King Arthur

Geoffrey of Monmouth

         Geoffrey of Monmouth was the first credible Arthurian scholar. He may have been born in Monmouth, Wales. Certainly, as his name and descriptions of local features suggest, he was highly familiar to the area. He also may have served in a Benedictine priory in Monmouth. He studied at Oxford from 1129 to 1151, and was consecrated as Bishop of St. Asaph by Archbishop Theobald on February 21st, 1152. He wrote the Prophetiae Merlini (The Prophecies of MerlinI) sometime sometime before 1135, and the Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain) around 1136. His last work, Vita Merlini (The Life of Merlin), was written between 1149 and 1151. He died around 1155.

King Arthur, also known as the Once and Future King,II is one of the most famous figures in the tales of RomanceIII and the center of the Matter of Britain.IV As legend would have it, He rose to power after the death of his father, Uther PendragonV, proving his value by drawing a sword which no one else could.VI He founded an order of knighthood called the Order of the Round Table, which was dedicated to honor, chivalry, gallantry, bravery, etc. He eventually fell at the Battle of Camlann, when his son/nephewVII Mordred. He is said to be sleeping at the Isle of Avalon, waiting for the day of England's greatest need, on which he shall ride forth and restore the British Empire.

The truth is somewhat different and less certain. Although all Arthurian scholars agree that there is a man behind the myth, they are less certain about which one it is. Many Western Roman Emperors, including Magnus MaximusVIII and Constantine III, came from Britain and could be identified as Arthur. Riothamus, who pushed back the Saxons in Britain and BrittanyIX, and Ambrosius AurelianusX, the predecessor of Uther Pendragon, are also candidates. Arthnou or Artognou, who was a ruler at Tintagel, Athrwys ap Meurig, a Welsh king, and other local chieftains have been selected. Lucius Artorius Castus, a Roman dux and praefectus of the VI Legion, has also been claied as Arthur, which is made more likely due to his headquarters at Camelot candidate Caerleon, the "Fortress of the Legion". In this essay I shall discuss the most likely Arthur.

Arthwys ap Meurig, King of Gwent

         According to the famous historians Gildas and the Venerable Bede, the word Arthwyr was a title. It was bestowed upon men who, like bears, were strong and powerful. Another Arthwys, or Arthruis, gained this title for fighting off the Picts in northern Britain in the late fifth century. He was confused with Arthwys, who also gained the title after being elected sovereign by the states of Britain. A third man, who was called Arthmael ("Bear Prince"), lived at the same time as Arthwys and liberated the Bretons from Marcus Conomorus, or King March. He is, in fact, the same person as Arthwys ap Meurig.

         Arthmael was identified as the King of Gwent by Lifris or Lifricus, who wrote the Life of St. Cadoc. He mentioned a grant of land now known as Cadoxton-juxta-Neah was given to St. Cadoc by King Arthmael of Gwent. As the ruler of Gwent at that time is known to have been Arthwys ap Meurig, it is shown that Arthmael and Arthwys ap Meurig were the same person, Arthmael being another title. Arthmael was the national hero of Brittany and founded several churches. His name, like many names in that time, has several variants, including Armel, Armail, Arzel, and Armagillus.

         As there could not be two great kings in Brittany flourishing at the same time and who happened to have the same name, the Arthmael who ruled Gwent must have been the Arthmael who defeated King March. He was also given the nickname of "The Hammer of the Saxons", a common nickname format for warrior-kingsXI.

          Arthmael was educated with his cousin St. Paul Aurelian at St. Illtyd's famous monastery and college. While Paul left to administer to the religious needs of the people in March's realm, Arthmael continued his education with another cousin, an abbot named Carentmael, at Bodmin. Arthmael married Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), the sister of Count Gwythian ap Gwythyr of Leon. Arthmael founded his own church in Powder and moved to Armorica, or Gaul. Carentmael accompanied him and they gathered a large force of soldiers.

         After arriving in Brittany, where his cousin Riwal Mawr the Great ap Emyr Llydaur the Armorican, King of Breton Dumnonia and his father-in-law Gwythyr, Count of Léon were already, he founded a settlement at Plouarzel. He later became the ruler of Wales, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and the Welsh Marches, or Britannia Secunda. He was crowned at age 15 by St. Dyfrig (Dubricius) at Caer Vudei (the camp in the woods), now Woodchester. He then ruled from Isca Silurum, which is now Caerleon-upon-UskXII.

         Certain of his knights can now be identified. The most important ones are:

• Sir Galahad Lancelot du Lac, King of Joyous Gard/Dolorous Gard: Llwch Wyddel, also called Llwch Llawinawg, Lord of the Lakes

• Sir Tristram: Drustanus ap Marcus Conomorus of Lyonne

• Sir Caradoc Friechfras: Caradog Freichfras ap Gwrgant MawrXIII

         Arthwys began a mounted war-band after the style of the Roman cavalry. He then used this to push back the Saxon encroachment in the twelve battles known as the Northern Campaign:

1. Battle of River Glein: the merger of River Glen in Lincolnshire with River Welland

2. First Battle of River Dubglas: Lindsey, Lincolnshire

3. Second Battle of River Dubglas: Lindsey, Lincolnshire

4. Third Battle of River Dubglas: Lindsey, Lincolnshire

5. Fourth Battle of River Dubglas: Lindsey, Lincolnshire

6. Battle of River Bassas: Hammerwich Water, Hammerwich

7. Battle of Celidon Wood: Coed Colyddon

8. Battle of Guinnon: Stow-in-WedaleXIV

9. Battle of the City of the Legion: Caerleon-upon-Usk

10. Battle of Tribruit: Severn near Llinlivan

11. Battle of Mount Agned: Catbrain Hill

12. Battle of Mount Badon/Battle of Badon Hill: Bannerdown Hill

         Near the end of his reign, he fought the man who would become known as Lancelot, Llywch Wyddel, over tribute. While he was at war, his army received a devastating blow and was separated by Llywch Wyddel. Hearing of this, the regent Medraut ap Cawrdaf ap Caradg Freichfras seized power. Arthwys gathered his army back together and returned, but was forced to fight the Battle of Llongborth (at the Severn Estuary) in order to land. He won and began fighting Medraut, but found him too powerful. Arthwys negotiated a treaty and they would have had peace, with Arthwys ruling half of Britain and Medraut ruling the other half, had not a knight drawn his sword to kill an adder which bit him. Both armies took this as a signal and charged. Medraut was killed and Arthwys was wounded and taken to Bardsey Island (Avallon).

         Contrary to popular belief, he did not die, but instead abdicated. He retired to Brittany and became a saint, St. Armel. He died and was buried at St. Armel-des-Boschaux. Ironically, King Arthur briefly became a saint, and if St. Armel, Arthwys, Arthmael, Arthwyr, and Arthur are the same people, then for a brief period of time, Arthwys was two saints at the same time.

Footnotes

IAs a matter of fact, this is the source of the now common "l" for "d" substitution in Merlin's name. He was originally Myrddin, and it is thought that Geoffrey substituted "l" for "d" when he Latinized it (Merdinus calls to mind the French word merde, which was, and still is, considered rude.), hoping no one would notice. They didn't.