1. KING ARTHUR
THE LEGEND & HISTORY

2. The Legend – Who ?
the name of King Arthur - no appearance in the Middle ages. The timeline: - documented records on all the Kings of England (William the Conqueror [1066] to the end of the Middle Ages [1485]) the Dark Ages ( 410 AD AD ) - no appearance in records either #1 impossible to provide an accurate biography of his life and history # 2 his biography is only based on a legend # 3 documented records of the Middle Ages were scarce.

3. The History - The One, True King of the Britons
not based on real historical evidence
cannot it be verified with hard and fast facts
the legend was based on the books by the clerics of the Medieval era/the Middles Ages
many Welsh legends & Celtic myths about King Arthur and the Arthurian Legend
the Welsh claim the sovereignty of all the kingdom of Britain based on the legends & myths
King Arthur = "the one, true King of the Britons”

4. How did the Legend Start?
the main source of information:
Geoffrey of Monmouth - Historia Regum Britanniae (1136) - fictional
Others:
the 'Black Book of Caernarvon' (Welsh: Llyfr du Caerfyrddin) (1250) - stories and poems about the heroes of Britain in the Dark Ages + those to do with the legend of King Arthur & Merlin
Historia Brittonum - Nennius
the Annales Cambriae
the Chronicon Anglicanum
the Mabinogion (Welsh)
Fiction >> fact!

5. fuelled by the Medieval troubadours, jongleurs & minstrels
The Romantic Legend
fuelled by the Medieval troubadours, jongleurs & minstrels
the stories of the brave King Arthur, great knights, Camelot, chivalrous deeds, great battles and fair ladies circulated from court to court all over Europe
The heroic images took on the Medieval clothes & fashion
Jousting in tournaments were also incorporated.

6. Making a Legend - The One, True King of the Britons
the Medieval Kings of England turned these myths and legends to their advantage
King Edward I (Longshanks) - political purposes – the Arthurian legends & myths to authenticate his claims to the both the Welsh & English thrones
Connections b/n Caernarvon, Arthurian Legend, Merlin, Prophecies & even Stonehenge =
his 'legitimate claim' to the Welsh throne
The Tudors - credibility

7. Merging the History with the Legend
Medieval politicians strengthen the claims to both the English & Welsh thrones
much influence, advantage and credibility gained to connect their lineage to King Arthur "the one, true King of the Britons", his realm of Camelot and the prophecies of Merlin the Wizard

8. The Arthurian legends & myths vs. the Medieval people:
Ancient Arthurian Prophecies (the king of era arranged them to be seen fulfilling)
The English liked connections to the old religions & life before the Norman Conquest (the magicians, wizards & the druids)
The connection to King Arthur – his rule of honour, honesty, loyalty, chivalry & valour
The 'one, true King of the Britons' prophecy = the Medieval Kings’ credibility, esp. in Wales
A romantic story of love, fair ladies, brave knights and triumphant battles = good publicity for any Medieval king
A link to Christianity, the crusades & the search for the Holy Grail
Any 'proof' of their lineage to ancient Kings = Medieval kings’ justification for their sovereignty

9. KING ARTHUR (2004) – CLIVE OWEN, KEIRA NIGHTLY
TRAILER: N6pZX0sDAk
FULL MOVIE: