Clas Merdin: Tales from the Enchanted Island
Discussions of Legendary History & Matters Arthurian
"No character, eminent in ancient history, has ever been treated with more extravagance, mendacity and injustice, than the renowned Arthur, the illustrious monarch and valiant commander of the Britons"
- [J Ritson, The Life of King Arthur, 1825]
"No character, eminent in ancient history, has ever been treated with more extravagance, mendacity and injustice, than the renowned Arthur, the illustrious monarch and valiant commander of the Britons"
- [J Ritson, The Life of King Arthur, 1825]
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The Sleep of King Arthur in Avalon - Sir Edward Burne-Jones |
The Quest for the Dux Bellorum
The historical mystery of the identity of King Arthur would appear to be an eternal enigma until someone unearths a document or archaeological evidence to reveal the identity of the Dux Bellorum, the legendary hero who rallied Post-Roman Britain against the Saxon onslaught.
Arthur: The Eternal Enigma
1. Its all true or ought to be
Arthur is claimed by all the Celtic lands of North West Europe: Scotland; Wales; Cornwall; Brittany; with new theories endlessly put forward claiming to reveal the true identity of the historical Arthur.
Yet, can the true identity of Arthur, the mighty defender of Britain, a figure that emerged from Celtic Mythology, as a historical character ever be revealed? Or is he purely a literary creation?
Although scholars of the Ancient Books of Britain can differ in their translations and opinions, the interpretations of those renditions are purely mine.
Presented here are thoughts and ideas that may one day be expanded further elsewhere.
Evidence of Arthur?
Arthur: The Eternal Enigma
1. Its all true or ought to be
Arthur is claimed by all the Celtic lands of North West Europe: Scotland; Wales; Cornwall; Brittany; with new theories endlessly put forward claiming to reveal the true identity of the historical Arthur.
Yet, can the true identity of Arthur, the mighty defender of Britain, a figure that emerged from Celtic Mythology, as a historical character ever be revealed? Or is he purely a literary creation?
Although scholars of the Ancient Books of Britain can differ in their translations and opinions, the interpretations of those renditions are purely mine.
Presented here are thoughts and ideas that may one day be expanded further elsewhere.
*
Evidence of Arthur?
"......men hold opinion that there was no such Arthur and that all such books as been made of him been but feigned and fables...[yet] there were many evidences of the contrary.
First, ye may see his sepulture in the monastery of Glastonbury; and also in Polychronicon, in the fifth book, the sixth chapter, and in the seventh book, the twenty-third chapter, where his body was buried, and after founden and translated into the said monastery. Ye shall see also in th’istory of Bochas, in his book De Casu Principum, part of his noble acts, and also of his fall. Also Galfridus, in his British book, recounteth his life. And in divers places of England many remembrances been yet of him and shall remain perpetually, and also of his knights: first, in the abbey of Westminster, at Saint Edward’s shrine, remaineth the print of his seal in red wax, closed in beryl, in which is written patricius arthurus britannie gallie germanie dacie imperator; item, in the castle of Dover ye may see Gawain’s skull and Cradok’s mantle; at Winchester, the Round Table; in other places Lancelot’s sword and many other things." [William Caxton, Preface to Malory's Morte d'Arthur]
1. Glastonbury: Ancient Avalon
The site of the tomb of King Arthur
2. Tintagel: Arthur's Castle?
Was there a Dark Age fortress here?
3. King Arthur lives in Merrie Carlisle
Arthurian sites in Northern Cumbria
4. The Winchester Round Table
The wooden table at Winchester that was once believed to King Arthur's Round Table
5. On the Trail of the Dragons of Emrys
The beginnings of the Merlin legend on a hill in Snowdonia
6. Arthur and the Dogheads of Eidin
An ancient Welsh poem recounts Arthur fighting dogheads
7. Cadbury Castle: Visions of Camelot
Was this Dark Age hillfort in Somerset King Arthur's fortress?
8. Arthur, Stonehenge and the Solstice
Was King Arthur buried within the Giants Dance along with his relatives?
9. Dover Castle: Gawain's Skull
Gawain, the greatest knight, is said to be interred at the castle
10. Dozmary Pool: Nothing but Waves.....
Is this isolated pool on Bodmin Moor the home of the Lady of the Lake?
First, ye may see his sepulture in the monastery of Glastonbury; and also in Polychronicon, in the fifth book, the sixth chapter, and in the seventh book, the twenty-third chapter, where his body was buried, and after founden and translated into the said monastery. Ye shall see also in th’istory of Bochas, in his book De Casu Principum, part of his noble acts, and also of his fall. Also Galfridus, in his British book, recounteth his life. And in divers places of England many remembrances been yet of him and shall remain perpetually, and also of his knights: first, in the abbey of Westminster, at Saint Edward’s shrine, remaineth the print of his seal in red wax, closed in beryl, in which is written patricius arthurus britannie gallie germanie dacie imperator; item, in the castle of Dover ye may see Gawain’s skull and Cradok’s mantle; at Winchester, the Round Table; in other places Lancelot’s sword and many other things." [William Caxton, Preface to Malory's Morte d'Arthur]
1. Glastonbury: Ancient Avalon
The site of the tomb of King Arthur
2. Tintagel: Arthur's Castle?
Was there a Dark Age fortress here?
3. King Arthur lives in Merrie Carlisle
Arthurian sites in Northern Cumbria
4. The Winchester Round Table
The wooden table at Winchester that was once believed to King Arthur's Round Table
5. On the Trail of the Dragons of Emrys
The beginnings of the Merlin legend on a hill in Snowdonia
6. Arthur and the Dogheads of Eidin
An ancient Welsh poem recounts Arthur fighting dogheads
7. Cadbury Castle: Visions of Camelot
Was this Dark Age hillfort in Somerset King Arthur's fortress?
8. Arthur, Stonehenge and the Solstice
Was King Arthur buried within the Giants Dance along with his relatives?
9. Dover Castle: Gawain's Skull
Gawain, the greatest knight, is said to be interred at the castle
10. Dozmary Pool: Nothing but Waves.....
Is this isolated pool on Bodmin Moor the home of the Lady of the Lake?
I have given you all the pieces of the jigsaw, the answer lies in front of you
"Follow your Bliss"
Clas Merdin: Tales from the Enchanted Island
Copyright © 2008-2021 Edward Watson
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Dear Edward,
ReplyDeleteMay I ask your permission to use your materials related to Mabon and Nuada? My blogposts are only in Hungarian, I can't reblog your article, only partly translate it to my language, and cite those with your name and bloglink.
Thanks.
Gillian (Ildiko in hungarian)
Hello Gillian, I have no problem with you using short extracts from my posts of up to 200 words provided they acknowledge myself as author and hyper-linked to the the original article on this blog.
DeleteThanks for showing an interest in my writing. Good luck with your blog.
Best wishes, Ed.
This is a great resource Ed, I have come across it running a lazy line in research on Becket's murder, my lucky chance.
ReplyDeletebest wishes, Dom.
Welcome Dom and thank you for the comment.
DeleteWe all know about Becket's martyrdom at Canterbury but I didn't expect to come across the murder weapon in Carlisle cathedral. I stumbled across the Becket sword while on holiday one year in the Lake District, my hidden agenda was Arthurian sites of course. I made some notes that I looked up when I got back home and found a fascinating story; it never ceases to amaze me what you uncover when you scratch the service.
Ed