Table Of ContentKing Arthur
King Arthur is often written off as a medieval fantasy,
the dream of those yearning for an age of strong, just
rulers and a contented kingdom. Those who accept his
existence at all generally discard the stories that
surround him.
The author’s investigation argues not only that Arthur
did exist, but that many of the romantic tales – of
Merlin, Camelot and Excalibur – are rooted in truth. He
carefully scrutinises up-to-date archaeological and
documentary sources, from which a picture emerges of
Arthur as a genuine sixth-century zmilitary commander-
in-chief, responsible for leading the Britons of Wales and
the West Country.
In his quest for the real King Arthur, Rodney Castleden
reconstructs the kingdoms, frontiers and political power
centres of sixth-century Britain, and recreates the royal
dynasties, chronologies and life-styles of the Dark Age
kings. The various theories regarding the whereabouts of
Arthur’s kingdom and power base are evaluated, with the
West Country seen as his most likely home territory.
New evidence revives the idea that Tintagel was a royal
residence, probably one of many used by Arthur on his
travels.
One of the most exciting aspects of the book is Rodney
Castleden’s proposal of a radical new theory – that
Arthur escaped alive from his final battle, to a retirement
far from home. A location is even suggested for perhaps
the greatest mystery, the whereabouts of Arthur’s grave.
KING ARTHUR
By the same author:
Classic Landforms of the Sussex Coast
(1982; second edition 1996)
The Wilmington Giant: The Quest for a Lost Myth (1983)
The Stonehenge People: An Exploration of Life in Neolithic Britain,
4700–2000 BC (1987)
The Knossos Labyrinth: A New View of the ‘Palace of Minos’ at
Knossos (1989)
Minoans: Life in Bronze Age Crete (1990)
Book of British Dates: A Comprehensive Dictionary of British Dates
from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day (1991)
Neolithic Britain: New Stone Age Sites of England, Scotland and Wales
(1992)
The Making of Stonehenge (1993)
World History: A Chronological Dictionary of Dates
(1994; second edition 1995)
The Cerne Giant (1996)
Knossos, Temple of the Goddess (1997)
Atlantis Destroyed (1998)
Ancient British Hill Figures (1999)
K I N G A R T H U R
The truth behind the legend
Rodney Castleden
illustrated by the author
London and New York
First published 2000
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2001.
© 2000 Rodney Castleden
The right of Rodney Castleden to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him
in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by
any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Castleden, Rodney.
King Arthur : the truth behind the legend / Rodney Castleden.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
1. Arthur, King. 2. Great Britain—Antiquities, Celtic. 3. Britons—Kings and rulers—
Folklore. 4. Great Britain—History—To 1066. 5. Camelot (Legendary place) I. Title.
DA152.5.A7C37 1999
942.01´4—dc21 99–29051
CIP
ISBN 0-415-19575-6 (Print Edition)
ISBN 0-203-02216-5 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-08310-5 (Glassbook Format)
For Aubrey Burl
Year 72 (516): Battle of Badon, in which Arthur carried the cross of our
lord Jesus Christ on his shoulders for three days and three nights, and the
British were victors.
Year 93 (537): Strife of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut fell.
Easter Annals (probably contemporary, certainly before 800)
As an historical figure [Arthur] should be laid to rest once more as an
unwarranted and retrospective intrusion on the fifth century. Not only did
Arthur himself not exist but the age which led to his invention was no less
fictional.
Nicholas Higham (1994)
This is no time for dry as dust historical reservations. Dig, dig, dig, Dr
Wainwright.
Daily Telegraph (1998)
CONTENTS
List of figures ix
List of plates xi
Preface and acknowledgements xiii
1 ‘Who this Arthur was’ 1
The once and future king 3
Doubts about Arthur’s existence 5
2 The Documents 8
Constantius’ Life of Germanus 8
Writings on stones 10
Genealogies 13
Nennius’ Historical Miscellany 17
Poetry 21
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 24
Gildas’s Book of Complaint 25
Geoffrey of Monmouth 31
3 The Archaeology 37
Background problems 37
Strongholds of the North 41
Strongholds of Wales and the Welsh Borders 43
Dark Age Dumnonia 49
Castle Dore and other sites 69
4 Arthur’s Britain 74
St Germanus and Vortigern 78
Ambrosius Aurelianus 81
Christian missionaries 84
The Saxons 87
vii
— Contents —
5 Arthur: the Man, the King and the Kingdom 107
The man 107
‘The most powerful leader of the Britons’ 117
Arthur’s power base 122
Arthur as a Christian king 141
6 Camelot 148
Colchester, Cadbury and Caerlaverock 149
Tintagel 151
Viroconium 167
Killibury 167
The Hammerer 174
7 The Death of Arthur 178
The last battle 179
Arthur’s disappearance 189
Avalon 191
‘The wonder of the world’ 203
Appendix A The Kings of Powys 222
Appendix B The Kings of Demetia 223
Appendix C The Arthnou Stone from Tintagel 225
Notes 227
Bibliography 244
Index 254
viii
