King Arthur: Man or Myth? - Cloverleaf Local Arthur Man or Myth2.pdf · King Arthur: Man or Myth? 2222 • There are several theories regarding a ‘historical’ Arthur Ancient Deity

Kin

g A

rth

ur:

Man

or

Myt

h?

Kin

g A

rth

ur:

Man

or

Myt

h?

“If King Arthur did not live, he should have.” Sir Winston Churc







“If King Arthur did not live, he should have.” Sir Winston Churchill

hill

hill

hill

hill

hill

hill

hill

••Was Arthur a real m

an, a king, warlord, soldier, defender of

Was Arthur a real m

an, a king, warlord, soldier, defender of

his people? Or was he the stuff of legend, a mythic hero from

his people? Or was he the stuff of legend, a mythic hero from

the ‘Celtic tw

ilight’ that haunts us through

the centuries as a

the ‘Celtic tw

ilight’ that haunts us through

the centuries as a

romantic ideal for which we can not achieve?

romantic ideal for which we can not achieve?

••Regardless, Arthur and his companions were not from the

Regardless, Arthur and his companions were not from the

age of Chivalry with arm

ored knights & jousting which was

age of Chivalry with arm

ored knights & jousting which was

from the 12

from the 12thth-- 15

15ththcenturies. The saga of Arthur is from the

centuries. The saga of Arthur is from the

Dark Ages, approximately 450

Dark Ages, approximately 450-- 600AD.

600AD.

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

2 2222 222

••There are several theories regarding a ‘historical’ Arthur

There are several theories regarding a ‘historical’ Arthur

Ancient Deity

Ancient Deity

Ancient Deity

Ancient Deity

Ancient Deity

Ancient Deity

Ancient Deity

Ancient Deity

••In W

elsh, the modern language perhaps closest to the Celtic

In W

elsh, the modern language perhaps closest to the Celtic

tongue spoken by the inhabitants of southern Britain in the era

tongue spoken by the inhabitants of southern Britain in the era

of the Saxon invasions, the word ‘

of the Saxon invasions, the word ‘arth

arth’ m

eans ‘bear.’

’ means ‘bear.’

••In pre

In pre-- Christian Celtic religions there are several ‘bear gods’

Christian Celtic religions there are several ‘bear gods’

with a nam

e similar to

with a nam

e similar to arth, arthos, &

artos

arth, arthos, &

artos..

••Over the centuries the legends of this ‘god’ or dem

iOver the centuries the legends of this ‘god’ or dem

i --god m

ay

god m

ay

have been adapted and fit to contemporary facts and survived in

have been adapted and fit to contemporary facts and survived in

the form

of a legend of a great man as a way in which pagan

the form

of a legend of a great man as a way in which pagan

religions becam

e intertwined & adapted into early Christianity.

religions becam

e intertwined & adapted into early Christianity.

••It is possible there was a warrior during the 5

It is possible there was a warrior during the 5thth-- 66

ththcenturies that

centuries that

used a bear as his standard or battle flag.

used a bear as his standard or battle flag.

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

3 3333 333

Lucius Artorius Castus








••In 1924 historian Kem

p M

alone suggested that the Arthur was

In 1924 historian Kem

p M

alone suggested that the Arthur was

Lucius Artorius Castus, a Roman general sent to guard Hadrian’s

Lucius Artorius Castus, a Roman general sent to guard Hadrian’s

Wall in 181AD.

Wall in 181AD.

••Lucius Artorius Castus’ banner was a red dragon. The King Arthur

Lucius Artorius Castus’ banner was a red dragon. The King Arthur

of lore, Arthur Pendragon, was said to carry a banner with a red

of lore, Arthur Pendragon, was said to carry a banner with a red

dragon on it.

dragon on it.

••183AD, Castus led the defense of Britannia when Picts swarmed

183AD, Castus led the defense of Britannia when Picts swarmed

over the wall.

over the wall.

••Castus’ force was a cohort of 5,500

Castus’ force was a cohort of 5,500 Sarmatian cavalry

Sarm

atian cavalry

Sarm

atian cavalry

Sarm

atian cavalry

Sarm

atian cavalry

Sarm

atian cavalry

Sarm

atian cavalry

Sarm

atian cavalry. The

. The

Sarm

atians were from the Black Sea region. Sarmatians were

Sarm

atians were from the Black Sea region. Sarmatians were

mounted horsem

en. Their religion practiced worship on alters of

mounted horsem

en. Their religion practiced worship on alters of a a

sword in a stone, and archeological evidence from Britain shows

sword in a stone, and archeological evidence from Britain shows

that Sarmatian warriors were buried with the hilts of their sw

or

that Sarmatian warriors were buried with the hilts of their sw

or ds

ds

protruding from the ground. It is

protruding from the ground. It is possible

possible this led to the legend of

this led to the legend of

Arthur’s knights.

Arthur’s knights.

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

4 4444 444

Rio

tham

us

Rio

tham

us

••S

ome

hist

oria

ns, s

uch

as G

eoffr

ey A

she,

bel

ieve

the

lege

nds

of

Som

e hi

stor

ians

, suc

h as

Geo

ffrey

Ash

e, b

elie

ve th

e le

gend

s of

K

ing

Art

hur

deriv

e fr

om a

n ac

tual

5K

ing

Art

hur

deriv

e fr

om a

n ac

tual

5thth

cent

ury

Brit

ish

king

who

hel

d ce

ntur

y B

ritis

h ki

ng w

ho h

eld

the

title

‘th

e tit

le ‘ R

ioth

amus

Rio

tham

us’ w

hich

mea

ns ‘h

ighe

st le

ader

’ or

rule

r.

’ whi

ch m

eans

‘hig

hest

lead

er’ o

r ru

ler.

••H

is n

ame

is lo

st to

us,

but

this

H

is n

ame

is lo

st to

us,

but

this

Rio

tham

usR

ioth

amus

was

aliv

e du

ring

the

was

aliv

e du

ring

the

reig

n of

Rom

an E

mpe

ror

Ant

hem

ius

467

reig

n of

Rom

an E

mpe

ror

Ant

hem

ius

467

-- 472

AD

& m

ay h

ave

been

47

2AD

& m

ay h

ave

been

a

king

, or

supr

eme

war

lead

er o

f the

peo

ple

of B

ritta

ny o

r in

a

king

, or

supr

eme

war

lead

er o

f the

peo

ple

of B

ritta

ny o

r in

B

ritai

n.B

ritai

n.

••R

ioth

amus

Rio

tham

us, w

hile

ser

ving

in th

e ar

mie

s of

Em

pero

r A

nthe

miu

s is

, w

hile

ser

ving

in th

e ar

mie

s of

Em

pero

r A

nthe

miu

s is

la

st s

een

in h

isto

ry r

etre

atin

g af

ter

bein

g de

feat

ed b

y a

Vis

igo

last

see

n in

his

tory

ret

reat

ing

afte

r be

ing

defe

ated

by

a V

isig

oth

th

ar

my

som

ewhe

re a

roun

d th

e B

urgu

ndia

n to

wn

of

arm

y so

mew

here

aro

und

the

Bur

gund

ian

tow

n of

Ava

llon

Ava

llon

in

in

472A

D.

472A

D.

••W

e ha

ve a

lette

r w

ritte

n in

470

AD

by

a R

oman

Bis

hop,

Sol

lius

We

have

a le

tter

writ

ten

in 4

70A

D b

y a

Rom

an B

isho

p, S

olliu

s A

polli

naris

Sid

oniu

s, a

ddre

ssed

to “

Apo

llina

ris S

idon

ius,

add

ress

ed to

“R

ioth

amus

, kin

g of

the

Rio

tham

us, k

ing

of th

e B

ritto

nes.

”B

ritto

nes.

”

••T

he c

ross

The

cro

ss-- c

hann

el a

ctiv

ities

of

chan

nel a

ctiv

ities

of

Rio

tham

usR

ioth

amus

may

giv

e cr

edit

to

may

giv

e cr

edit

to

Geo

ffrey

of M

onm

oth

Geo

ffrey

of M

onm

oth

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

••Riotham

us

Riotham

us

Riotham

us

Riotham

us

Riotham

us

Riotham

us

Riotham

us

Riotham

us(also spelled

(also spelled Riotimus

Riotimus

Riotimus

Riotimus

Riotimus

Riotimus

Riotimus

Riotimus , , Rigotham

us

Rigotham

us

Rigotham

us

Rigotham

us

Rigotham

us

Rigotham

us

Rigotham

us

Rigotham

us , , Rigotamos

Rigotamos

Rigotamos

Rigotamos

Rigotamos

Rigotamos

Rigotamos

Rigotamos ), w

as a m

ilitary

), was a m

ilitary

leader, active circa

leader, active circa 470

470, called "

, called "King of the

King of the Brittones

Brittones" by

" by Jordanes

Jordanes, w

ho

, who

stated in

stated in The Origin and Deeds of the Goths

The Origin and Deeds of the Goths

••“ ““““ “““ (XLV.237) Now

(XLV.237) Now Euric

Euric , king of the

, king of the Visigoths

Visigoths , perceived the frequent change

, perceived the frequent change

of Roman Emperors and strove to hold

of Roman Emperors and strove to hold Gaul

Gaulby his own right. The Emperor

by his own right. The Emperor

Anthem

ius

Anthem

iusheard of it and asked the

heard of it and asked the Brittones

Brittones

for aid. T

heir King

for aid. T

heir King Riotimus

Riotimus

came with twelve thousand m

en into the state of the

came with twelve thousand m

en into the state of the Bituriges

Biturigesby the way of

by the way of

Ocean, and was received as he disem

barked from his ships. (238)

Ocean, and was received as he disem

barked from his ships. (238) Euric

Euric , king

, king

of the Visigoths, cam

e against them

with an innumerable arm

y, an

of the Visigoths, cam

e against them

with an innumerable arm

y, an

d after a

d after a

long figh

t he routed

long figh

t he routed Riotimus

Riotimus , , king of the

king of the Brittones

Brittones, before the Romans

, before the Romans

could join him

. So when he had lost a great part of his arm

y, he

could join him

. So when he had lost a great part of his arm

y, hefled with all

fled with all

the men he could gather together, and cam

e to the

the men he could gather together, and cam

e to the Burgundians

Burgundians , a

, a

neighboring tribe then allied to the Romans. But

neighboring tribe then allied to the Romans. But Euric

Euric , king of the

, king of the

Visigoths, seized the Gallic city of

Visigoths, seized the Gallic city of Arverna

Arvernafor the Emperor

for the Emperor Anthem

ius

Anthem

iuswas

was

now dead.

now dead.

An

them

ius

An

them

ius --

Las

t ab

le

Las

t ab

le

Em

per

or

of

the

Wes

tE

mp

ero

r o

f th

e W

est

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

5 5555 555

Ambrosius Aurelianus








••Sometim

es called ‘Last of the Romans.’

Sometim

es called ‘Last of the Romans.’

••Ambrosius Aurelianus was a Romano

Ambrosius Aurelianus was a Romano-- British warlord who m

ay

British warlord who m

ay

have come to power sometim

e between 470

have come to power sometim

e between 470-- 500AD

500AD

••It has been speculated that his father had been a Roman official

It has been speculated that his father had been a Roman official

or legion commander, & his m

other was a Celt, perhaps of a

or legion commander, & his m

other was a Celt, perhaps of a

royal fam

ily, but this can not be proven. Some ancient sources

royal fam

ily, but this can not be proven. Some ancient sources

claim Ambrosius was the son of the Emperor Constantine II, but

claim Ambrosius was the son of the Emperor Constantine II, but

this is unlikely. In W

elsh legend he is known as an emperor.

this is unlikely. In W

elsh legend he is known as an emperor.

••Evidence does exist that Ambrosius opposed Vortigern, and the

Evidence does exist that Ambrosius opposed Vortigern, and the

two m

en fough

t for control of Britain after the Roman

two m

en fough

t for control of Britain after the Roman

withdrawal.

withdrawal.

••Further evidence suggests that Ambrosius was for a time

Further evidence suggests that Ambrosius was for a time

successful at uniting some of the Celtic tribes & kingdoms,

successful at uniting some of the Celtic tribes & kingdoms,

keeping an arm

y of different tribes together, maintained the

keeping an arm

y of different tribes together, maintained the

Roman roads, and offering some sort of civilization in the

Roman roads, and offering some sort of civilization in the

crumbling 5

crumbling 5ththcentury.

century.

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

6 6666 666

••Gildas, in his

Gildas, in his De Excidio Britanniae

De Excidio Britanniae , wrote or Ambrosius,

, wrote or Ambrosius,

"" The remnants (of the British)...take up arm

s, and challenge thei

The remnants (of the British)...take up arm

s, and challenge their victors

r victors

to battle under Ambrosius Aurelianus. He was a m

an of unassuming

to battle under Ambrosius Aurelianus. He was a m

an of unassuming

character, who, alone of the Rom

an race, chanced to survive the

character, who, alone of the Rom

an race, chanced to survive the storm

storm

in which his parents, people undou

btedly clad in the purple, h

adin which his parents, people undou

btedly clad in the purple, h

adbeen

been

killed. T

heir offspring in our days have greatly degenerated fro

killed. T

heir offspring in our days have greatly degenerated from their

m their

ancestral nobleness. From that tim

e the citizens were sometim

es

ancestral nobleness. From that tim

e the citizens were sometim

es

victorious, som

etim

es the enem

y...up to the year of the Siege of

victorious, som

etim

es the enem

y...up to the year of the Siege of

Mon

s Mon

s Badon

icus."

Badon

icus."

••Gildas was a near contemporary of Ambrosius, so his

Gildas was a near contemporary of Ambrosius, so his

references

references may be

may bereliable.

reliable.

••Archeological evidence does suggest that a battle was

Archeological evidence does suggest that a battle was

fough

t, called M

ons Badonicus, ‘M

t. Badon’ around 496 AD

fough

t, called M

ons Badonicus, ‘M

t. Badon’ around 496 AD

where Celtic and Romano

where Celtic and Romano-- British forces heavily defeated a

British forces heavily defeated a

Saxon arm

y led by Cerdic, & for a time pushed the Saxons

Saxon arm

y led by Cerdic, & for a time pushed the Saxons

back to the eastern. Saxon Shore

back to the eastern. Saxon Shore

••In the 900s Ninnius attributed the victory at Mt. Badon to

In the 900s Ninnius attributed the victory at Mt. Badon to

‘Arthur’

‘Arthur’

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

6 6666 666

Ambrosius to Arthur?








••Ambrosius vanishes from history in 515AD.

Ambrosius vanishes from history in 515AD. (Arthur vanishing to

(Arthur vanishing to

Avalon…?)

Avalon…?)

••If Gildas, Bede, & Ninnius are accurate, Ambrosius would have be

If Gildas, Bede, & Ninnius are accurate, Ambrosius would have be en

en

around 75 years old at Badon. Some suggest that Ambrosius was th

around 75 years old at Badon. Some suggest that Ambrosius was the e

"the great king am

ong all the kings of the British nation,"

"the great king am

ong all the kings of the British nation,"

mentioned

mentioned

by the chroniclers, but that the actual arm

y was led by a younge

by the chroniclers, but that the actual arm

y was led by a younger Celtic

r Celtic

or Romano

or Romano-- British warlord, perhaps nam

ed Artorious, Artos, Arthus,

British warlord, perhaps nam

ed Artorious, Artos, Arthus,

etc. After 515AD this ‘A

rthur’

etc. After 515AD this ‘A

rthur’ m

ay have

may havesucceeded Ambrosius.

succeeded Ambrosius.

••Ninnius listed 12 great battles fough

t by Arthur all across Brit

Ninnius listed 12 great battles fough

t by Arthur all across Brit ain

ain

between 496

between 496-- 500, w

ith Badon listed as the last and greatest victory over

500, w

ith Badon listed as the last and greatest victory over

the Saxons as well as Arthur’s death at

the Saxons as well as Arthur’s death at Cam

lan

Cam

lan. If true, this would m

ean

. If true, this would m

ean

Arthur commanded a very swift cavalry force. Birth of the legend

Arthur commanded a very swift cavalry force. Birth of the legendof

of

Arthur’s knights?

Arthur’s knights?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

King Arthur: M

an or Myth?

Sources:

Sources:

Sources:

Sources:

Sources:

Sources:

Sources:

Sources:

••John M

atthew

s,

John M

atthew

s, King Arthur Dark Age W

arrior & M

ythic Hero

King Arthur Dark Age W

arrior & M

ythic Hero. (N

ew

. (N

ew

York: Random House Publishing) 2004.

York: Random House Publishing) 2004.

••Norm

a Lorre Goodrich,

Norm

a Lorre Goodrich, King Arthur

King Arthur . (New

York: Harper & Row

. (N

ew York: Harper & Row

Publishers) 1986.

Publishers) 1986.

••John Davies,

John Davies, A History of Wales

A History of Wales. (London, Penguin Press) 1993.

. (London, Penguin Press) 1993.

••Wikipedia, ‘Historical King Arthur.’ Found at:

Wikipedia, ‘Historical King Arthur.’ Found at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w

iki/Historical_King_Arthur

http://en.wikipedia.org/w

iki/Historical_King_Arthur

••‘Arthurian Resources on

‘Arthurian Resources on Brittania

Brittania.’ Found at:

.’ Found at:

www.britannia.com/history/artpage.htm

lwww.britannia.com/history/artpage.htm

l

Documents

King Arthur: Man or Myth? - Cloverleaf Local Arthur Man or Myth2.pdf · King Arthur: Man or Myth? 2222 • There are several theories regarding a ‘historical’ Arthur Ancient Deity