian legend. His contrivances paved the way for future writers to carry on the Legend of King Arthur.

These further stories encompass many other venues woven around the legendary king:

*Romance and deception:

King Arthur and his love for the lovely Queen Guinevere. The neglected Guinevere finds the missing love with Sir Lancelot.

Morgan Le Fay, who, unbeknownst to him, was actually his half sister, seduces Arthur. She bore his son Mordred, though Arthur was lead to believe the child was his nephew. Mordred later attempts to dethrone Arthur under Morgan's tutelage.

*Sorcery:

The employment of Merlin's magic to make Uther Pendragon appear like Duke Gorlois, allowing him to seduce Ingraine.

Morgan Le Fay was widely hinted to being a powerful sorceress, using her magic to aid Mordred with the attempt to deposed Arthur.

*Fantasy:

The Lady of the Lake, who was an advisor to Arthur. The castle and court of Camelot. The magic sword Excalibur. The Isle of Avalon, the final destination of the dying Arthur.

It is no wonder that so many authors have penned fantasy tales drawn from the enigma of this legendary monarch. With all the speculation and so little hard proof, there is no doubt that the debacle of Arthur's existence will continue throughout the ages.

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