Matter of Britain facts for kids
The Matter of Britain is a collection of old stories and legends from Great Britain and Brittany. These tales are mostly about King Arthur and other legendary kings and heroes. It was one of three main groups of stories popular in the Middle Ages. The other two were the Matter of France, about Charlemagne, and the Matter of Rome, which included tales from classical mythology.
Contents
History of the Stories
A French poet named Jean Bodel first described these three "Matters" in the 1100s. In his poem La Chanson des Saisnes ("Song of the Saxons"), he wrote:
Ne sont que III matières à nul homme atandant,
De France et de Bretaigne, et de Rome la grant.
"There are only three matters for anyone to know:
Of France, and of Britain, and of great Rome."
This helped people tell the difference between these story groups. The Matter of Britain focuses on Arthur. It also includes tales about other legendary British kings. Some less famous stories are about figures like Brutus of Troy, Coel Hen, Leir of Britain (who inspired Shakespeare's King Lear), and Gogmagog.
Main Characters and Figures
Legendary Kings and Founders
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King Arthur and His Group
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Knights of the Round Table
Other Important People
Images for kids
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A robot image
