Excalibur facts for kids
Excalibur is a famous sword from the old stories of King Arthur. These stories are part of the mythology of Great Britain. Excalibur was King Arthur's special sword. It has become very well-known in books, movies, and games today. Many people see Excalibur as a sign of a king's power and a gift from the gods.
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The Story of Excalibur
King Arthur got Excalibur with help from his wise wizard, Merlin. In some stories, there are two different ways Arthur got the sword.
The Sword in the Stone
One story says that Merlin put a sword into a stone. He said that only the true king could pull it out. Many strong knights tried, but none could do it. Young Arthur was the one who pulled the sword from the stone. This showed everyone that he was meant to be king.
The Lady of the Lake's Gift
Another story tells of a different Excalibur. Merlin took King Arthur to a magical lake. There, a mysterious person called the Lady of the Lake gave Arthur a new sword. This Excalibur was said to be made by an elf from a magical place called Avalon.
The Scabbard's Magic
Excalibur came with a special scabbard. A scabbard is like a cover for a sword. This scabbard was magical and would protect Arthur from harm. Sadly, Arthur's sister later stole the scabbard, and it was lost forever.
Returning Excalibur
In his final battle at Camlann, King Arthur was badly hurt. He told his loyal knight, Bedwyr (also known as Griflet), to throw Excalibur back into the lake. Bedwyr did as he was told, and the Lady of the Lake's hand reached out to take the sword back.
The Name Excalibur
The name of King Arthur's sword has changed over time. One of its oldest names was Caladfwlch. This is a Welsh word that means "Hard Lightning." Later, a writer named Geoffrey of Monmouth changed the name to Caliburn. Today, we know it as Excalibur, a name that came from French stories.
Similar Swords in Other Legends
The legend of Excalibur is like other old stories from around the world. For example, the Irish hero Cú Chulainn had a sword called Caladbolg. Also, the Norse hero Sigurd had a special sword. Many of these legendary swords, like Excalibur, were said to be made by magical elves. Sometimes these elves are called Wayland in Saxon myths or Gofannon in Celtic myths.
Clarent: The Sword of Peace
King Arthur had another important sword called Clarent. Excalibur was known as the "sword of war" because Arthur used it to defend his kingdom, Camelot. Clarent, however, was the "sword of peace." It was used for ceremonies and peaceful events.
Even though Clarent is less famous, it played a very important part in the legends. The traitor Mordred stole Clarent. He then used this "sword of peace" against King Arthur in their final battle, which led to Arthur's death.
Images for kids
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"Queen Morgana Loses Excalibur His Sheath." Howard Pyle's illustration for The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (1903)
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"How Galahad drew out the sword from the floating stone at Camelot." Arthur Rackham's illustration for Alfred W. Pollard's The Romance of King Arthur (1917)
See also
In Spanish: Excálibur para niños
