Who Was King Arthur?

Did King Arthur really live? Did he have a beautiful castle called Camelot? And did the Knights of the Round Table really exist? Let's take a look at what we know about them.

In the first century, the Romans conquered Britain, and the people prospered for more than 400 years. They built beautiful homes with steamy baths and heating systems. They built great roads and bridges. They owned fancy vases, jewelry and silverware. (Many of those items can still be seen in the British Museum in London.)

Then along came barbarians who tried to overthrow the land. Rome withdrew and left the Britons on their own. The Britons chose evil King Vortigern to rule the land. On one side of the kingdom, the Scots of Wales were causing trouble; and on the other side, the Saxons kept trying to invade. King Vortigern tried to form an alliance with the Saxons, but they turned on him and destroyed much of his kingdom, especially the fancy baths. The Saxons hated to take baths.

The anxious Britons chose Ambrosius Aureliarius as king, and he promptly killed Vortigern and attacked the Saxons. Some legends say his second in command was the man we call Arthur. Others say Ambrosius was really Arthur. No matter; Arthur was a great general who led the charge that chased the barbarian Saxons out of Britain.

Arthur probably never was a king. Perhaps he never really lived. No one knows. But many people believe he was not only real but a great general with an army of Britons from a number of small kingdoms. Legend says he taught his men to fight the way the Romans fought. People adored him and were proud of his chivalrous Knights of the Round Table.

For more fun reading and other activities, try these Web sites:    • King Arthur's Knights    • Mystic Realm

Since his great army probably had a base camp, modern archaeologists have tried to find it. In 1960 they found a logical place — Cadbury Castle — set high atop a hill in southern England. It was a magnificent structure, well-protected and strategically placed so an army could see all across the countryside. It appeared to be much like the descriptions of Camelot. Evidence on site revealed that a great army had, indeed, once lived there. And the fortifications on the castle itself date back to Arthur's time. Just imagine the handsome Arthur feasting together with his troops, laughing and boasting before thundering off to battle through the great stone gate towers of Cadbury Castle.