King Arthur

:For the 1691 opera by Dryden and Purcell, see King Arthur (opera).

The Arthur of history

:Main article: Historical basis for King Arthur

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The possible historicity of the King Arthur of legend has long been debated by scholars. One school of thought believes Arthur to have lived sometime in the late 5th century to early 6th century, to have been of Romano-British origin, and to have fought against the pagan Saxons. His power base was probably in either Wales, Cornwall, or the west of what would become England, but controversy over the center of his power and the extent and kind of power he wielded continues to rage.

Related Topics:
5th century - 6th century - Romano-British - Pagan - Saxon - Wales - Cornwall - England

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Some members of this school, most notably Geoffrey Ashe and Leon Fleuriot, have argued for identifying Arthur with a certain Riothamus, "King of the Brettones," who was active during the reign of the Roman Emperor Anthemius. Unfortunately, Riothamus is a shadowy figure of whom we know little, and scholars are not certain whether the "Brettones" he led were Britons or Bretons.

Related Topics:
Geoffrey Ashe - Leon Fleuriot - Riothamus - Roman Emperor - Anthemius - Britons - Bretons

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Other writers suggest that Arthur should be identified as one Lucius Artorius Castus, a historical Roman of the 2nd century, whose military exploits in Britain may have been remembered for centuries afterwards. Yet the obscurity surrounding the historical career of Artorius makes this identification unlikely, as there seems to be little reason for him to have become a major legendary figure.

Related Topics:
Lucius Artorius Castus - 2nd century

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Another school of thought believes that Arthur is a half-forgotten Celtic deity devolved into a personage (citing sometimes a supposed change of the sea-god Lir into King Lear) or a possibly fictive person like Beowulf. Subscribers to this school of thought argue that another Roman Briton of the period, for example Ambrosius Aurelianus, led the forces battling the Saxons at the Battle of Mons Badonicus.

Related Topics:
Lir - King Lear - Beowulf - Ambrosius Aurelianus - Battle of Mons Badonicus

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Further, historical persons may have influenced the later legends, like the Scots king Aedan mac Gabran, who had a son called Artuir and whose life was somewhat similar to Arthur's.

Related Topics:
Scots - Aedan mac Gabran

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