The true story behind the legend of King Arthur is actually quite different than the one we have all grown up to know. Rather than being a King, Arthur was one of a group of knights who were legendary in their time for their bravery in fighting for the causes of the church.
King Arthur
According to the new evidence being discovered by historians, anthropologists and archaeologists, it is believed that the legend of King Arthur did not originate in the 15th century, but rather, about 1,000 years before in the story of a brave knight. Arthur had been traumatized in his youth by the violent death of his mother, and according to these new sources, the sword excalibur was pulled from a rock during a siege of Arthur’s hometown when he sought to defend his innocent and helpless mother from those who had come and taken their hometown. He was unable to save her life, and it haunted him.
Becoming loyal to the church and the Holy Mass, Arthur was set up for many disappointments which would lead to the moment of destiny. An avid follower of Pelagius, who he believed preached in the natural born freedom of every man, he would be crushed to learn that the church he fought for and loved excommunicated and murdered Pelagius in Arthur’s absence after Pelagius was denounced by St. Augustine.
In the true story, Merlin plays a very small role as a dark sorcerer in ancient Britain who is highly at odds with Arthur. In history, he never really takes on the exalted role he was given in legend.
The Knights of the Round Table
In 300 A.D., Rome easily covered the lands all the way from Arabia to Britain, but they wanted more. In the time of Arthur, they wanted the land to the East – the land of Sarmatia. When the Romans went into Sarmatia, they killed everything in sight. But the few who survived were legendary Sarmatian Calvary. Ironically, it is these prisoners of war who were taken in as captives of the Roman Empire to become knights with Arthur, among them Gallahad and Lancelot.
Arthur, who held firmly to the belief that everyone at the table was equal, created the round table to demonstrate this fact so that no one could claim a head seat.
The slaves were told that they would be taken for fifteen years and then would be again granted their freedom after serving Rome. But on the eve of their freedom, they were sent on a profoundly dangerous mission to rescue a young man who was considered destined to become a bishop who was deep in Britain which was being overcome by Saxon armies who were destroying all towns and villages in their path and killing every man, woman and child.
It was meant to be a suicide mission and the church knew this, but asked it of Arthur and his knights anyway.
Guinevere and Lancelot
When the knights arrived at their destination, they had only a little time for escape before the Saxons would be upon them and overtake the entire party. A small village lived outside the vast palatial estate of the man who’s son was meant to be bishop and Arthur, a man of high integrity, honor and courage, refused to leave a single one behind. When he discovered that there was a prison hidden beneath the castle walls, he released all the prisoners who were still alive and brought out a young boy and a young woman. That prisoner woman was Guinevere.
Another fascinating aspect to Guinevere that has been discovered in this new evidence is that she was a profound warrior, and she participated in battle with Arthur and his knights. Arthur was a man of high character and integrity, whereas Lancelot, although he was attracted to her, also, could not compete with a man who had become legend through his heroic deeds and conscience.
The Final Showdown at Badon Hill
The Saxons pursued them relentlessly. While they managed to put them off through a series of brilliant moves, such as luring the other army onto a lake covered over with ice which subsequently broke through as they came upon it, the army did reach them at the wall. They had no choice but to engage in one final showdown. The Saxons lived, breathed and died destruction. It was fight or be annihilated.
Everyone fought bravely in this bloody battle including Guinevere who was a master markswoman and much more of a ruffian than she is remembered in legend. But Lancelot died in this battle.
Arthur and Guinevere Marry
The marriage of Arthur and Guinevere occurred on Britain’s soil because Arthur had chosen to reclaim the land of his birth for ‘free’ men. He had learned of the betrayal of the church against one of his close friends, Pelagius, who had taught this and realized that his destiny was to protect his homeland now – no longer the church.
He became known at this point in his life as King Arthur and immediately proclaimed all men under his reign ‘free.’
Sources: King Arthur: The Movie - Starring Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd and Keira Knightley
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