The legends of Camelot gave the impression of the greatness of the state, where knights in shining armor lived according to a code of honor, and saving beautiful ladies was commonplace. The stories of Camelot were so deeply ingrained in the minds of the English that it no longer mattered whether King Arthur actually existed. There are numerous rumors and tales about the heroic deeds of the knights, their struggle against injustice, the forces of evil and unimaginable monsters. Perhaps this famous hero of English folklore did not exist as such, but several prototypes are noted in history that could well be described under this name. These historical figures include, for example, Lucius Artorius Castus, Ambrose Aurelian and Charlemagne.
Was there a Camelot?
There is no historical evidence that King Arthur actually existed. The legends about this hero were based on books written by the priests of the Middle Ages. Based on these conjectures, it is impossible to say whether the city of Camelot, described in legends, existed as the capital of the state ruled by Arthur. One of the significant works of that time is the History of the Kings of Britain, written in 1136 by a clergymanGeoffrey of Monmouth - became the first work that told about the life of King Arthur, but there was no mention of the capital in it. Archaeological excavations are carried out to this day. Some of them confirm the existence of the city, others deny it.
The Legend of King Arthur
The legend tells about the life of the great military leader and his exploits. The wizard Merlin, who knew about the intrigues at court and the struggle for power, protected the young Arthur and taught him military affairs himself. After the death of his father Uther, the young man had to fight for the throne of the kingdom. The debate about whether the young king could rule the kingdom died down when Arthur was able to draw the sword from the stone. The sword was set in stone, and for a long time no knight or other representative of the nobility could do this. As if fate itself led the young king to the throne and allowed Arthur to easily take possession of the legendary sword. After popular recognition, the struggle for power ceased, and the young monarch married Princess Guinevere.
Round table
It was at the court of King Arthur that the famous Round Table appeared, at which all knights will feel the same, regardless of the place. Even the monarch during the discussions at the round table was recognized as equal to the rest. The prototype of this symbol, introduced by King Arthur, is located in the English city of Winchester, in the county of Hampshire.
King Arthur in modern cinema
Currently, many famous directors are making feature filmsabout the travels and exploits of the great king. One of the popular works on this topic is a series called "Merlin". Although the picture distorts some significant details, its creators adhere to the main storyline of the legends of Camelot. For example, the wizard Merlin appears here as a young man sent to be trained by the court physician, but he constantly protects Arthur from death thanks to his gift.
