Arthurian legends Part I

 Many years ago, in my student days, I spent a lot of time reading up on Arthurian legends and the history of the saga.  I dont remember it all now but I've read many many novels. 

There is very little historical evidence of Arthur but stories about him were written in Welsh from early on. The sagas often did not portray Arthur as a king but as a soldier or a tribal leader.  They introduced other characters, like soap operas and these became added to the legends as time went on. 

Thus we have characters like Guinevere, Lancelot, Perceval, Palomedes and so  on.  The early stories show Arthur involved in hunts and fights, and sometimes in conflict with the church.  Since monks wrote many of the early chronicles this may account for Arthur not appearing much in the history, as he may have annoyed churchmen.  The stories also involve Celtic magic, which suggests that he might not have been a Christian. 

If Arthur existed he was probably not a king or an emperor, but a war leader whose exploits made him admired and famous, and more and more exciting stories were added to his saga. He lived in post Roman Britain and may have had some Roman blood, and he may have managed for a time to push back the Saxons who had come into the country and to preserve something of the Roman way of life.  According to legend, Guenevere's earliest name was Guenhumara, and she was from the North, possibly the daughter of a Roman nobleman or possibly the daughter of a Northern King. Legend has it that she had golden or red hair. 

Gradually other characters were added, and given a back story and a legend took shape. In this story, Arthur becomes king or emperor, because he has successfully beaten back the Saxons and also because, as it turns out, he is the rightful son of the former King Uther.  However,  his birth is shadowy, since his father seduced his mother Igraine, who was married to Duke Gorlois of Tintagel.  So because of this shade, he is reared in secrecy with one of Uther's lords. He becomes king when he pulls a sword from a stone and is named the rightful King.  As a young man, Arthur is seduced by his half sister Morgan or Morgause, who is the daughter of Igraine by her first husband Gorlois.  Arthur does not know she is his sister, but the affair results in the birth of a son, Medraut.   Medraut and Morgan are bitter and turn to evil and they will be the ones who oppose Arthur's reign, where he tries to do good.  Arthur marries Guinevere, and part of her dowry is the Round Table where all the knights are equal and all swear to do good, and to protect the poor and weak.