A new theory about King Arthur
By; Kelly d. Whittaker

These new interpretations open the gates to a complete new theory that the great knights and kings spoken about in the Legend of Arthur are really Scots.

In 1952, Mr. R L Graeme Ritchie found and identified Caerlaverock Castle on the north shore of the Solway Firth, near the modern Day City of Carlisle. Caerlaverock is the legendary birthplace of Arthur Pendragon. The son of Uther (the bad) Pendragon, a Roman Commander stationed at Hadrian’s Wall. The years are during the Dark Ages when written documentation was very scarce. Geoffrey of Monmouth was a good resource to the written records of Arthur. The only problem with Geoffrey was his lack of geographical knowledge of Britain. Certain names of towns sounded much like the names of Welsh towns therefore he concluded his theory of Arthur being from Wales.

The twelve battles that Arthur was in are as follows:

1. Ostium fluminis. Glein = mouth of the River Glein
2. allied flumen Dubglas in reione Linnuis = another River, the Dubglas in the Linnuis area
3. same
4. same
5. same
6. Flumen. Basses = River Bassas
7. in silva Celidonis, Cat Coit Celidon = in the Celidon Wood, Battle of Celidon
8. in castello Guinnion = in Fort Guinnon
9. in urbe Legionis = in the city of the Legion
10. in litore fluminis Tribruit = on the banks of the River Tribruit
11. in monte Agned = on Mount Agned
12. in monte Badonis = on Mount Badon

The study seems to connect Arthur to the areas of North York near Hadrian’s Wall, no further north than the Antonine Wall, on the west to what is now Glasgow and to the East to what is now Edinburgh. This also connects to the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth.

There were three Legion cities during the Roman times; York, Chester and Caerleon. Carlisle is mentioned as the headquarters for Arthur in many manuscripts. The Brigantes were the victorious tribes that won the Northern or Pictish shores of the Solway. The same area that King Arthur was born in. So, Carlisle is very important in the history of Britain but also in the role that Arthur led in becoming the peacemaker of the people.

Arthur was born in 559 AD. When Columba ordained King Aedan of Dalriada in 574, records show Arthur being Aedan’s eldest son. Arthur’s mother was Ygerna del Acqs, the High Queen of the Celtic kingdoms. Ygerna was married to Gwyr-Llew, Dux of Carlisle. The Duke of Carlisle had been sent south to become Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. During this time is when Aedan of Dalriada became totally enthralled with the beauty of Ygerna or better known as Igrain. Later on in years, after Cornwall had died, Igraine married Aedan making Arthur a legitimate heir to the thrown.

Briton was being invaded by the Anglo- Saxons during the rein of King Aedan. He was not successful in defeating the Angles. All sides including the original Scots who are now the Irish and Scandinavians were threatening Dalriada. The Pics and Alba were fighting over their rights in what is now Scotland. The Christian Church was growing stronger each day and the Old Celtic ways were being forgotten.

Pendragon and Merlin are both titles, Pendragon meaning Head Dragon of the Island, King of Kings and Guardian of the Celtic Island. Merlin meant Seer to the King. Merlin’s real name was Emrys of Powys, the son of Aurelius. The Merlin was also an elder cousin to King Aedan.

Merlin was a Celt Priest and Vivien del Acqs, the grandmother of Arthur was the Queen of Avalon and High Priestess of the Ancient Celtic Religion. Arthur was supposed to unite the two religions but his conscience to be loyal to ONE religion swayed him to make Christianity the dominating religion of Britain.

Aedan was the son of King Gabran and Lluan of Brecknock. Lluan was a direct descendent of Joseph of Arimathea, therefore entitling King Aedan mac Gabran of Scots to receive the title of Pendragon and the first to be ordained by Columba, a Catholic priest.

In 575 AD, at the age of sixteen, Arthur was appointed sovereign Guletic (commander). Arthur did have brothers. Their names were Eochaid Find, Domingart and Eochaid Buide. He was not an only child. Merlin was appointed to Arthur because he was the eldest. One may conclude that Merlin did raise and protect Arthur.

There was a relationship between Arthur and his half-sister Morganna or Morgan le Faye the wife of King Urien of Rheged and Gowrie (Goure). Many people frowned on this act of incest but to the Celtic Britain, it was perceived as the dual nature of God, the ancient principle of the ‘sacred sister-bride.’ A son named Modred was born from this union.

Modred plays a significant roll in the destruction of Arthur’s realm that will be discussed later on in this series. The old transcripts were confusing to many scholars because of the Welsh-Scottish resemblance of the Gaelic language. Wales and Scotland were very close allies and friends throughout this time frame. The remainder of the story shall prove a theory of Lancelot, Galahad and Perceval also being Scots.