King Arthur

King Arthur is a legendary British ruler and the central character in Arthurian legend. He is possibly based on an actual historical figure who may have ruled parts of southwestern England around the early sixth century between the departure of the Romans and the completion of Anglo-Saxon settlement. Much of the legend was compiled by Thomas Malory, whose work influenced Alfred, Lord Tennyson and later writers including T. H. White. Several films have been made about Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Prominent characters besides Arthur include the wizard Merlin, the evil witch Morgan le Fay, and Arthur's wife Queen Guinevere. The Knights, most of whom are heroic and chivalrous, include Sir Lancelot who loves Guinevere, and Sir Galahad who famously seeks the Holy Grail. Famous stories in the legend include the Sword in the Stone, Camelot, the Lady of the Lake, Excalibur, and Avalon.

The main evidence for a real Arthur is the so-called Battle of Mons Badonicus (Mount Badon) in about 503 when a Romano-British force defeated the Saxons at an unknown location, possibly in Wales. The existence of this battle is known from much later historical references which are vague about events and the outcome. It was perhaps a siege rather than an actual battle.