Arvirargus facts for kids
Arvirargus (also called Arviragus) was a legendary British king. He might have been a real person who lived around the 1st century AD. We know a little about a historical Arviragus from an old poem. This poem, by Juvenal, mentions a huge fish given to the Roman emperor Domitian. The poem says this fish was a sign that "you will capture some king, or Arviragus will fall from his British chariot." This suggests he was a known figure at the time.
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Arvirargus in Old Stories
Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote a famous book called Historia Regum Britanniae in 1136. This book tells a legendary story of Arvirargus. In Geoffrey's tale, Arvirargus lived at the same time as the Roman emperor Claudius (41–54 AD). However, Geoffrey's book is mostly a romantic story. It does not contain many true historical facts. So, his account of Arvirargus is likely not completely accurate.
Becoming King
According to Geoffrey's story, Arvirargus was the son of King Kimbelinus. He became king of Britain after his older brother, Guiderius, died. Guiderius was fighting the Roman army led by Emperor Claudius. Arvirargus then put on his brother's armor. He led the British army against the Romans.
When Arvirargus learned that Claudius and his commander, Hamo, had run away into the woods, he chased them. He followed them all the way to the coast. The Britons killed Hamo as he tried to escape onto a ship. The place where this happened was later named Southampton after him. Claudius managed to gather his soldiers again. He then attacked Portchester until his forces took control of it.
Peace with Rome
After Hamo's death, Arvirargus went to Winchester for safety. But Claudius followed him there with his army. The Britons broke out of the city and attacked the Romans. Claudius stopped the fighting and offered a peace deal.
For peace and a payment to Rome, Claudius offered Arvirargus his own daughter in marriage. They agreed to these terms. Arvirargus then helped Claudius take control of Orkney and other lands in the north.
Marriage and Later Years
The next spring, Arvirargus married Claudius' daughter, Genvissa. He named the city of Gloucester after her father. After the wedding, Claudius left Britain. He left Arvirargus in charge of the country.
In the years after Claudius left, Arvirargus rebuilt the cities that had been damaged. He became a powerful king. His neighbors feared him. Because of this, he stopped paying tribute to Rome. So, Claudius sent Vespasian with an army to Britain.
As Vespasian prepared to land, a large British force was waiting. Vespasian then went to another port, Totnes, and set up his camp there. Once his base was ready, he marched to Exeter and attacked the city. Arvirargus met him in battle there. The fight was very close, with no clear winner. The next morning, Queen Genvissa helped make peace between the two leaders. Vespasian returned to Rome. Arvirargus ruled Britain peacefully for many years. When he died, he was buried in Gloucester. His son, Marius, became king after him.
Arvirargus and Caratacus
Geoffrey's legendary Arvirargus seems to be similar to a real historical figure named Caratacus. Caratacus was also the son of Cunobelinus. He and his brother Togodumnus led the first resistance against the Roman invasion in 43 AD. Caratacus continued to cause trouble for Rome for almost ten years after his brother Togodumnus died. Some old Welsh versions of Geoffrey's story call Arvirargus "Gweirydd" and his brother "Gwydr."
Cultural Legacy
Arvirargus has appeared in other famous works of literature.
- In Geoffrey Chaucer's The Franklin's Tale, part of Canterbury Tales, a character named Arveragus is a good husband. However, he is not much like the legendary King Arvirargus.
- Arvirargus is a character in William Shakespeare's play Cymbeline. In the play, he and his brother Guiderius were kidnapped as children. They were raised in secret in Wales by Belarius, a nobleman who had been wrongly banished. They are reunited with their father and sister Imogen just in time for the Roman invasion.
- Records from Henry Herbert (Master of the Revels) show that a play called Arviragus was performed. This play was shown at the Court of King Charles I on December 26 and 27, 1636.
See Also
