KING ARTHURKING ARTHUR

Copyright 2006 Dunstanburgh ProjectCopyright 2006 Dunstanburgh Project

INTRODUCING KING INTRODUCING KING ARTHURARTHUR

Historical ArthurHistorical Arthur

Dark AgesDark Ages

Literary ArthurLiterary Arthur

Medieval Medieval

• Arthur as presented in the legends was Arthur as presented in the legends was NOT a real person. There was, however, a NOT a real person. There was, however, a chieftain named Arthur. chieftain named Arthur.

• Historical Arthur lived in the Dark AgesHistorical Arthur lived in the Dark Ages, , at the end of the 5at the end of the 5thth and beginning of the 6 and beginning of the 6thth centuries.centuries.

• Literary Arthur comes from medieval Literary Arthur comes from medieval timestimes, during the 12, during the 12thth century. century.

IMPORTANT IMPORTANT CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

• Merlin – Arthur’s counselor, prophet, magician, & Merlin – Arthur’s counselor, prophet, magician, & wizard.wizard.

• Morgan le Fay – Arthur’s half sister; healer & Morgan le Fay – Arthur’s half sister; healer & shape-changer; an adversary of both Arthur & shape-changer; an adversary of both Arthur & Guinevere.Guinevere.

• Sir Kay –raised as Arthur’s step-brother.Sir Kay –raised as Arthur’s step-brother.• Mordred – Arthur’s nephew; seized Mordred – Arthur’s nephew; seized

Guinevere & rebelled against Arthur; Guinevere & rebelled against Arthur; killed by Launcelot after the last battle.killed by Launcelot after the last battle.

• Guinevere – Arthur’s wife; Lancelot’s Guinevere – Arthur’s wife; Lancelot’s lover. lover.

• Launcelot – Arthur’s chief knight & rival Launcelot – Arthur’s chief knight & rival for Guinevere’s love.for Guinevere’s love.

• The Lady of the Lake – gave Excalibur to The Lady of the Lake – gave Excalibur to Arthur.Arthur.

CamelotCopyright 1984 Alan Lee

IMPORTANT OBJECTSIMPORTANT OBJECTS• ExcaliburExcalibur – Arthur’s magical sword; given to him – Arthur’s magical sword; given to him

by The Lady of the Lake.by The Lady of the Lake.

• The Holy GrailThe Holy Grail – the cup used by Christ at the – the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper; used by Joseph of Arimathea to Last Supper; used by Joseph of Arimathea to catch Christ’s blood when he was on the cross.catch Christ’s blood when he was on the cross.

• The Round Table The Round Table – the table given as part of – the table given as part of Guinevere’s dowry & used by Arthur and his Guinevere’s dowry & used by Arthur and his knights. Each knight’s name was magically knights. Each knight’s name was magically inscribed on the table. Everybody was equal.inscribed on the table. Everybody was equal.

Knights of the Round Knights of the Round TableTable

• Sir Galahad Sir Galahad • Sir Launcelot du LacSir Launcelot du Lac• Sir Gawain Sir Gawain • Sir Percivale Sir Percivale • Sir LionellSir Lionell• Sir Tristram de LyonesSir Tristram de Lyones• Sir GarethSir Gareth• Sir BedivereSir Bedivere• Sir BleoberisSir Bleoberis• Sir La Cote Male TaileSir La Cote Male Taile• Sir LucanSir Lucan• Sir KaySir Kay

• Sir PalomedesSir Palomedes• Sir LamorakSir Lamorak• Sir Bors de GanisSir Bors de Ganis• Sir SaferSir Safer• Sir PelleasSir Pelleas• Sir Ector de MarisSir Ector de Maris• Sir DagonetSir Dagonet• Sir DegoreSir Degore• Sir Brunor le NoirSir Brunor le Noir• Sir Le Bel DesconneuSir Le Bel Desconneu• Sir AlymereSir Alymere• Sir MordredSir Mordred

ChivalryChivalryknighthood & its code of honorknighthood & its code of honor

Invincible strength Invincible strength

ValorValor

JusticeJustice

ModestyModesty

Loyalty to superiorsLoyalty to superiors

Courtesy to equalsCourtesy to equals

Compassion to weaknessCompassion to weakness

Devotedness to the churchDevotedness to the church

KnightsKnights Mounted warriorMounted warrior

Man of rank, or in service of a Man of rank, or in service of a man of rankman of rank

Generally possesses some Generally possesses some independent means of support, independent means of support, but relies on the gratitude of but relies on the gratitude of those he has servedthose he has served

Knights-errantKnights-errant -- -- wandering knights who wandering knights who traveled the country in traveled the country in quest of adventurequest of adventure

Knight TrainingKnight Training

AGE 7 AGE 7 Become a page Become a page

• Taken from home to the court or castleTaken from home to the court or castle

• Taught first articles of religion, respect, Taught first articles of religion, respect, and reverence for their lordsand reverence for their lords

• Initiated in ceremonies of the courtInitiated in ceremonies of the court

• Taught falconry, dancing, harp playing, Taught falconry, dancing, harp playing, hunting, fishing, wrestling, carving, tilting hunting, fishing, wrestling, carving, tilting with spears, & performing military with spears, & performing military exercises on horsebackexercises on horseback

AGE 14 AGE 14 Become a Become a squiresquire

• Taught to vault on a Taught to vault on a horse, to run, to scale horse, to run, to scale walls, to spring over walls, to spring over ditches – all in heavy ditches – all in heavy armorarmor

• Taught to wrestle, to wield Taught to wrestle, to wield the battle-axe without the battle-axe without raising the visorraising the visor

• Taught to perform Taught to perform gracefully on horsebackgracefully on horseback

• Taught courtesyTaught courtesy

• Encouraged to bestow his Encouraged to bestow his attentions on a young lady attentions on a young lady of the courtof the court

AGE 21 AGE 21 Initiation to the Initiation to the KnighthoodKnighthood

Preparation for the Ceremony:Preparation for the Ceremony:

• Fast and spend whole nights in Fast and spend whole nights in prayerprayer

• Confession and communion & Confession and communion & clothed in snow-white garmentclothed in snow-white garment

• Go to church or hall where the Go to church or hall where the ceremony is to be heldceremony is to be held

• Wear a knightly sword suspended Wear a knightly sword suspended from neckfrom neck

CeremonyCeremony• Officiating priest takes Officiating priest takes

the sword, blesses it, the sword, blesses it, and returns itand returns it

• Candidate folds arms, Candidate folds arms, kneels before presiding kneels before presiding knight and answers knight and answers questions about questions about motives for becoming a motives for becoming a knightknight

• Takes an oathTakes an oath

• Receives armor and swordReceives armor and sword

• Kneels before presiding knight Kneels before presiding knight who administers the accolade (3 who administers the accolade (3 strokes of a flat sword on the strokes of a flat sword on the neck or shoulder) and says, “In neck or shoulder) and says, “In the name of God, of St. Michael, the name of God, of St. Michael, and of St. George, I make thee a and of St. George, I make thee a knight; be valiant, courteous, knight; be valiant, courteous, and loyal.”and loyal.”

• Receives helmet, shield, and Receives helmet, shield, and spearspear

The emblem of the Knights of the Round Table worn The emblem of the Knights of the Round Table worn round the necks of all the Knights was given to them round the necks of all the Knights was given to them by King Arthur as part of the ceremony of their being by King Arthur as part of the ceremony of their being made a knight. made a knight.

The Order's dominant idea was the love of God, The Order's dominant idea was the love of God,

people, and noble deeds. people, and noble deeds.

The cross in the emblem was to remind them that they The cross in the emblem was to remind them that they were to live pure and stainless lives, to strive after were to live pure and stainless lives, to strive after perfection and thus attain the Holy Grail. perfection and thus attain the Holy Grail.

The Red Dragon of King Arthur represented their The Red Dragon of King Arthur represented their allegiance to the King. allegiance to the King.

The Round Table was illustrative of the Eternity of The Round Table was illustrative of the Eternity of God, the equality, unity, and comradeship of the God, the equality, unity, and comradeship of the Order, and singleness of purpose of all the Knights.Order, and singleness of purpose of all the Knights.

RULES/CODES for RULES/CODES for KNIGHTSKNIGHTS

• Never murder in cold bloodNever murder in cold blood• Never betray the king or country Never betray the king or country • Never be cruel but be mercifulNever be cruel but be merciful• Never surrender Never surrender • Never become attached to worldly goods Never become attached to worldly goods • Never lieNever lie• Never lay down your weaponNever lay down your weapon• Always seek after wonders Always seek after wonders • Always seek honor firstAlways seek honor first• Always give aidAlways give aid• Always honor GodAlways honor God• Always defend the weakAlways defend the weak