King Arthur facts for kids
King Arthur was a legendary king from the mythology of Great Britain. He lived in medieval times, in his famous castle, Camelot. He had a special sword called Excalibur, which was given to him by the Lady in the Lake.
King Arthur is a famous fictional character in modern literature and movies. He is known as a ruler who defended his kingdom from invaders. He won many battles and had several homes. His favorite home was always Camelot. One of the most famous stories about him is how he pulled a magical sword from a stone. This act proved he was the true king of the Britons.
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Arthur's Early Life
Stories say that Arthur was magically conceived with the help of the wizard Merlin. His father was a king named Uther Pendragon, who fell in love with Lady Igraine. Sadly, Arthur's mother died when he was born, and his father passed away soon after. Because of this tragedy, young Arthur was sent by Merlin to live with a knight named Ector when he was just a baby.
Growing up, Arthur was often teased by his older brother, Kay. When their mother died, Kay told Arthur that he was adopted. Later, while looking for a sword for his brother to use at knight trials, Arthur found a gleaming sword stuck in a stone. He was told that the person who could pull it out would be the true king. When Arthur succeeded, he proved his worth and claimed the throne. This is how he became the King of Britain.
Life as King
Many castles claim to be Arthur's Camelot, but Tintagel Castle in Cornwall is often thought to be the most likely. In Camelot sat the famous Round Table. Here, Arthur, his queen Guinevere, Merlin, Morgan le Fay, Sir Lancelot, Sir Gawain, and Sir Perceval, along with many other knights, would gather.
Arthur and his knights went on many exciting quests. These included The Quest For The Holy Grail, adventures with The Green Knight, and encounters with The Black Knight.
The End of King Arthur's Reign
After King Arthur's many adventures, his sword Excalibur was stolen by his son, Mordred. Mordred also took over Arthur's kingdom and queen. This forced Arthur to fight for what was rightfully his. They fought for a long time, and in the end, Arthur defeated Mordred.
However, after this victory, King Arthur was very weak. He died from losing too much blood from the wounds he received in the battle. As his knights rode back to Camelot, they threw Excalibur into the lake. This was so the magical sword could return to where it came from. One legend says that Arthur never truly died. It is believed he will return when the British people need him most.
King Arthur in Books and Movies
Many books have been written about King Arthur and his adventures. Most of these stories include Merlin, the Knights of the Round Table, and Morgan le Fay. Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote one of the first stories about him. Alfred, Lord Tennyson visited Tintagel, which is often linked to Camelot, and wrote a series of poems about Arthur.
One of the most well-known books is The Death of Arthur, written by Sir Thomas Malory. Another famous story tells how Arthur set out to find the Holy Grail. This was the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper.
There are also many movies about King Arthur. Some popular ones include Disney's The Sword in the Stone, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and the musical Camelot.
Images for kids
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Tapestry showing Arthur as one of the Nine Worthies, wearing a coat of arms often attributed to him (c. 1385)
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"Arturus rex" (King Arthur), a 1493 illustration from the Nuremberg Chronicle
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A facsimile page of Y Gododdin, one of the most famous early Welsh texts featuring Arthur (c. 1275)
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Culhwch entering Arthur's court in the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen. An illustration by Alfred Fredericks for a 1881 edition of the Mabinogion
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King Arthur in a crude illustration from a 15th-century Welsh version of Historia Regum Britanniae
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During the 12th century, Arthur's character began to be marginalised by the accretion of "Arthurian" side-stories such as that of Tristan and Iseult, here pictured in a painting by John William Waterhouse (1916)
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The story of Arthur drawing the sword from a stone appeared in Robert de Boron's 13th-century Merlin. By Howard Pyle (1903)
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Arthur receiving the later tradition's sword Excalibur in N. C. Wyeth's illustration for The Boy's King Arthur (1922), a modern edition of Thomas Malory's 1485 Le Morte d'Arthur
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Merlin and Viviane in Gustave Doré's 1868 illustration for Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King
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King Arthur (holding Excalibur) and Patsy in Spamalot, a stage musical adaptation of the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail
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See also
In Spanish: Rey Arturo para niños
