King Arthur and the Round Table
The following article is translated extracts taken from my book (published in Hebrew) – England in search of the Holy Grail.
Appearance of the tradition
King Arthur tradition and legends appears on the stage of history through the writings of two 12th-century authors. The first was Geoffrey of Monmouth (1055-1095), a monk from Wales, who wrote “History of the Kings of Britain” in 1140, based on an ancient document brought to his attention. The second was William of Malmesbury (1095-1143), a monk from Malmesbury Abbey, located between Oxford and Bristol. William, a historian and thinker of his time, briefly mentioned the existence of a king named Arthur and legends about his possible return.
Both Geoffrey of Monmouth and William of Malmesbury were connected to the new Norman aristocracy that had taken over England a few decades earlier and had family ties to the Knights Templar. Their writings refer to the period when Britain faced invasions by Germanic peoples following the retreat and fall of the Roman Empire.
According to these stories, early Celtic Christianity spread in Britain in the 4th century. The Romans ruled Britain for hundreds of years, establishing cities, roads, markets, and a successful administrative structure. However, in the 5th century, facing increased threats of invasion by Germanic tribes throughout the empire, the Romans decided to leave Britain, abandoning the local residents to face the impending threat.
Against this backdrop, a legendary king named Arthur emerges. He manages to unite the inhabitants and, with the help of the brotherhood of the Knights of the Round Table, temporarily halts the invading tribes. Arthur defeats them in a decisive battle (the Battle of Badon Hill) and creates an ideal kingdom of justice on earth. Ultimately, Arthur’s kingdom falls apart, and he himself is injured and taken to the legendary island of Avalon. However, Arthur, seen as the ideal king, is not dead but awaits the time when Britain will need him again. According to the legends, he will return to reconstitute the Round Table and establish a kingdom of justice on earth, preceding the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Merlin the Magician
The character of King Arthur is closely linked to a legendary figure from early Welsh and English Celtic stories, a wizard named Merlin who is more than an ordinary man.
In 1135, a wizard named Merlin who is more than an ordinary man comes to the front in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s book “Merlin’s Prophecies,” where he is connected to the Arthurian legends of the Round Table. This character is based on a Welsh bard and prophet named Myrddin from the 6th century AD and probably other early Welsh and English Celtic stories. Merlin also appears in Geoffrey’s “History of the Kings of Britain” and “The Life of Merlin.”
According to the stories, Merlin was born to a mortal woman and a demon, making him half human and half wizard. Through magic, he orchestrated the birth of Arthur, destined to redeem Britain, and became Arthur’s closest adviser and helper.
Merlin is depicted as the one who causes the birth of a messianic king, raises and educates him, and aids him at the start of his reign. Essentially, Merlin is the spiritual force behind Arthur’s earthly power. In this narrative, the presence of a ruler is always accompanied by a spiritual force that empowers them. For King Arthur, this force is clearly Merlin—there is no Arthur without Merlin, but Merlin needs Arthur to exert his influence and bring about change in the world.
According to the legends, Merlin planned to unite the English people. This plan begins with the union of Igraine, Duchess of Cornwall, with King Uther Pendragon. When their son, Arthur, was born, he was sent to grow up under Merlin’s care. Later, when the land had no king after Uther was found dead, Merlin arranged for a sword to be stuck in an anvil (or a stone), declaring that only the future king could pull it out. This miraculous sword would help Arthur distinguish between good and evil. The sword allowed Arthur to ascend to the throne, and the scabbard gave him the strength of sovereignty and reason.
In the end, after Arthur rises to greatness, Merlin is captivated by the charms of the Lady of the Lake and is imprisoned in the magical forest of Brocéliande, from which there is no escape. There, he either dies or falls asleep forever.
Tintagel – Arthurs Castle
Tintagel Castle is located in Cornwall, in the southwest of England, amidst stunning cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The castle is built on a promontory that resembles Masada, serving as an almost impenetrable fortress connected to the mainland by a very narrow bridge that one man can defend. Near the island fortress lies a small village, which has become a hub for New Age culture in England, particularly focused on themes related to King Arthur, medieval legends, witches, crystals, and more.
The village of Tintagel is essentially a long street lined with some of the most fascinating shops imaginable—witch shops with potions, magic books, cauldrons, and wands; stores dedicated to Arthurian legends and the quest for the Holy Grail; and crystal shops with an array of crystals in all sizes, displayed on wooden shelves and in glass cabinets. Among these shops are restaurants, guest houses, residents’ homes, and New Age centers.
Tintagel Castle in its current form was built in the 13th century. However, recent excavations at the site have revealed that it was extensively used in the 5th century, serving as a trading port where goods from all over the world arrived. A large amount of pottery from the Mediterranean region has been discovered there, along with an ancient inscription mentioning a name similar to Arthur’s. These findings support the popular identification of Tintagel as the birthplace of King Arthur and possibly his fortress.
The legends of King Arthur and the Holy Grail first appeared in Britain in the 12th century, quickly making a huge impact. A century later, Richard, Earl of Cornwall (brother of King Henry III and one of the richest men in Europe), built Tintagel Castle in an ancient style that imitated these legends. His goal was to illustrate the popular legends associated with the place at that time. The citadel was constructed as an imitation of the fortress described in the stories of the quest for the Holy Grail and as an expression of romantic chivalry. Despite its formidable appearance, Tintagel Castle held no strategic importance and was built to strengthen the myth rather than for defense purposes.
While it is true that remains from the 5th century AD were found at Tintagel, these are not remnants of a citadel but of a port and a commercial village. Between the 4th and 8th centuries, there was a Britonic kingdom in southwest England called Dumnonia, and the remains from the 5th to the 8th century likely relate to it.
Little is known about Cornwall in the early Middle Ages. Like Wales, this area served as a refuge for the original inhabitants of Britain from Anglo-Saxon invasions, allowing them to continue ancient Celtic traditions. Cornwall remains one of the most important areas for the preservation of folklore, language (Cornish, a Celtic language similar to Welsh, was spoken in Cornwall until the 18th century), and Celtic mystery and magic.
In the 12th century, Geoffrey of Monmouth described Tintagel as the place where Arthur’s mother, Igraine, conceived him. According to the legends, this was the castle of King Gorlois of Cornwall and his wife Igraine, whom Arthur’s father, Uther Pendragon, coveted. With Merlin’s magical help, Uther disguised himself as King Gorlois returning from battle and made love to Igraine.
At the bottom of the citadel is Merlin’s Cave, where the deceptive spell was performed. This special cave is flooded by the tide every day. From the beach, a narrow bridge hanging over a chasm leads to the citadel, which stands on a separate promontory resembling a ship borne by the surging sea below. The road to the citadel passes through picturesque gates leading to the court of the lovers Tristan and Isolde, often referred to as the Romeo and Juliet of the Round Table legends.
At the top of the hill, visitors can see impressive modern sculptures. Tintagel is a national site visited by many. After completing the visit to the castle, it is recommended to explore the adjacent town, particularly the knights’ halls.
Tintagel knights’ halls
The knights’ halls, located in main street Tintagel village, look from the outside like an ordinary English house, slightly larger than most, with only the symbol of the Freemasons on the door and the figure of a knight engraved on it hinting at their secret. Inside, however, is the largest granite stone hall in England, designed to simulate the Great Hall of the Knights of the Round Table.
When Frederick Thomas Glasscock bought the house in 1930, he opened up the back, leaving the front intact, and rebuilt it hall by hall. This means the front of the house is a narrow facade hiding a large building behind it. The symbolism here is that true chivalry is hidden and not immediately visible.
The way to the great hall is through a long corridor lined with about seventy stained glass windows made of colored glass. These windows, created by an artist named Veronica Whall, depict various knights’ shields and symbols associated with chivalry and are considered one of the most successful creations of their kind in the 20th century. The light passing through them imbues them with a hue and beauty that cannot be adequately conveyed in words or pictures.
From the corridor, the path leads to the huge hall. At one dark end is a massive round stone table, and along the adjacent wall is a bookcase containing the world’s largest selection of books on King Arthur and chivalry. Next to the cabinet is a knight’s armor and a display table featuring knights’ weapons, shields, clothing, and more.
The ceiling in the great hall is very high. At the top of the walls are stained glass windows that let in colored light. At one end of the hall, these windows are a bit dark, depicting a struggle against human weaknesses. At the other end, the windows are bright, illustrating human ideals and allowing precious light to flood in. Under the wall at the illuminated end stands a massive king’s chair made of stone on a raised platform, topped by a canopy supported by nine columns. Above the canopy is a sword stuck in an anvil. The chair weighs over two tons, while the canopy and base together weigh over twenty-three tons.
In the colored windows on the lit side, Galahad, the perfect knight, is depicted along with symbols representing the qualities of light, love, purity, and humanity. The hall is designed to symbolize the transition from darkness to light, reflecting the path of chivalry. It was built as the central gathering place for the new Order of the Knights of the Round Table, which Glasscock founded and which had close to 25,000 members at its peak. Later, it was also used as a gathering center and lodge for the Freemasons.
At the inauguration of the hall, Glasscock said: “The hall was erected to perpetuate the eternal memory of Arthur, King of Britain, and to enable the fraternity of the Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur to help spread the ideas of chivalry, which have always been associated with Arthur’s name. There are many bad things in the world today. The old order changes, giving way to the new, and God fulfills himself in many ways.”
Impression of first visit to the knights’ halls – 2002.
I arrived at Tintagel in the midst of a winter storm. The knights’ halls were closed; it was half past nine in the morning. Someone told me they only open at ten, so in the meantime, I went to warm up a little in the nearby witch shop. The potion was warm and delicious, and luckily I didn’t turn into a frog.
I first heard about the halls ten years before. It was the beginning of my interest in chivalry. A friend of mine, who was deeply into the subject, brought me a brochure describing a place with an interior that is among the most fascinating and impressive in the entire world.
The Halls of King Arthur’s Knights and the Round Table were built by Thomas Glasscock, an eccentric millionaire, in the 1930s. The place was operated by the Knights of the Round Table Association, which aimed to renew the tradition of chivalry in the spirit of King Arthur’s Round Table.
They built a huge round table made of stone, featuring 12 symbols representing the 12 protectors of the 12 Knights of the Round Table. The idea behind the brotherhood and the round table is that each knight embodies a specific quality (expressed in his symbol), and together all the knights embodied all human qualities. Only together could they form a whole that symbolizes all of humanity.
These ideas resonated with me. I’ve always felt drawn to chivalry as a concept, and here was someone who had begun to break it down into practical components. After ten years, the opportunity finally came for me to visit Tintagel. Like a true knight, neither the rain, nor the wind, nor the storm could deter me, and here I am.
Inside sat a bespectacled Englishman, who seemed a little surprised at the storm and the wet man bursting in. With typical English politeness, he asked if I was interested in visiting the halls (as if there could be any other reason for my coming there). I said yes, and he suggested that I put my coat to dry by the fireplace and enter the small hall. He promised to turn on the audio-visual show especially for me.
I entered the small hall and sat down on one of the benches. It was dark, and I couldn’t see much, but the little I could see made it clear that I was in a very special place. Magnificent thrones of kings were on both sides of the hall, along with flags, emblems of shields, trumpets, and pictures. Above a special chair on a raised platform was a canopy, and above it, a sword stuck in an anvil. The pictures depicted important moments in the life of King Arthur and the knights. The audio-visual show started, with Merlin the magician narrating the story of King Arthur:
Arthur was born to King Uther in Tintagel as a result of Merlin’s planning and plot to unite King Uther with Igraine, who was married to another man. He was born amidst scandal (it was necessary to unite Uther with Igraine because they were compatible astrologically, mentally, and physically, forming a union that allowed the arrival of a special person). As a small child, Merlin took Arthur away from home, so he can grow up in London with Sir Ector, away from the tumultuous events at home. Arthur did not know his origin, but one day, as a boy, he happened to arrive at Westminster Abbey, where there was a miraculous sword stuck in an anvil above a stone. On the stone, it was written: “He who can pull the sword from the anvil deserves to be king of Britain.” Many knights had tried to pull out the sword and failed. Only Arthur, who happened to pass by, succeeded…
The show continued, detailing everything that happened after Arthur pulled the sword from the anvil. When it ended, the bespectacled Englishman re-entered and opened the door, revealing the Great Hall described earlier, along with the corridors leading to it, adorned with colored windows depicting episodes from the stories of the Holy Grail and the round table, explanations in writings explained their symbolic meanings. At the end of the hall stood the king’s chair, looking as if it was waiting for the rightful king to sit on it. I tried to sit down, but the chair was too large for me—perhaps a symbol that only a man of true stature could retake the king’s place, and I was not yet that man.
At the exit of the hall, there was a table with application forms to join the brotherhood of the Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur. “Why not?” I thought to myself. I had always wanted to be a knight, to save damsels in distress (though fighting dragons was another matter). The bespectacled Englishman seemed pleased as I filled out the form, perhaps satisfied to see another hopeful knight ready to uphold the traditions of chivalry.
The colored windows – Knights of the Roubd Table
The colored windows in the knights’ halls at Tintagel, England, feature symbols and drawings of the various knights of the Round Table. These windows provide insights into their stories and qualities, as well as the essence of chivalry and the spiritual path. Here are a few words about some of the main characters in the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, as depicted in the stained glass windows at Tintagel.
Sir Lancelot – The Strong. Symbolized by three gray lions on a blue background, Sir Lancelot was the first knight of the Round Table. He was always kind, brave, polite, and ever ready to help others. His affair with Queen Guinevere led to the downfall and dissolution of the Fellowship of the Round Table. Though his search for the Holy Grail brought him to the Grail Castle, his sins prevented him from reaching the Grail itself. This right was reserved for his son Galahad and his companions, Percival and Bors. When Queen Guinevere was put on trial, Lancelot’s pride led him to fight a larger war than necessary for her rescue, resulting in the deaths of Gareth and Gaheris, Gawain’s brothers, and ultimately the end of the Round Table. After the battle, Lancelot became a monk and lived a life of penance until his death.
Sir Percival – The Mystery of the Quest. Symbolized by a red heart at the top of a white shield, Sir Percival was the youngest son of King Pellinore. After his father and all his brothers were killed in battle, his mother hid him from the teachings of warfare and nurtured his gentleness and nobility. However, one day, while wandering in the forest around the castle where he grew up, he saw King Arthur’s knights in shining armor and decided to become a knight himself. His first battle was with an unknown knight who had insulted Queen Guinevere. He defeated many enemies, sparing their lives on the condition that they surrender to King Arthur. Percival fought against sorcerers and witches, requiring immense courage and kindness. After Galahad, he was second to none in acts of holiness, and in terms of courage, he was second only to Lancelot.
Sir Tristan – The Sad. When he was born, his mother named him Tristan, which means “the boy full of sadness.” At the age of 19, he fought for King Mark against Sir Marhaus of Ireland and defeated him. After that, he remained the knight of King Mark, though it was difficult to stay loyal to such a man. While the knights who served the noble King Arthur received love in return, Sir Tristan’s master showed him nothing but hatred and hostility. This unrequited loyalty made Tristan an exemplary model of a loyal knight.
Another sorrow in Tristan’s life was his tragic love for Isolde. While fighting for King Mark, Tristan was wounded and sent to Ireland to heal. Isolde cared for him devotedly, and he recovered. She was destined to be the bride of King Mark, and Tristan was tasked with accompanying her to Cornwall. On the way, they unintentionally drank a love potion and fell in love with each other. King Mark’s jealousy was roused, and one day, while Sir Tristan was playing the flute for Isolde on Tintagel’s shore, he killed them both in a fit of rage. Stricken with remorse, he buried the lovers in the same grave so they would be together forever. He planted a rose and a vine garden on the grave so that they would mingle and become inseparable, just like the bodies beneath them. The Tristan and Isolde grave garden is to be found at Tintagel Castle.
Sir Gawain – The Noble. Sir Gawain’s symbol features a gold stripe with three red balls inside it on a blue background, with a white sword in a golden scabbard on the same background in the lower half of the shield. He was the eldest son of King Lot of Orkney and was knighted at Arthur’s wedding. Gawain was the first to go in search of the Holy Grail but lacked the virtues necessary for such a high quest and eventually retraced his steps. He refused to subject Queen Guinevere to the test of fire, and when Sir Lancelot accidentally killed his two brothers, Gaheris and Gareth, he sought to avenge their deaths, ultimately leading to the dissolution of the Brotherhood of the Round Table. He was wounded in the battle against Lancelot and, before his death, regretted the hatred he harbored.
Despite his lack of spiritual qualities, Gawain is often depicted as the ultimate knight, embodying high moral qualities. He fought to save a lady in a castle from a dragon, facing five knights of five different colors, reflecting the medieval heraldry code.
In one of the most beautiful stories of the Knights of the Round Table, Gawain agrees to marry an ugly witch instead of King Arthur, who had promised to do so but did not keep his promise. Because of Gawain’s willingness to fulfill his duty, the witch reveals that she is under a spell that makes her beautiful for half of the time and ugly the other half. She asks Gawain whether he prefers her to be beautiful by day or by night. Gawain, demonstrating his noble character, responds that the choice should be hers since she is the one who suffers from it. This noble answer lifts the spell entirely, and the witch becomes beautiful forever.
Sir Gareth – The Servant
Sir Gareth’s symbol is a shield divided into four parts, two golden and two red. He was the youngest son of King Lot and Morgause (Arthur’s sister). His mother allowed him to go to Arthur’s court on the condition that he hide his origin and engage in simple work. Gareth agreed and began working in the kitchen, where Sir Kay, who was in charge, treated him harshly and mockingly, giving him the nickname “Beaumains” (meaning “Fair Hands”). However, Lancelot took a liking to the young assistant, and a great friendship developed between them. At the end of that year, Gareth revealed his true identity and was knighted.
Gareth then took on a mission from a lady named Lynette, who sought a knight’s help to free her sister Lyonors, held prisoner by Sir Ironside—the Red Knight—in a dangerous castle. Initially resentful due to his role as an assistant cook, Gareth won Lynette’s respect after defeating five knights of different colors to free her sister: a green knight, a black knight, a blue knight, a brown knight, and finally the red knight. These five colors, derived from the heraldry code of the Middle Ages, symbolize the five planets that appear to move in the sky—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Gareth freed Lyonors, who fell in love with him, and they eventually married. Tragically, he was accidentally killed by Lancelot during the act of freeing Guinevere. Gareth is considered the epitome of modesty, demonstrating the willingness to serve in a lowly position and be judged by his actions alone.
Sir Galahad – The Pure
Symbolized by a complete red cross on a white background (A Templar banner), Sir Galahad is known as the perfect knight, pure and unblemished. He was the son of Lancelot and Elaine, daughter of King Pelles.
Galahad was the only knight who completed the quest for the Holy Grail and beheld the Holy Grail. In an ecstasy of joy, he asked to die, and his request was granted. Galahad was the intended hero of the quest, remaining a virgin all his life to atone for his unholy birth. He represents the culmination of the effort to connect chivalry with religion, embodying the highest ideals of knighthood and spirituality.
Arts and Crafts
Veronica Whall, creator of the stained glass windows in the Knights’ Halls at Tintagel, was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement, which was established in England at the end of the 19th century. She was a personal student of William Morris, the ideologue of the movement, and the daughter of Christopher Whall, one of the movement’s leaders and one of the most important stained glass artists in England.
The proponents of the Arts and Crafts movement argued that the “corruption” of the human race began during the Renaissance, with the emergence and recognition of geniuses such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and others. This period marked the start of competitiveness and the desire to excel, developing the concept of the “genius,” an individual considered above the ordinary person. Before this time, people lived in guilds, performed their day’s work out of a moral commitment to their craft, followed traditions passed down through generations, and worked out of a commitment to society rather than personal gain. This way of life fostered a certain kind of self-respect that has since diminished. The aim was to be the best at one’s craft and gain the associated respect, in contrast to the modern view of art as a personal expression.
The Arts and Crafts movement aimed to renew the artistic traditions of the Middle Ages. Its theorists, led by William Morris, believed that salvation would come only when people returned to living and working in professional guilds, not out of a desire to make money or glorify themselves. A good example of this is the guilds of the builders who constructed the largest cathedrals in Europe. More on the Arts and Crafts Movement in other articles,
People Who Tried to Revive the Tradition of the Round Table
Throughout English history, several kings and other notable individuals attempted to revive the brotherhood of the Round Table, continue King Arthur’s legacy, and promote the values of chivalry and nobility. Here are some of the key figures:
Richard of Cornwall
During the height of the Templar Order’s power and influence, and as stories of the Holy Grail spread throughout England, the country was embroiled in civil war. One of the most fascinating figures in 13th-century Europe, Richard III of Cornwall, emerged during this tumultuous period. He was the grandson of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the son of King John, and the brother and main supporter of the weak King Henry III. Richard led a successful, though lesser-known, crusade and built the fortifications of Ashkelon. He was Count of Poitou in France, crowned King of Germany, and served as Earl of Cornwall. As one of the richest men in Europe, he built Tintagel Castle as a model for the Arthurian legends.
Richard led the Crusade of the Barons from 1239 to 1241 in two stages, freeing a significant portion of the Holy Land from Muslim control. The first wave was led by Theobald of Champagne and Aubrey of Montfort, while Richard led the second wave himself. Some accounts suggest that after this crusade, Christians controlled the entire area from the sea to the Jordan River. [1]
Richard also fought alongside his brother Henry III during the Baron Wars, which ultimately led to the signing of the Magna Carta—the bill of rights that paved the way for England to become a constitutional democracy. It was Henry’s son, Edward I, who finally decided the outcome of the battle. Like his uncle Richard, Edward dreamed of restoring the crown to its former glory and recreating Arthur’s Round Table.
Edward I
Edward was born in 1237 as the eldest son of King Henry III, a weak king under whose reign England lost most of its possessions in France. Edward spent much of his childhood at the home of his uncle, Richard of Cornwall, a passionate fan of the Arthurian legends. Edward was close friends with Richard and his son Henry, and he accompanied them on the Crusade of the Barons to the Holy Land.
After returning from his travels, Edward was declared king and ruled from 1272 to 1307, a period of 35 years during which he managed to restore order, stability, and security to England. [2] Edward was a large, strong, and brave man, but he also had a romantic soul that cherished the stories of the Holy Grail and the ideals of chivalry. Much of what he accomplished can be understood against this backdrop.
In 1278, Edward visited Glastonbury and opened the tomb of Arthur and Guinevere. He also embarked on a campaign to conquer Wales, a land he associated with the Arthurian world. In 1282, he conquered the last Welsh kingdom in the north, reclaiming the crown of England from their king, Llywelyn. Edward then began building Camelot-style castles in various locations in North Wales, with the help of an expert architect named James of St. George, whom he brought from Switzerland. He built eight castles, the most beautiful and famous of which is in Caernarfon. Edward’s son, Edward II, was born in this castle and was proclaimed the first English king to also hold the title of Prince of Wales.
The architect James of Saint George was a Grand Master of a traditional guild of builders in the Alps, specifically in Northern Italy and Switzerland, whom Edward met during the Crusade. He belonged to a traditional architectural family involved in construction in the Kingdom of Savoy, which spanned parts of Italy, France, and Switzerland. James was a master builder of castles such as Châtel-Argent in the Aosta Valley. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who built the Lausanne Cathedral in Switzerland and contributed to the development of the Gothic style. In 1278, at Edward’s request, he moved to England and built castles in North Wales, including Conwy, Harlech, Caernarfon, and Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey. These castles incorporated principles of sacred architecture, blending motifs from Arthurian legends and the East.
It is essential to remember that Edward I’s reign coincided with the peak influence of the Templar Order. Edward visited Acre and likely had contact with the Templars. While in Acre, he survived an assassination attempt by the sect of the Hashishin, which some claim had links to the Templars. Edward also visited the Templar center in France on his way back to England. His father, Henry III, requested to be buried in the Templar church in London, although he was ultimately buried elsewhere. Henry III’s father, John of England, used the Templar center as the site of the royal treasury. After the fall of Acre in 1291, many Templars came to England and Scotland, connecting with noble families. There is no doubt that there was a significant connection between Edward and the Templars, a connection that researchers have not extensively studied. This relationship might explain Edward’s building enterprises and his emphasis on Scotland and the Scottish struggle for independence. Only three months after Edward’s death, Philip the Fair, King of France, dared to act against the Templars, as if he had been waiting for Edward’s death to take action. [3]
Edward III
The 14th century is considered a time plagued by calamities, climatic disasters (the Little Ice Age), plagues that killed a third of Europe’s population, and devastating wars. Yet, during this period, the star of one of England’s most successful kings rose—Edward III, who ruled for 50 years (1327-1377), about twenty years after the death of Edward I. Edward III largely continued his predecessor’s path as a renewer of the Arthurian tradition.
Edward III was one of the kings who relied on the legends of the Round Table and King Arthur. He saw chivalry as an ideal and fostered the spirit of brotherhood among the nobles in his country. To this end, he considered re-establishing the Round Table but ultimately founded the Order of the Garter in 1348.
Edward III rebuilt Windsor Castle as a royal residence in the Gothic style. In this context, he constructed St. George’s Chapel (which is more like a cathedral in terms of its size), which served as the home of the Order of the Garter. He strengthened English identity and particularly the English language, which became official in place of the French spoken by the Norman upper classes.
Order of the Garter
The Order of the Garter [4] is the most important order in England, with members of the royal family among its ranks. Edward III founded the order in the spirit of the Round Table and chivalry. According to legend, he danced with a maiden whose garter fell off. He bent down, picked up the garter, and pinned it back to her leg, saying, “Shame on him who thinks ill of it.” To honor this event, Edward III created an order of 26 knights, consisting of members of the nobility from Wales and England.
A garter is a clothing accessory that holds the sock on the leg, used in the past by both men and women. It was a symbol of authority and considered to have magical properties, with belts and sometimes strings worn around the body. The establishment of the order was a re-creation of a brotherhood. In addition to the king, there were 12 more knights, forming one brotherhood of 13 people related to England and another brotherhood of 13 people related to Wales, making up the 26 knights in the order. [5]
Henry VII
Henry VII was the last king to seriously attempt to revive King Arthur’s reign and address the ideal of chivalry that the stories offered in practical terms. Born in Wales, he spent part of his youth in France, where he was exposed to the stories of King Arthur, which were popularized at that time in a revised and expanded version in the book “Le Morte d’Arthur” by Sir Thomas Malory.
Henry VII dreamed of fulfilling ancient English prophecies about the return of King Arthur and the re-establishment of a heroic holy order symbolized by the Round Table. His symbol was the red dragon of Wales, and he claimed descent from the last Welsh king, Cadwallader, and the Trojan Brutus, a legendary king featured in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “The History of the Kings of Britain.” Additionally, Henry claimed to be a descendant of King Arthur, asserting that the dynasty he founded would restore the crown of England to its former glory. When his eldest son was born, he named him Arthur and raised him as a future philosopher king. The child was baptized in Winchester, one of the places considered to be the legendary Camelot.
Arthur married Catherine, daughter of Isabel and Ferdinand, the unifiers and liberators of Spain, and the future looked promising. However, Arthur tragically died at the age of 15, leaving Henry VII heartbroken. Henry VII died seven years later, and his other son, Henry VIII, ascended to the throne. The rest, as they say, is history.
Places in England Associated King Arthur
King Arthur is a very popular legendary figure throughout Britain, with roots in Celtic mythology. Numerous places are associated with the sacred geography of the Round Table stories, including Camelot, sites of various battles, and locations tied to Arthur and Merlin life stories. Here are some notable places:
Camelford
A few kilometers inland from Tintagel, not far from Bodmin Moors, lies the town of Camelford. Nearby, there is a bridge over the River Camel called Slaughter Bridge, where the last battle between Arthur and Mordred allegedly took place. In this battle, Mordred was killed and Arthur was wounded. A Celtic tombstone at this site was once considered to be Arthur’s. Near the bridge, there is an Arthurian center with a museum and a small gallery.
Some argue that Camelford itself, partly due to its name, could be the location of the legendary Camelot, King Arthur’s city. However, other scholars do not accept this identification. Regardless, it is believed that the Battle of Camlann likely occurred in this area. After this battle, Arthur returned Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake (possibly the nearby Lake Dozmary) and was taken to the Isle of Avalon.
Dozmary Pool and the Lady of the Lake
In the northern part of Bodmin Moor, nestled in the highlands, lies a small lake known as Dozmary Pool. According to legend, this bottomless lake is the home of the Lady of the Lake, the ruler of Avalon, who gave the sword Excalibur to Arthur.
The Lady of the Lake is a legendary figure often associated with the Queen of the Fairies. Jungian interpretation views her as a representation of the subconscious, but unlike Morgan Le Fay, she embodies the aspiration for purity, holiness, and mystical union. She bestows upon Arthur the gift of sovereignty, symbolized by the sword emerging from the water (the subconscious). This sword signifies the ability to judge wisely, balancing duties to both man and God. After Arthur’s injury, she takes the sword back, and she also casts a spell on Merlin, causing him to fall in love with her and sleep forever. The Lady of the Lake can be seen as a symbol of high spiritual ability in humanity, connecting to the healing and nourishing power of water, springs, and wells.
Dozmary Pool is a beautiful and enchanted lake in the wild highlands of Cornwall. Not far from it is the megalithic site of Cheesewring. Legends speak of animal spirits in the lake, and nearby, you can find the village of Temple. This village features a guest house and a church originally built by the Templars, later passed to the Hospitallers. The church contains unique crosses of the Templar order, adding to the mystical allure of the area.
The Round Table in Chester, North England
The first stop when leaving Wales is Chester, a city on the northeast border of Wales that was an important Roman center. An amphitheater was found there, leading historians to speculate that it might be the site of the Round Table, making Chester a candidate for Camelot. Chester is one of Britain’s well-preserved walled cities, featuring medieval houses and fine examples of Victorian architecture. It also boasts a temple to Minerva and might have been intended as the capital of Roman Britain.
The three main Roman outposts in Britain were Chester, Isca Augusta (Caerleon), and York. According to historian Chris Gidlow, the Round Table was a structure of wood and stone that could hold more than a thousand people. It was located inside the ancient Roman amphitheater, where knights gathered and prepared for battle.
A monk named Gildas mentions Arthur for the first time in the 6th century. He connects Arthur with the city of the legionaries and an altar to the martyrs. Such an altar is found at the amphitheater, and the description of the city aligns with Chester. This connection strengthens the claim that Chester could indeed be the legendary Camelot, where the knights of the Round Table convened.
Camelot in the Lake District of Northern England – Carlisle
In the north of England, near the Lake District, lies Carlisle, another center of Arthurian traditions. Historian Michael Wood suggests that the citadel in Carlisle is the site of the legendary Camelot. Established as the Roman capital of northwest England, Carlisle was the largest and westernmost fortress of Hadrian’s Wall, marking the boundary between Roman Britain and the Scots in the 2nd century AD.
Carlisle is built on the foundations of a site sacred to the Celts, situated at the confluence of rivers. Such meeting places were considered sacred and imbued with special energy by the ancient Celts, similar to the Indian tradition where the meeting place of rivers is deemed holy. The Celts revered the states of connection between opposites, elements, situations, and times, thus sanctifying places where roads and rivers intersected.
According to local legends, after the Romans withdrew from Britain in the 5th century, an independent Christian Celtic kingdom was established in the north of England, with Carlisle as its capital and Arthur as its king. The Knights of the Round Table were former Roman soldiers who independently tried to protect the border from invasions by Germanic and Scottish tribes. Several sites in the area are named after Arthur, including Arthur’s Well, a holy well located 26 km east of Carlisle; Arthur’s Chair, a rock north of Hadrian’s Wall near Carlisle; and the cave where he is said to have slept under the remains of Sewingshields Castle.
Twenty-nine kilometers southeast of Carlisle, near the Lake District, is an impressive prehistoric circular complex with an area surrounded by a 50-meter diameter embankment called “The Round Table.” This site is about 400 meters from another significant prehistoric site, Mayburgh Henge, which is also an embankment surrounding a sacred area. Not far from these sites is Windermere Lake. Thus, the Carlisle area features a comprehensive Arthurian sacred geography similar to that found in South Wales or Cornwall.
In the Middle Ages, a large and beautiful cathedral was built in Carlisle in stages. Parts of it were damaged over the years, but it contains some of the most beautiful stained glass windows in England. The most significant is the eastern window, made in the 14th century. Beneath the cathedral, there are five holy wells, further enhancing the sacred significance of Carlisle.
The Round Table and Camelot in Caerleon, Wales
Two thousand years ago, Caerleon was a significant Roman city. Today, it is a suburb of Newport, one of the most important ports in Wales, located a short distance from Cardiff. Geoffrey of Monmouth initially placed Arthur at Caerleon before later substituting it with Camelot, leading some to identify Caerleon as the site of the Round Table. Situated on the banks of the Usk River, an important transport channel in ancient times, Caerleon was the headquarters of the Second Legion Augusta and was known as Isca Augusta.
One of the notable features of Caerleon is its impressive Roman amphitheater, now covered in greenery. This amphitheater was once considered to be the Round Table, suggesting that the Round Table was not a physical table but a sacred circular enclosure used for gatherings, in line with Celtic traditions.
Near the amphitheater, there is a hill surrounded by a wall, traditionally said to be the site of a tower built by King Arthur. Today, an interesting museum dedicated to the Roman army stands there, showcasing various aspects of life and service within the Roman military. Some believe that Arthur was a senior officer in the Roman army who stayed behind after the army’s retreat to fight the Saxon invaders.
Winchester
Winchester, , located about 100 km southeast of London, was the historic capital of England and the Kingdom of Wessex, one of the ancient kingdoms of England, notable for being the only one to withstand the Viking invasions. Consequently, it became the capital of all England from the time of Alfred the Great to the end of the 11th century, time of the Norman invasion, The Normans initially ruled from the ancient centers of southern England, but the new conquerors required a new capital, and thus London, the largest city and main commercial hub of England, was chosen.
Today, Winchester is a pleasant and picturesque tourist town. Along the main street, there are several important sites, with a large and beautiful cathedral at the heart of the city. At the beginning of the street stands the Old City Gate, next to which is Winchester Castle, home to the large hall containing the original Round Table, hanging on its wall.
According to legends, the city was founded in the 9th century BC by the legendary king Baldavid, the ninth in the line of Brutus the Trojan, the founder of London and Britain, and was called the “White City.” It developed as a crossroads and an important city during the Roman period. In the Middle Ages, a pilgrim road extended from Winchester to Canterbury.
Winchester Cathedral, the longest in Europe, was founded at the end of the 11th century. Its main construction, in the Gothic style, dates from the 14th century. The cathedral was built on the site of an ancient pagan Sacred site, possibly a stone circle. In the basement of the church lies an ancient sacred Druid well. Several English kings, including Alfred the Great, are buried in the cathedral, along with the writer Jane Austen.
Winchester was identified with King Arthur’s legendary Camelot by the Tudor dynasty and its founder, Henry VII. He named his eldest son Arthur and had him baptized in Winchester, intending to create a connection between his dynasty and that of Arthur to obtain legitimacy and a mythic aura for his rule. However, Arthur died young, and his brother Henry VIII became the heir.
Henry VIII, who made England Protestant, cultivated the legends of the Holy Grail to give mythic legitimacy to the primacy and uniqueness of English Christianity. At the time, a huge antique table, believed to be the original Round Table, was hung on the wall of the great hall at Winchester Castle. The table weighs more than a ton and has a diameter of 6 meters. It is divided into green and white bands with the names of 24 knights, and in the middle is a flower of the House of Tudor, which combines the white rose of the House of York and the red rose of the House of Lancaster. Above it sits a king in the form of Henry VIII, indicating that the paintings on the table are from his time, but the table itself is much older, likely from the time of Edward I, who wanted to renew the tradition of the Round Table.
In the hall where the table is displayed, there is an exhibit on the life of chivalry, where visitors can even dress up in knightly clothes for a brief moment of worldly fame.
Footnotes
[1] But in the end, a few years later, the Crusaders were finally defeated by Muslim forces in 1244 at the Battle of Hirabiya, held 14 km north of Gaza. broke
[2] In the time of his grandfather, King John, the Magna Carta was signed, and in the time of his father, Henry III, it was confirmed.
[3] He died on 7.7, and the imprisonment of the Templars took place on 13.10.
[4] Its full name is “The Most Noble Order of the Garter”.
[5] According to Margaret Marie, the fact that the woman had a garter shows that she belonged to the witches, and the founding of the order shows the king’s support for them. The number 26 represents two covens of 13 witches each, in Wales and England.
