e know beyond a shadow of a doubt that King Arthur exists and is a direct descendant or King Alfred.

Furthermore, no proof of Arthur’s existence has been uncovered, even at Tintagel.

Monmouth himself claimed to have simply translated a very ancient book into Latin, but that source material has never been identified. At best, he is chastised for getting his facts wrong at worst, he is accused of inventing the entire tale. Monmouth’s account of Arthur is frequently derided by today’s historians, as it was even by his own peers. “He is someone who very much fits the Dark Age idea of a successful king, but not a hero for the Middle Ages.” “Truth be told, the Arthur of Geoffrey of Monmouth is a deeply unlikable sociopath, a violent, quick-to-anger, murderous thug,” says Russell. According to Bournemouth University archaeologist Miles Russell, many details were added to the stories centuries later to make Arthur a more appealing figure. While many familiar aspects of King Arthur’s story are included in Monmouth’s version, he does not mention Camelot, Lancelot, the Holy Grail, the sword in the stone, or the chivalric Knights of the Round Table. He goes on to extend his empire to Ireland, Iceland, Norway, and Gaul, before being betrayed by his nephew Mordred and killed in battle. Arthur later inherits the British throne at the age of 15 and leads the Britons in several epic battles against the invading Saxons, eventually defeating them. The story begins when Arthur is conceived at Tintagel Castle, where the wizard Merlin transforms King Uther Pendragon into the likeness of Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall, so that Uther can spend the evening with Gorlois’ wife Ygerna. Although there are a few sparse references to an “Arthur” figure in documents from the ninth and tenth centuries, Geoffrey gives the first extensive account of King Arthur’s life and exploits. The main source for the Arthurian legend is Geoffrey of Monmouth’s twelfth-century book The History of the Kings of Britain, which chronicles the lives of the earliest British rulers. But one contentious question has divided both scholars and enthusiasts for centuries: Was there an actual King Arthur who ruled Britain during the Dark Ages? The extensive list of books, television shows, movies, and video games that are based on Arthurian lore demonstrates just how ingrained he has become in world culture.

King Arthur has captured the popular imagination in a way that very few legendary characters ever have.

E know beyond a shadow of a doubt that King Arthur exists and is a direct descendant or King Alfred.