King Arthur's messianic return facts for kids
The idea of King Arthur's return is a famous story in the legend of King Arthur. It says that one day, this legendary king will come back to help and save his people. This is a type of story known as the "king asleep in mountain" idea. It means a hero is not truly gone but just waiting to return when needed.
King Arthur was a legendary British king from the 6th century. We don't have many real historical records about him. Some people even wonder if he truly existed. But over time, he became a huge part of mythology. Many stories and books were written about his life and brave actions.
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When Did the Idea of Arthur's Return Begin?
The first time anyone wrote about Arthur possibly returning was in 1125. A writer named William of Malmesbury said, "Arthur's grave is nowhere seen, so old stories still claim he will return."
Around 1145, a French writer, Hériman of Tournai, mentioned that people in Brittany and Cornwall believed Arthur was still alive. Many sources show that this belief in Arthur's return was very common among the Britons from the 12th century onwards. We're not sure how much earlier this idea existed.
This powerful belief stayed strong through the Middle Ages and even later. For example, in the 1400s, John Lydgate wrote that Arthur "shall return as lord and ruler from fairy land and reign in Britain." Even Philip II of Spain supposedly swore in 1554 that he would give up his kingdom if Arthur came back!
Where Was Arthur Supposed to Return From?
People had different ideas about where Arthur was waiting to return. The earliest and most common idea was Avalon. In the 12th century, Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote that Arthur was badly hurt at Camlann. He was then taken to the "Isle of Avallon" to heal. Geoffrey hinted that Arthur would get better there and eventually return.
Another popular story said Arthur was waiting under a mountain or hill. This idea was first mentioned around 1211 by Gervase of Tilbury. It continued in British folklore into the 1800s. Some scholars believe this means Arthur was in an underground Otherworld (a magical, hidden world).
Less common ideas included Arthur leading the Wild Hunt (a ghostly group of riders). Some even thought he had turned into a crow or raven.
How Arthur's Legend Influenced History
The legend of Arthur's return wasn't just for stories. It often played a part in real-life politics.
Arthur's Influence in Medieval Times
The idea of Arthur's return helped the Welsh people resist the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. An Anglo-Norman text said the Welsh openly believed that "by means of Arthur, they will have it back... They will call it Britain again."
This might connect to the Welsh idea of the "Mab Darogan" ("Son of Prophecy"). This was a hero who would defeat the enemies of the Welsh. Figures like Cadwaladr and Owain Glyndŵr were sometimes seen as this hero. However, we don't have any Welsh poems from that time that specifically say Arthur would return to expel enemies. We mostly rely on non-Welsh texts for this idea.
On the other hand, the Plantagenet kings of England also used Arthur's legend. Once they declared Arthur was truly dead (to stop Welsh hopes of his return), they used him to support their own rule.
For example, Richard I of England used his connection to Arthur's kingdom to make alliances with other countries. He even gave a sword, believed to be Excalibur, to Tancred of Sicily. Also, "Round Tables" were popular events. These were jousting and dancing parties that copied Arthur and his knights. Edward I of England held one in 1284 to celebrate his conquest of Wales. He wanted to show he was "reuniting" Arthur's Britain. Edward also used the claim that Arthur conquered Scotland to support his own claims over that region.
Arthur's Influence After the Middle Ages
Arthur's influence on English kings didn't stop in the Middle Ages. The Tudor kings also found him useful. In 1485, Henry VII of England marched through Wales to take the English throne. He used the Arthurian Red Dragon as his banner. He also had family trees made to show he was related to Arthur. He even named his first son Arthur.
Later, under Henry VIII of England and Elizabeth I of England, Arthur's story was used again. It helped support claims about historical rights and territories in legal cases for the crown.
Even though scholars later questioned the historical truth of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Arthur, the king remained a powerful figure. In the 20th century, John F. Kennedy and his White House were compared to Arthur and Camelot. This comparison, made by Kennedy's widow, Jacqueline Kennedy, helped his reputation after his death. Kennedy even became linked to an Arthur-like return in American folklore.
Modern Stories About Arthur's Return
The idea of Arthur eventually returning has inspired many modern writers.
John Masefield used the idea of Arthur sleeping under a hill in his poem Midsummer Night (1928). C. S. Lewis was also inspired by this in his novel That Hideous Strength (1945). In this book, King Arthur is said to be living on the planet Venus.
Arthur's return has been very popular in comic books since the 1940s. A well-known example is Camelot 3000 (1982–85) by Mike W. Barr and Brian Bolland. In this series, Arthur and his knights return in the year 3000 to save Earth from aliens.
Other examples include Stephen R. Lawhead's novel Avalon: The Return of King Arthur (1999). It features a reborn Arthur who comes back to restore the British monarchy. In the manga Vinland Saga, a character named Askeladd tells the story of his ancestor, Lucius Artorius Castus. He says this true king will return from Avalon to save Britannia.
See also
- Bhagavad Gita
- Constantine XI Palaiologos
- Epic of King Gesar
- Muhammad al-Mahdi
- Nero Redivivus legend
- Ogier the Dane
- Rudra Chakrin
