King Arthur: The Life and Legend

Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any inappropriate content while maintaining the essence of the story:

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“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.” This is a quote from the ancient text known as the *Historia Brittonum*, one of the oldest records of King Arthur’s life story. We have all grown up watching movies and reading books about the legend of King Arthur. A young man pulls the magic sword Excalibur from the stone, and a wizard named Merlin guides him into manhood. As an adult, he established the legendary knights of the round table and ruled over Camelot. Future generations would look to him as the first king of the British Empire. However, while everyone knows him by name, few people know the whole story behind the man who made the legend. Here on Biographics, we will uncover the truth behind King Arthur of Camelot.

**The Dark Ages and Arthur’s Early Life**

During the 5th Century, the modern-day United Kingdom was called Britannia. The Roman conquerors had been driven out of the land, and the ancient Britons were left to govern themselves. Without a central government, the country was plunged into a time known as the Dark Ages. Several Celtic tribal leaders declared themselves “King,” but there was never one ruler who governed them all. If this reminds you of *Game of Thrones*, that’s because George R.R. Martin drew inspiration from these ancient stories of early middle-age war and conquest. Many of these kingdoms were at war with one another, making it impossible for anyone to settle down and establish new art or culture. There is a lot of mystery surrounding that time, as very few people kept a historic record of daily life. Almost everyone was illiterate, from the peasants to the nobility. Christian clergymen were the only ones who knew how to read and write, but they often isolated themselves from the rest of society in favor of theological studies. Without a central economy, citizens of Britannia did not have money in the form of coins or bills, so they used a barter system to trade goods and services. Most peasants were farmers, growing enough food to feed themselves. However, even within this barter system, people were still expected to pay taxes to their Feudal Lords in the form of goods and labor. Often, if two Kings were fighting over control of the land, peasants had to pay taxes twice in one year. Without a proper education system, people believed in magic and were incredibly superstitious. While Christianity existed, many were still practicing ancient Pagan traditions. It was during this unstable time that Arthur was born. Without any written records, we do not know his exact date of birth, but we do know that he was conceived in Tintagel, on the coast of Cornwall. In 2016, an archaeological dig at Tintagel revealed that the city held many lavish imported luxury goods. At the time, it would have been a town bustling with activity as boats sailed in and out of the harbor.

Arthur’s father was King Uther Pendragon. He desired a beautiful woman named Lady Igraine, who was married to his rival, Lord Gorlois. According to legend, Pendragon asked his in-house wizard, Merlin, to cast a spell to look like Gorlois, so he could trick Igraine. Modern historians believe that Merlin was not a wizard but one of the last remaining Celtic druids, thought to have a connection to the spiritual world. The druids practiced herbal medicine and were known for their wisdom. King Pendragon waited until Lord Gorlois left on a business trip to appear before Lady Igraine, disguised as her husband. It is likely that Uther Pendragon took an herbal “potion” from Merlin to help him deceive Lady Igraine. Later, Lord Gorlois was horrified to learn that his wife had been deceived. She became pregnant with Pendragon’s child, a boy named Arthur. Lady Igraine did not want to raise the baby, and no one wanted to claim responsibility. Merlin felt guilty for his part in all of this and chose to raise Arthur as his son. Lord Gorlois and Lady Igraine would go on to have their own daughter, Arthur’s half-sister, Morgan.

**The Lady of the Lake**

The druids were not the only ones thought to be magical. In many cultures, women who lived alone were often accused of practicing witchcraft. A young woman named Vivian was known as “The Lady of the Lake.” Instead of being a frightening figure, she was described as a beautiful woman who lived near a lake. For years, the lands were filled with lakes and marshes. Christian clergymen built their monasteries on small islands, and the only way for people to travel was by boat or walking on long causeways. In the 1700s, this land was drained for farmland, but modern archaeological digs have uncovered many Iron Age swords, axes, shields, armor, and tools that had been thrown into the water. Ancient Britons had a tradition of making offerings by tossing their weapons into lakes and marshes. Because of her reputation, Vivian’s lake became a spot for such offerings. One day, Vivian discovered a newborn baby boy abandoned on her doorstep. She decided to raise the orphaned child as her own and named him Lancelot. Merlin recognized Vivian’s strength and beauty and fell in love with her. He asked her to give him a chance, and she agreed to consider his proposal if he taught her everything he knew. In the more mystical versions of the story, Merlin taught Vivian magic, but it is more likely he was showing her how to become a druid. They fell in love and lived together in the cottage by the lake. Since Vivian was raising Lancelot and Merlin adopted Arthur, the two boys grew up together as brothers.

**Excalibur**

You have all heard the tale of how young Arthur pulled the sword Excalibur from the stone, and people recognized him as their true king. However, this version of the story is a fantasy. The warring kingdoms continued to fight during Arthur’s youth. Lancelot and Arthur practiced dueling from an early age. Arthur’s sword was called many names, including “Caliburn” and “Excalibur.” Other versions of the story say that the “Lady of the Lake” gave Excalibur to Arthur. According to scholar Rachel Bromwich, the name Excalibur may have arisen as a generic name for a sword. Vivian had an endless supply of weapons thrown into her lake, and it would make sense that she would retrieve valuable weapons. Arthur and Lancelot practiced with these swords from an early age and were skilled fighters before becoming knights. Arthur’s half-sister, Morgan, wanted to become a druid as well, so she began to study under Merlin. She earned the nickname “Morgan le Fay.” At the time, Arthur had no idea that Morgan was his half-sister, and the two teenagers fell deeply in love. Merlin forbade them from being together but never revealed their sibling relationship. However, trying to keep them apart only made their passion grow stronger. Merlin realized he needed to reveal the truth before it was too late.

**Invasion of The Saxons**

By the time he was in his late teens, Arthur became one of the most skilled warriors in the land and gained respect from other knights. King Pendragon and his wife never had another male heir. Merlin finally revealed to Arthur that he was the prince and the true successor to the crown. But this family drama had to be set aside as the Saxons began to invade Britannia. The Saxons, ancient German people, noticed the chaos in England and decided to take over the land. According to a 9th Century writer, Nennius, “Then in those days Arthur fought against the Saxons with the kings of the Britons, but he was commander in those battles.” Nennius lists 12 different battles where Arthur fought and conquered the invaders. This would have taken years of dedication, moving from place to place until all the Saxons were driven out. Soon enough, Arthur’s name spread across the land. After gaining a loyal following, Arthur revealed that he was the illegitimate son of King Pendragon. The people of the Celtic kingdoms chose to bend the knee to Arthur, and he was crowned as “the once and future king.”

**The Knights of the Round Table**

Arthur built his own castle in Camelot, said to be located in modern-day Wales. After becoming King, everyone knew who Arthur’s parents were, and he could never marry his half-sister, Morgan. So, he married Lady Guinevere, who became his Queen. It was said that she was one of the most beautiful women in the land, but like many royal marriages, theirs was one of duty rather than love. Morgan married King Lot of Orkney and had a son named Gawain. Despite knowing they were siblings, Arthur and Morgan continued their forbidden romance. She became pregnant and gave birth to their son, Mordred. Lancelot fought alongside Arthur during the war and was celebrated as one of the most skilled knights. He married Lady Elaine and became an undefeated champion in jousting tournaments. Queen Guinevere sensed that King Arthur was not loyal to her, so she and Lancelot began a secret love affair. During his battles against the Saxons, Arthur gathered trusted knights and built a large round table in the great hall of his castle. He chose this circular shape so that no man would be in a more important seat than another. Dozens of men gathered to discuss politics and plan future quests. Arthur and his knights went on countless adventures, including the search for the Holy Grail, said to be the cup that Jesus drank from during the Last Supper. According to 12th Century writer Chrétien de Troyes, “The grail was made of the finest pure gold, and in it were set precious stones of many kinds.” Legend has it that one drink from this cup would heal all wounds and grant eternal life. Many historians believe the legend of the Holy Grail is a Christian twist on the Pagan myth of the “cauldrons of plenty.” Lancelot and Lady Elaine had a son named Galahad, said to have one of the purest hearts of all the knights. As the story goes, Galahad was the only knight pure enough to touch the Grail, but he died attempting to find it. Most scholars believe the Holy Grail is a myth, while others say it is a real artifact waiting to be discovered. Morgan le Fay found out about Lancelot and Guinevere’s affair and revealed the truth to Arthur. Despite the betrayals, Arthur felt completely betrayed by his best friend. Arthur’s knights stormed Lancelot’s chamber, and he was killed. Guinevere was allowed to live but had to witness her true love die.

**The Death of Arthur**

Arthur’s son and nephew, Mordred, knew from an early age that he was the child of incest but could never reveal it. When he grew up, Mordred was knighted but pretended to be only his father’s nephew. Mordred’s older brother, Gawain, ascended the throne of Norway but remained loyal to King Arthur. Like many royals born of incest, Mordred was known for his violent temper. Queen Guinevere and Arthur never had children together, leaving no heir to the throne of Camelot. Mordred grew up hating his father and devised a plan to take the throne for himself. Heartbroken over Lancelot’s death, Guinevere spent her days alone in the castle. One day, while Arthur was away, Mordred seduced Guinevere, and she ran off to marry him, believing he was her husband’s nephew. In Arthur’s absence, Mordred declared himself the new King of Camelot. When Arthur returned and saw Mordred on the throne, it sparked the Battle of Camlann, where father and son fought one another. They were both mortally wounded and killed each other. When Arthur died, his body was taken to an island called Avalon for burial.

**Legacy**

Before we conclude, we want to mention that the day this video went live on YouTube is April 1st, 2019. Happy April Fools Day! Did you think King Arthur was real? The character of King Arthur is a work of fiction, as is this entire video. The legend we know today came from historian Geoffrey of Monmouth, who wrote the 11th Century book *The History of the Kings of Britain*. According to archaeologist Dr. Miles Russell, the legend of King Arthur is based on five different leaders in the ancient world. The first was Ambrosius Aurelianus, who actually defeated the Saxons in battle. There are also elements of true stories from Roman rulers like Constantine the Great and Magnus Maximus. Dr. Russell states, “Arthur’s birth, marriage, mid-life crisis, and dramatic death… These are elements that have already happened. When you take them away from Arthur’s story, there is nothing left for Arthur.” The character Geoffrey gives us is an echo of other people, creating a Celtic superhero. The legend became more elaborate during the 12th Century when French poet Chrétien de Troyes added romantic elements to the story, including details about Merlin, the Lady of the Lake, and the romance between Guinevere and Lancelot. Despite the historical inaccuracies, the blend of truth and fiction confused future generations. Kings and Queens in Great Britain believed King Arthur was real for over a thousand years, viewing him as the original establishment of the British Empire. Even King Henry VII named his firstborn son Prince Arthur, hoping to bring about a new “Arthurian Age.” He sought to legitimize the legends and commissioned a round table in his castle. The tradition to honor King Arthur continued into the 1800s, with Queen Victoria commissioning a wall in the Parliament building to depict Arthur’s life. Even into the 20th Century, the Nazis believed they needed to avenge their Saxon ancestors, and the Thule Society sought the Holy Grail in the 1930s. It wasn’t until recently that archaeologists and historians questioned King Arthur’s existence, writing off the story as a legend. Despite being a work of fiction, King Arthur continues to capture the imagination of people worldwide and will do so for years to come. Let us know in the comments if you were fooled by this video or if you were too clever to fall for it. Consider sharing this with family and friends as an April Fool’s Day prank to see if they believe it as well. Thanks for watching.

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This version maintains the narrative while ensuring that the content is appropriate for all audiences.