 There
seems to be only one way to prove that the Legends of King Arthur were
inspired by a real historical figure, and that is to find someone who is
identical to King Arthur in so many respects, that it would be impossible
or at least improbable, for it to be purely coincidence.
I believe that historical figure to be
Artur or Arturius, the son of Aidan, and a real 6th century figure. He may
never have been a king, he certainly was a warrior, and could quite easily
have been the 'Dux Bellorum' or Battle Leader of the united forces of the
Scots and Britons, who were definitely allies at this period, in the wars
in the North against the Saxons/Angles of Bernicia and the Picts, by
virtue of the fact that his father Aidan was the most powerful King in the
North.
Judge for yourself. Artur son of Aidan is
identical to the Arthur of Legend in the following respects:
- He has the correct name, Artur or
Arturius, the 6th century version of the name Arthur.
- He was the son of a most powerful king.
- He was a christian (a valid point, when
half the country was still pagan).
- He lived at the correct period. (6th
century.)
- He was a contemporary and ally of the
Northern King Urien, who was a real historical figure and who is
mentioned in the legends as an ally of Arthur.
- He was an ally of the Kings of the
Britons in the wars in the North against the Saxons/Angles and the
Picts.
- He died in battle against the Picts.
(Remember in legend Arthur's last battle was against Modred, whose
mother was the wife of Lot, king of the Picts.)
- Artur or Arturius had a sister or half
sister called Morgan, as did King Arthur of legend. (Evidence which I
was fortunate to find in the 8th cent. 'Martyrology of Oengus the
Culdee'.)
Against this Arthur, who is identical in so
many respects to the Arthur of the Legends, that I cannot believe it could
possibly just be coincidence, is the Arthur of Cornwall, Wales and the
West Country of England, where no reliable, historical evidence has ever
been found.
Why you may ask, after reading the
evidence, has Arturius not been accepted as the inspiration for the Legend
of King Arthur? Perhaps the answer lies in the simple fact that he was
guilty of the unforgivable - being born a Scot, and therefore not Welsh or
Cornish.
David F. Carroll
|
