The legends of Camelot gave the impression of the greatness of the state, where knights in sparkling armor lived according to the code of honor, and the salvation of beautiful ladies was commonplace. The stories of Camelot are so deeply rooted in the minds of the British that it became not so important whether King Arthur actually existed. There are numerous rumors and legends about the heroic deeds of the knights, their struggle against injustice, the forces of evil and unthinkable monsters. Perhaps this famous hero of English folklore did not exist as such, however, several prototypes have been noted in history that could well be described under this name. Among these historical figures, for example, Lucius Artorius Cast, Ambrose Aurelian and Charlemagne.
Was Camelot?
There is no historical evidence that King Arthur actually existed. Legends about this hero were based on books written by priests of the Middle Ages. Based on these guesses, it is impossible to say whether the city of Camelot, described in legends, existed as the capital of the state ruled by Arthur. One of the significant works of that time - "The History of the Kings of Britain", written in 1136 by the clergyman Galfried of Monmouth - was the first work that told about the life of King Arthur, but there was no mention of the capital in it. To this day, archaeological excavations are carried out. Some of them confirm the existence of the city, others - refute.
Legend of king arthur
The legend tells the story of the life of the great commander and his exploits.
The wizard Merlin, who knew about the intrigues at court and the struggle for power, guarded the young Arthur and taught him military affairs himself. After the death of his father, Uther, the young man had to fight for the throne of the kingdom. The debate about whether the young king could rule the kingdom subsided when Arthur was able to get his sword out of stone. The sword was chained to stone, and for a long time no knight or other representative of the nobility could do this. It was as if fate itself led the young king to the throne and allowed Arthur to easily take possession of the legendary sword. After popular recognition, the struggle for power ceased, and the young monarch married Princess Guinevere.
Round table
It was at the court of King Arthur that the famous Round Table appeared, at which all knights will feel the same, regardless of location. Even the monarch during the round-table discussions was recognized equal to the rest. The prototype of this symbol, which was introduced by King Arthur, is located in the English city of Winchester, in the county of Hampshire.
King Arthur in modern cinema
Currently, many well-known directors are making feature films about the travels and exploits of the great king. One of the most popular works on this subject is a series called Merlin. Although the picture distorts some significant details, its creators adhere to the main storyline of the legends of Camelot. For example, the wizard Merlin appears here as a young man who has been trained as a court healer, but he constantly protects Arthur from death thanks to his gift.