Lucius Artorius Castus facts for kids
Lucius Artorius Castus was a Roman military leader who lived around the 2nd century AD. He was part of the Artoria family, who might have come from a region in Italy called Messapia or Etruria. Some people believe he could be the real person who inspired the legend of King Arthur.
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What We Know About His Military Career
Most of what we know about Lucius Artorius Castus comes from old stone carvings, called inscriptions. These were found on parts of a stone coffin (sarcophagus) and a memorial plaque in a place called Podstrana, in modern-day Croatia. We don't know the exact dates of these inscriptions, but Castus likely served in the Roman army sometime between the mid-2nd century AD and the mid-3rd century AD.
His Inscriptions Tell His Story
One main inscription was broken into two pieces. It was placed in the wall of a church. This inscription lists many of Castus's military roles. It tells us he was a centurion in several different Roman legions (large groups of soldiers).
Another inscription, found nearby, also mentions some of his important roles. These inscriptions are like a resume carved in stone, showing his long and successful career in the Roman army.
Units and Ranks He Held
Lucius Artorius Castus held many important positions in the Roman army:
Centurion in Different Legions
Castus started as a centurion in several legions. A centurion was a high-ranking officer, usually in charge of about 80 soldiers.
- He was a centurion in the legio III Gallica, which was based in Syria.
- He also served as a centurion in the legio VI Ferrata, stationed in Judea (modern-day Israel).
- He was a centurion in the legio II Adiutrix, which was based in Hungary and fought in many important wars.
- He was a centurion and later a Primus Pilus (chief centurion) in the legio V Macedonica, based in Romania. The Primus Pilus was the highest-ranking centurion in a legion.
Leader of the Misenum Fleet
After his time as a centurion, Castus became a Praepositus (Provost) of the Misenum fleet. This meant he was in charge of a special group of naval troops in Italy.
Commander in Britain
Castus then became a Praefectus (Prefect) of the Legio VI Victrix. This legion was based in Britain at a place called Eboracum (modern-day York). As a Prefect, he was like a third-in-command for the legion. His job was mostly administrative, meaning he managed the fortress, food, supplies, and equipment. People in this role were usually older and very experienced. It's unlikely he fought in battles while in Britain because his duties kept him at the base. He might have overseen troops guarding Hadrian's Wall, but the inscriptions don't say exactly where he served in Britain.
Leader of British Troops
Before he finished his military career, Castus led an important expedition. He was called a Dux Legionum, which means "Leader of Legions." This was a temporary title for officers leading a group of troops, often from different legions. The inscription says he led these troops "against the Arm[...]." Historians have debated who these enemies were. Some believe it was the Armoricani (people from a region in France). Others think it was the Armenios (people from Armenia). The "Armenian" idea is now more widely accepted because Roman armies often fought in Armenia during that time. The troops he led were called "Britanicimiarum", which likely means they were units that had served in Britain, even if they weren't made up of British people.
Governor of Liburnia
After his military career, Castus became a Procurator (governor) of Liburnia, a region in Dalmatia (part of modern-day Croatia). This was a high civilian position. As a procurator centenarius, he earned a large salary. He also had the ius gladii, which meant he had the power to order executions, even for important people like senators. We don't know anything more about him after this, or when he died.
When Did Lucius Artorius Castus Live?
The inscriptions don't give exact dates, so historians have different ideas about when Lucius Artorius Castus lived and served.
- Some experts suggest his expedition against the Armenians could have happened around 215 AD under Emperor Caracalla, or later in 232 AD under Severus Alexander.
- Other archaeologists believe his career was in the late 2nd century AD, with his death in the late 2nd or early 3rd century AD.
- One idea is that he was the first governor of Liburnia, which might have become a separate province around 184–185 AD.
- Another historian suggests his military career was between 121–166 AD, and his governorship between 167–174 AD.
So, while we know he was an important Roman figure, his exact timeline is still a bit of a mystery!
Is He King Arthur?
In 1924, a scholar named Kemp Malone first suggested that Lucius Artorius Castus might have inspired the legend of King Arthur. More recently, authors like C. Scott Littleton and Linda Malcor have supported this idea. However, most historians who study King Arthur don't agree. They point out that there are many big differences between the real Lucius Artorius Castus and the legendary King Arthur. The arguments for the connection often rely on guesswork.
For example:
- Lucius Artorius Castus lived in the 2nd or 3rd century AD. King Arthur is traditionally said to have fought against Saxon invaders in Britain in the late 5th or early 6th century AD. The dates don't match.
- The strongest link is the family name Artorius, which might have changed over time to become the name Arthur. But this doesn't mean Lucius Artorius Castus himself was the direct inspiration.
While it's a fun idea, there's no strong proof yet that Lucius Artorius Castus was the "real" King Arthur.
| Lucius Artorius Castus | King Arthur | |
|---|---|---|
| Time Period | 2nd century AD. | Traditionally late 5th or early 6th century AD. |
| Name | Artorius was his family name. His personal name was Lucius, and his closer family name was Castus. So he was more known as Castus. | Arthur might come from Artorius, but it could also be from a Celtic name. In old texts, it's always Arthur or Art[h]urus, never Artorius. |
| Background | His family had roots in Italy, possibly from Messapia or Etruria. He might have been born in Croatia. | Traditionally linked to British noble families from Cornwall. |
| Religion | Unknown. His tomb inscription was common for both pagan and Christian burials in his time. | Usually shown as Christian. Some stories say he carried an image of Mary or the Cross into battle. |
| Military Role | A high-ranking, professional officer in the Roman army. He was a centurion, a camp prefect in Britain, and later led a special expedition. | Associated with knights and cavalry (though knights didn't exist in his time). Called a "leader of battles" against the Saxons. Later stories call him "emperor" or "king." |
| Battles in Britain | As a camp prefect, he likely stayed at base, managing supplies. He led troops with a "British" connection, but probably not in Britain itself. | In old stories, he fought 12 battles in Britain against the Saxons. Later tales say he fought in France too. |
| Death | Unknown date or how he died. Probably died old, buried in Croatia. | In Welsh stories, he died at the Battle of Camlann (location unknown). His burial place was a mystery. |
Lucius Artorius Castus in Movies and Comics
Lucius Artorius Castus has appeared in modern stories:
- In the 2004 film King Arthur, the main character's Roman name is "Artorius Castus." The movie suggests that Arthur was a Roman commander whose family name came from a famous leader. However, the film changes the timeline, placing him in the 5th century AD to fight the Saxons, which matches the Arthurian legends more closely.
- In the Japanese manga series Vinland Saga, a character named Askeladd is said to be a descendant of Artorius Castus. The story explains that Lucius Artorius Castus was the real person behind the King Arthur legend.
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