see it clearly

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

In the history of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, many stories were related over the years that give the King Arthur name a fictional persona. While it's true many of the stories — from the writings of Gildas and of Geoffrey of Monmouth — relay romanticism and tales worthy of epic poetry, some details of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table actually coincide with real history.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

Who is King Arthur?

King Arthur was a leader in the British army whose major exploit was defending against the Saxon army in the 6th century. Whether King Arthur was real or just a legend is still debated, but many early texts in the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries laid claims to around twelve battles Arthur fought in. Many scholars believe the lack of texts mentioning King Arthur during the time he was alive adds to the fact he may not have existed at all.

One interesting note is none of the manuscripts or texts that mention Arthur Pendragon actually calls him King. You'll find references to "leader of battles" or "soldier," but not King.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

The Round Table used by King Arthur and his Knights was exactly that: a round table where everyone gathered together. Since its first mention in 1155, the Round Table has been surrounded by symbolism. Since there is no head position, everyone is considered an equal, which eliminated fighting and the air of being higher than one another. Second, the Round Table embodies the chivalric orde" of Knights, especially King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The actual size of the table varies, depending on the text you consult; you'll find the number of seats ranging from 50 to 150 and all the way to 1600.

The main knights associated with the Arthurian legend are Sir Bedivere, Sir Gawain, Sir Kay, and Sir Lancelot.

  • Bedivere is considered Arthur's right hand man and the official cup bearer. In much of the literature, he is brave, handsome, and is very skilled with a spear. In one of Arthur's last battles, Bedivere was commanded to take Excalibur back to the Lady of the Lake after Arthur suffered a detrimental wound. When King Arthur died, Bedivere retreated to Glastonbury until his final days.
  • Sir Gawain was the nephew of Arthur and close companion. The legend of Gawain changes over time. Early mentions give him positive exploits in battle, while later descriptions tell of a dishonorable and vengeful knight. It is even suggested he threatens Lancelot for disrespecting the King, queen, and Agravain, his brother. You may hear a tale involving Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where Gawain travels through a forest as he journeys to the Green Chapel. In an effort not to reveal where a magical charm is located, he takes on two challenges from the Green Knight, successfully completing them and returning to Camelot in full honors.
  • The foster brother of Arthur, Sir Kay was in charge of the estate of a famous lord. Arthur considered Kay one of his most trusted knights, even though many later tales about him involve nefarious deeds. In some legends, Kay claims to have removed the famous Excalibur from the stone.
  • One of the most recognizable names in the King Arthur legend is Sir Lancelot. Reading stories from early tales of the Round Table legend to later tales, you'll notice Lancelot only appears in the later ones. He was raised by the Lady of the Lake and performed heroic deeds as well as dishonorable and questionable ones.

Real or Myth

It's hard to make a concrete conclusion as to the existence of King Arthur based on texts of the past and historians of the present. Whether you believe in King Arthur or any of his Knights of the Round Table, you'll find rich stories steeped in imagination and folklore.