King Arthur - The Medieval Legend | Documentary

King Arthur the Knights of the Round Table and the Holy Grail The Myth around the enigmatic King of the britons is unrivaled in its vibrancy the question of who King Arthur was was he real man or myth has occupied Scholars and thinkers for centuries he alone was able to pull the magical sword Excalibur from the stone the battle against the Saxons it is he who determines the outcome his court at Camelot is home to the noblest of knights the most beautiful women exuberant festivities pay homage to his Splendor and fame and his reputation as a just Regent precedes him he is purely and simply the most dazzling figure of an idealized Medieval Era from early on King Arthur is suspected of being a construct of pure invention nobody can say where he lived or died nor where he is buried he's a phantom who or what then lies behind the myth an old historic Chronicle May hold the key to the solution [Music] foreign [Music] the tale of King Arthur is set in Britain after 500 BC dark times the Romans have left the island the various small kingdoms are at War and Germanic tribes invade the land [Music] it is in this Bleak Epoch according to Legend that fifteen-year-old Arthur steps onto the scene and becomes king of the britons magical powers and his teacher the wizard Merlin make it possible [Music] I'm pleased at your return King Arthur is renowned for being strong and fearless a clever strategist he spearheads his Warriors through years of battles in defense of Britain [Music] he embodies hope for the hardship riddled people Grace the Saxons have attacked Our Land our Fields destroyed how women raped our children kidnapped the Lord Our Savior has sent us these heathens now to prove our faith and to put our courage to the test [Applause] he's that ideal ruler that model of kingships we can think about qualities of kingship of leadership and ideas of war and chivalry and honor and nobility in these kinds of Timeless themes that makes writers want to return to your three and legends over time King Arthur reportedly went to war against the Saxons 12 times he eventually brought it to a close at monspadonicus in this final battle Legend claims that he alone killed many hundred men sounds like fake news what is the real story is a historical event The Retreat of the Romans from Britain subsequently you have the situation that the Roman British population had to defend themselves against usurpers the Saxons they moved Inland from the East and several Spirits it is Arthur Who stops the Saxon advances in many great battles foreign gains Fame as a Victorious Warrior as evident in orally transmitted Welsh sagas in stories it isn't until the 9th century that we find written mention of him in a text on British history penned by a monk named nenius [Music] but the myth of Arthur originates in another text a king's Chronicle that makes Arthur pivotal written between 1135 and 1138 the author is Jeffrey of Monmouth presumably a clergyman like nenius Jeffrey collects anything he can find about his hero where sources leave gaps he invents new traits episodes and venues [Music] his contemporary colleagues are quick to criticize his work they describe some episodes as lies but they never doubt Arthur's actual existence [Music] Jeffrey's so-called Historia Ray gombrataniai is meant to be a history of Britain's earliest Kings with all the features Wars Love Murder and battles for the throne [Music] there are over a hundred names on the list of Kings amongst them such illustrious ones as Brutus King Lear Constantine the Great and King Arthur but he represents a new departure he is the first to rule over a peaceful and United Britain or that is what the author would have us believe modern research still sees Jeffrey's historical depiction as too Fantastical to be true but in the 12th century his Historia is one of the most popular Chronicles the book rather quickly achieved great circulation around 200 manuscripts of it still exists today we only have single copies of other medieval Works many for which no manuscripts exist anymore so 200 is a lot and there must have been many more naturally the historical Chronicle turns Arthur into an outstanding hero and a stellar Sovereign the figure embodies the ideal of a medieval ruler and other attributes are added on including those of courtly ideals the idea of the Round Table meaning that he is the first among equals an ideal head of state whose rule is not dictorial but Collective with his Knights those are aspects that developed in medieval times and have remained relevant and interesting to this day time and again researchers have tried to find a historic figure that Arthur is based on according to one Theory it may have been Roman Commander Lucius artorios castos artorios was likely stationed in Britain during the second century the next Roman who comes into consideration is Ambrosius aurelianos he is reputed to have led a Roman British Army into the legendary battle at mons badonicos in the 5th Century in doing so he managed to Halt the advance of the Saxons the third famous Roman to repeatedly turn up in the research goes by the name of Rio tamos he too is a commander during the 5th Century and is reputed to have died in 470 in a battle against the Goths a popular proposition is that of the bear man artos the Celtic word for bear that would have made him a Celtic Warrior who let the fight against the Saxons but upon closer examination none of these theories can be verified there are many questions when it comes to considering Arthur as a historic figure his name lends itself to certain connections and researchers have sought these intensively in all historical sources a second means of identification might be to look for historical figures that were such exemplary rulers and it transpires that Arthur is an amalgamation of many different parts so what we have here are various elements and names the different rulers that become the ingredients that are then Blended together to create a new single entity even the family tree spanning two thousand years that Jeffrey creates for Arthur is purely fictitious the author claims that Arthur's lineage can be traced back to the mythical Trojan Aeneas the lineage then includes his great-grandson Brutus who came to Britain and named it land of Brutus and even Arthur's father is fictitious how then can Arthur truly have existed thank you especially as he is described from the very beginning as a mythical hero as possessing superhuman strength defeating Dragons monsters and Giants [Music] and he has a teacher named Merlin who is a wizard it is he who paves the boy's way to the throne Jeffrey also describes Arthur as a medieval Knight with a golden helmet a shield with the image of the Virgin Mary with alarms and sword and he even has a clear idea about his place of birth on the Ragged western coast of Cornwall according to Jeffrey Arthur is conceived and born there the extramarital offspring of King UTA Pendragon [Music] thousands of Arthur fans congregate at the ruined castle by the Sea each year regardless of the fact that research has clearly shown that Arthur could not have lived there it wasn't built until the year 1230. [Music] archaeologists have Unearthed the remains of a settlement dating from the 5th or 6th Century this might have inspired Jaffrey if King Arthur never actually existed what else is hidden by the myth the track leads us to the anglo-norman Royal Family at the time of Jeffrey's writing the kingdom is in political crisis the Normans have been in power for around 70 years they stem from Scandinavian pirates that raided the coasts of Europe for decades including those of northern France after a bitter defeat they reach an agreement with the French King and gain their own principality they named this new region for their Origins Normandy foreign s were descended from Viking settlers who came to Normandy in the northwest of France in the early 10th century and over time assimilated with the Franks they adopted their language their religion and created very strong principality which maintained a degree of independence from the Franks this skills to assimilate and react pragmatically that is the big advantage of the Normans which leads them to found many successful States in October 1066 the Norman Duke William the first manages to take the British crown his Fleet crosses the channel and defeats the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings oh from this state forwards William is king of Britain as well as duke of Normandy he makes history as William the Conqueror and is renowned as the founder of the anglo-norman Royal Family in 1135 Stefan Von broer ascends to the throne he's the grandson of William the Conqueror his cousin Matilda also claims rights of succession a fight over the throne ensues between these two one that will continue for almost 20 years and will cause great upheaval in the land Jeffrey's writing at a time of war and we could see the appeal of a strong wise leader who brings people under him and to him during this time of Devastation and strife in Jeffrey's history can allow the Normans to see themselves as the successors to Arthur it is Stefan Von broer who discovers Arthur for himself and claims him to be the ancestor of the anglo-norman dynasty the mythical ruler of Britain is the ideal figure to help him legitimize his claim to the throne in this situation he apparently needs something akin to a dynastic foundation and this dynastic foundation in turn is given by the Historia regum britanya deep from likely commissioned by Stefan blue and he probably used the story of Arthur which was already well known to fortify his own Reign and to strengthen his own genealogy so it is definitely a work of clear intention and a very clear idea and against and one could use the term propaganda to describe this idea the Normans as idealized rulers of Britain researchers think it to be possible at the very least Jeffrey allows the legendary Sovereign and the Norman rulers to merge [Music] Stephen might have seen himself in King Arthur Arthur as an ideal ruler an Exemplar of Norman values and courtliness and he may have imagined his own Court as a place that reflects Arthur's Court it's excellent It's Splendor it's nobility the sophistication of its Knights and ladies this would be something that Stephen could imagine himself um could imagine for himself the reader stands to find out little about the private life of King Arthur he marries universe who is from a noble Roman family as Jeffrey would have it the wedding takes place in the aftermath of a battle against the Saxons various stories circulate about gunivere some linking her to Old Celtic Legends She is the white fairy a malevolent traitor a weak but charged woman but Arthur always loves her with all his heart [Music] Guinevere good morning my beloved [Music] when we are indeed when we look at Arthur's immediate family situation all seems well initially once he is established as a ruler he has a wife an ideal wife Guinevere if this woman just like Arthur he is the radiant hero she's immensely beautiful it's a great fit foreign describes life at Arthur's Court he is in fact describing the Norman Court the clergy teach the young Nobles that live there it is about the history of Britain courtly behavior and religion and new things Latin is taught as well as Old English the language of the subjugated Anglo-Saxons [Music] gentlemen repeat after me the Our Father is Arthur's nephew Mordred is one of the elite students according to the legend he is faithful to his King and followed him into many battles moderate just you now the Norman mother tongue that they bring to Britain is French but conquerors and conquered both adapt and gradually English and French begin to mix within a few decades a new language comes about anglo-norman see the influence of the Norman culture still today words like um Court government these are French language words and so the Normans brought with them their French language and this shaped the history of the English language and English as we know it today my faithful Knights we have finally won the enemy is banished and the land is secured let us Beast there is a time to fight but now is the time for celebration my nephew you are like a son to me my king you're gone at a time when only a minority could read and write language is particularly important every word the king spoke was significant medieval times are an Epoch of language figurative symbols and gestures [Music] it is the detailed descriptions of battles that land such Credence to Jeffrey's Chronicles its huge success can also be explained by the fact that he uses a popular trick Jeffrey sets Arthur's story in the sixth Century but he embeds it in the 12th century events [Music] this is a common strategy for medieval authors to recount their material against the background of their own time this means that what they recount even if it was a long time ago is described in such a way as if it were happening in their presence and in Jeffrey's account of Arthur we can see that in details like items of clothing or the feasts that he describes that is even speculation that William the Conqueror could be the souls for Jeffrey's Arthur this would hold true for the story of Arthur's ancestry both William and legendary Arthur are born out of wedlock they are derided as bastards and have little hope of ascending to the throne yet they both do the descriptions of the armor and weapons in Jeffrey's work also mirror the Norman world of the 12th century what this looked like can be seen on the bayur tapestry it eternalizes the Norman conquest of Britain at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 depicted in great detail over a length of almost 70 meters a kind of medieval comic strip William the conquerors mounted troops in heavy armor equipped with land salt and shield this is the author's visual inspiration when he tells of Arthur and his battling Knights foreign the victory at the Battle of Hastings is achieved by the Norman's massive attacks and their extensive Cavalry the Anglo-Saxons Fighters they have always done on foot they have nothing to defend them against the riders with their long lances the defeat at Hastings seals the Doom of the Anglo-Saxon Kings in Britain the Normans take the scepter in hand and change the country fundamentally the loot is divided amongst the Victorious and knights are rewarded with fiefdoms these bind them in duty to their King whom they serve as vassals first and foremost this means Faithfully following their King into battle unpaid now you are to be rewarded car door I give you Cornwall with all its Villages castles fields and forests as fiefdom I thank you my king you go Wayne take me [Music] rule justly my king I thank you okay I give you you humbled me I thank you my king does hair shaft system this system of rule Works mainly through giving and taking it so the king gives something a gift like Goods or precious items and the like and he gains fealty that is what we see around the rulers in this British Norman realm British and naturally we find the same model and Jeffrey's story of Arthur oh God here too it is King Arthur who gives in return [Music] I expect faulty from all of you and then troops to fight all my future Wars with can I count on you for the Normans the distribution of the conquered lands did not suffice to secure their power that's why William had his claims set in stone what follows is a castle building boom initiated by the new King in Britain in order to secure his rule both inwards and outwards for the long term by the end of the 12th century at least 500 fortifications have been built in Britain they not only serve as secure housing for nobility but also act as administrative centers in the conquered regions [Music] be more than 50 kilometers between them the distance that a knight can travel in a single day [Music] towns eventually developed around many of these castles that still characterized Britain today amongst them Hastings Cambridge and Nottingham some of the best known Norman castles are the Tower of London and Dover Castle in the southeast of England at Dover Castle one of the most important Norman structures Artisans and historians have spent thousands of hours reconstructing the inner rooms of the great tower the result is a scientifically exact copy of the medieval furnishings foreign to be rather cold in Dark Places and they probably were but there were ways in which they were made to be comfortable and colorful for their medieval inhabitants importantly the hall would have a large fireplace which would provide light and heat to the room tapestries would be hung on the walls these would be decorative they would be full of color but they would also provide insulation to the room to keep things warm the luxury the brought masses of the British populace could only dream of the castles housed only the elites of the land and they celebrated there too [Music] descriptions of the life at court and especially of its celebrations make up a large part of Jeffrey's Chronicle he describes customs and rituals that came from France and can be proven to have been introduced by the Normans when the king issues an invitation his vassals leave their castles and make their way to the Royal Court the festivities are opulent and last for days tournaments are fought chess's played music is made and there is abundant eating and drinking we see this courtly culture in Jeffrey from the story of King Arthur with Arthur holding court and many festivities during his Reign at times of peace he has the most excellent nights the most beautiful and eloquent ladies Arthur's Court is a place of magnificence of Splendor and of sophistication and this very much reflected the courtly culture of Jeffrey's own time in terms of fashion the members of the royal family are the influences of their day their clothes are scrutinized and talked about my queen my queen they should be colorful the material is precious this dress to your [Music] in the Middle Ages gowns of brocade velvet or precious silk are prized particularly if they are richly embroidered and decorated with golden platelets belts ribbons and veils round out the style of the Nobles [Music] the one with the Veil of course there are strict rules as to who can wear what gowns jewels and hairstyles nothing is left to an individual's taste a person's outfit in the Middle Ages is predominantly a visual marker of their social standing especially so at a royal Festival festivals could be displays of power but also places where one could enact politics there'd be opportunities for networking for needing important Nobles or officials at these events so they were opportunities at festivals for political engagement as well as for ceremony and activity what about me did I not show fealty prove myself in battle why was no land given to me you are not ready yet but never fear your time will come the Scots in the north are disruptive one day you will be the one to keep them in check and Gawain are on the mainland and far from Court they are concerned with their own Affairs and won't cause me any trouble are your closest vassals you do not trust them yes I do but all three are hungry for power and don't like each other I want no conflict here at court just followers I can trust completely as you say Mordred your place is here at my side now let's talk about the feast important guests are coming we must Forge alliances [Music] than us now without the necessary alliances and skilled diplomacy a sovereign cannot rule successfully [Music] naturally festivities at the Royal Court are Central to making connections one is able to display one's power and the role that one place in research we use the term rules of the game of politics these come into play predominantly at the courtly celebrations for a successful Feast the Royal Kitchen serve up all they have preparations take days a minimum of five courses are on the menu local produce like grain and vegetables are often Texas paid by the farmers of the region exotic Wares are bought from Traders white bread is considered particularly Noble but also meat poultry and fresh fruit are essential for a royal feast [Music] while the ruler takes advantage of the festivities to assure himself of the fealty of his noblemen they in turn used the opportunity to secure lucrative positions Jeffrey sheds light into the administrative system of Britain in 1135. it was introduced by William the Conqueror first and foremost to calculate taxation though it also allowed him to discover the number of young men available for armed conscription only his most trusted followers were appointed to run the administration [Music] foreign [Music] at the national archives in London we find a document up the Doomsday Book in medieval spelling dormis day book it dates back to 1086 and is considered to be the oldest land registry in the world it lists everything that is part of the anglo-norman realm literally everything on nearly 900 Pages we find names and holdings of over 1 000 Villages and towns under Hanley and Worcestershire Williams agents noted for example 20 inhabitants 17 Farmers 17.5 units of land nine servants six Pig Hertz of 60 pigs one mil woods and a falconry all these possessions are transferred to the king he Awards the church a quarter and retains a fifth for himself more than half is distributed amongst the Norman Barons the Anglo-Saxon Nobles are left with a mere 3 percent [Music] tilting the ownership structure in favor of the Normans is not merely a politically strategic move by the Conqueror it also makes him rich and that's not all he's Paving the way for a centralized State as everything noted in the Doomsday Book is declared legally binding the Doomsday Book was unprecedented not seen anywhere else in Europe it changed the way that land was organized and governed and the way that the king inherited wealth from the property that he owned and that his men and Nobles ran for him still today the queen owns much of the land in England and Britain this all and is an inheritance of Williams fuel system and his taxation which is recorded in the Doomsday Book in Jeffrey's writing according positions and lands is also Arthur's key to remaining in power privately however the Paul Lies over his fortunes after nine years of marriage the royal couple still have no offspring and Mordred secretly woes gunivere foreign like that an opposing figure to the ideal hero and perhaps this character is also needed to indicate that Arthur's realm had its negative aspects as well and of course these stories serve to Fascinate the reader and keep people interested a typical situation like this keeps us reading sex and crime work nowadays and was also something that also hooked people of the medieval courts Dimension unlocked by faithful nights we have won finally the enemy is dispersed the land is secured let us feast long-lifting Earth there is a time for fighting and there is a time to celebrate victory you have fought bravely ordered my nephew you are like a son to me you have proven yourself courageous in battle we drink to your health I thank you my king but it is your courage that puts all else to shame to your health and that of the queen that you may soon be blessed with the sun and Air [Music] but he does generally criticize salaciousness and lethargy as they threaten the peace a premonition that might come true as Messengers arrive at Arthur's legendary Court the castle later known as Camelot the author places it in the city of Legions in Wales this city of Legions in Welsh kaitian is a major Roman military site until around 300 BC in the 11th century the Normans build a castle here it's no coincidence that Jeffrey chooses this site it's a mere 40 kilometers from his birthplace he knows the region like the back of his hand [Music] one of the really interesting things about Jaffrey of monmouth's work is that it gives car Leon a really strong role a strong part within the story it features disproportionately really within a history of Britain and Archeology has since shown that many of the Great structures that the Romans had built the amphitheater in which we're standing the great Archway Tower at the center of the Fortress and the baths were still standing actually in Jeffrey of monmouth's day he writes in the text that it was eminently suitable for such a ceremony to hold Court here the amphi theater prompts an entirely new aspect of the Arthurian myth the Round Table and of course Kylie and has this great elliptical or circular Bowl shape feature in the landscape and very soon it became linked with the round table and this field became known as Round Table field Jeffrey himself does not use the term Round Table he merely describes that Arthur and his Knights confer in a circular room in the tower but some experts deduce that this scene inspired later poets [Music] it is still during Jeffrey's lifetime around 20 years after his Royal Chronicle that a Norman author translate the story into anglo-norman and includes the Round Table [Music] the idea a radiant King amidst his noble knights at a round table all are of equal Rank and honor only the very best and bravest man may be seated here it is a close-knit community that decides in unison on how Camelot is to be ruled an ideal medieval image in theory at least is the round table is a device that shares out leadership broadly it's also an element that is egalitarian or claims to be so of course Arthur is the ruler he is still Primus but then everyone else is an equal footing and yet the Epic poems about Arthur show that this can also lead to envy and resentment who sits closest to the sovereign voice from Rome have sought me out [Music] they have declared me to be a usurper I'm supposed to learn my true place they call my sovereignty in Britain into question [Music] they demand the repossession of all conquered lands and demand our subjection be calm Rome feels threatened by Arthur and demands his submission as a vassal Jeffrey's episode alludes to the medieval conflict between the anglo-norman and French Royal houses starting with William the Conqueror the Norman Kings of Britain are simultaneously dukes of Normandy and as such vassals to the king of France but the Norman rulers refused to acknowledge this let me hear your opinions such iniquity begs only one response War let us show these Romans Who We Are we have celebrated enough it is time now to turn to war Prince winner cowards we are Fighters I say we go to war Rome is said to have conscripted over 460 000 soldiers Arthur is willing to meet this foe he can put his trust in his faithful Warriors and knights the Normans are the first to know professional soldiers it'd be clear that the Contemporary and strictly organized feudal system works better and brings military advantages because this strict system is organized in such a way that there are professional soldiers integrated into the system and that they are very specialized in this case men and horseback later they become richer in German from writer writer writer at the peak of his powers and at a time of Peace Arthur takes a momentous decision convinced that it will save Britain [Music] right that I shall come to Rome I shall come to Rome but not to subject myself but to conquer Long Live you shall stand in for me in my absence I trust the land to you and I leave my queen under your protection I thank you and I won't disappoint you you have my word I shall defend the land and the queen with my life but Arthur shares Williams fate every time the Normans left the island to fight in France traitors attempted to usurp the throne in Britain traitors from amongst his most trusted men in Arthur's case it is his nephew moderate who forges an ominous plan when Arthur left the country he can claim the throne that he believes is his to take but as we see the right of succession is against him and disqualifies him as a rightful ruler as hell could only ever share the rule but that is not enough for him and from this point of view that problem can only be solved by treason Mordred like Arthur and gunyver is a figure with an obscure past in some depictions he is Arthur's son in others his nephew and wizard Merlin predicts that he will one day sit on Arthur's throne there are also many versions of his love for gunivere in some Legends She reciprocates his Oaths of love in other versions he pulls her from the throne and violates her Arthur when he goes to conquer Rome leaves his kingdom in the hands of his nephew Mordred but this turns out to be a crucial mistake because Mordred betrays him he takes his crown usurps the throne and also takes his wife Guinevere so Arthur perhaps should have left his kingdom in more trusty hands a lesson to be learned here do not leave your kingdom unless you are sure that is going to be held stably by those who you appoint to succeed you when Arthur hears of moderate's betrayal he swiftly returns to Britain with his army 542 a decisive and murderous battle ensues Mordred is killed Arthur is severely wounded by one of moderate's allies the British Kingdom seems doomed [Music] the king's last remaining vassals so Jeffrey take their lead to the mythical island of Avalon there his wounds are to be tender to whether or not the king survives is not told what remains is the Britain's hope that their ruler might one day return foreign with the demise of preeminent King Arthur Britain succumbs to chaos Jeffrey depicts the return of the Saxons who finally assume power from the courtly poet's perspective this could have been avoided if Arthur and Mordred had maintained inner peace [Music] according to the researchers Jeffrey's comment can be understood in clear reference to Britain's political situation in 1135. at the end of Jeffrey's history to the Normans that if they also sin if they focus if they do not solve the Civil War if they cannot achieve peace cannot come out of this then they may their Kingdom may suffer Devastation and loss that the Britain's Kingdom suffered as well this warning might allude to the battle for the throne between King Stefan and his cousin Matilda the so-called Anarchy had the Royal household in its grip for many years [Music] it isn't until after Stefan's death that Matilda's son Henry II hails a new era but Jeffrey's critique does not diminish King Arthur's popularity Jeffrey from the story of Arthur was hugely influential in the medieval period and long after it and even long after Jeffrey wrote when King Stephen William the Conqueror and others are no longer in power writers are still telling the story of Arthur and Arthur's Legend still holds a strong appeal for readers and writers in which he is a warrior king and an ideal ruler an example of good strong leadership the publication of Jeffrey's book creates an avalanche many authors discovered the legendary King for themselves and continued to weave his tail imaginatively just 20 years after the king's Chronicle the poet ways pens his Roman de brute in anglo-norman with the addition of the Round Table French poet Christian De trois in turn names the knights Lancelot and passable and incorporates the Holy Grail into Arthur's Saga work of around 1200 we first find the salt in the Stone in Germany it is mainly the writings of heartman Von hour and Wolfram Von eschenberg's famous that make Arthur popular Jeffrey's anglo-norman King Arthur thus becomes progressively obscured his hero is transformed incessantly from a strong wise and just King he morphs even into a Christian savior many rulers yearn to benefit from his splendor Richard the lionheart who named his sword Excalibur is the first in a long line of British sovereigns who try to trace their ancestry back to Arthur at all costs even Maximilian the first of Habsburg The Last Knight has a larger than life bronze statue of Arthur cast for his tomb in the Court's Church Henry VII had himself depicted as Arthur at the round table the picture hangs in Winchester Hall in 1848 Queen Victoria commissions her dressing room in Westminster palace to be decorated with images from The Saga and Prince Charles has Arthur as one of his middle names as does his son William and his grandson Lewis foreign researchers continued to search for traces of Arthur's existence to this day though most of them don't believe in a real Arthur for them he is simply the personification of an ideal medieval ruler each author creates their own Arthurian world and often real events and real people shine through in Jeffrey's telling it could be the Angelo Norman rulers