King Arthur

[laotse]

What is the origin of the King Arthur stories

[Andyvon]

They are based very loosely on the turbulent events that occurred in England in the Dark Ages shortly after the Romans had left in 410AD. In the following centuries the country fragmented into tribal zones and it was also threatened and settled by various foreign invaders such as the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. There were many battles and conflicts as warlords conducted various campaigns against their neighbours and outsiders. Stability of sorts only returned to England (Angle-land) during the 9th century when most of England was conquered and incorporated into the Danish Empire by Guthrum (although Alfred the Great held out in the fens of Somerset until he eventually restored Anglo Saxon rule).

The legends of King Arthur are rooted in the conflicts and turmoil of the 5th - 8th centuries. Most of the actual characters and events are lost in the mists of time, but many are known from the Anglo Saxon Chronicles which are the best records we currently have of those times. It might be worth looking in your library or on Google for the Anglo Saxon Chronicles. I read them once and they are very interesting (also the 'Eccliesiastical History of the English Speaking People' written by the monk Venerable Bede in the early 8th century. It tells much about the ordinary people of England at that time and it is also very interesting).


Sorry if anything is inaccurate here but I rattled this off from memory. I think it's OK though.

[Andyvon]

Sorry - me again.

Britain fragmented and developed into different kingdoms after the Romans left - Kent, Wessex, Mercia, Northunmbria etc. , each ruled by a king or queen.