An illustration from The Story Of King Arthur And His Knights, published in 1923
Thought to have lived during the late fifth and early sixth centuries, the original King Arthur is believed to have led the fight against the invading Saxons.
However, the King Arthur that many people are familiar with today – thanks to TV shows, films and stage productions – is said to be a combination of many different myths and legends that have developed over the last 1,000 years.
Modern historians often equate him with King Alfred the Great, the Dark Ages ruler of Wessex who led the fight against the invading Danes.
Arthurian legend claims Arthur was the son and heir of King Uther Pendragon, and was believed to have born on Castle Island in Tintagel, North Cornwall. Tintagel still exists in ruined form, although others have claimed that he was Welsh.
A sorcerer called Merlin is said to have taken a sword called Excalibur from the so-called Lady of the Lake for King Uther, but upon the King’s death, he placed the sword in a stone.
Merlin stated that ‘he who draws the sword from the stone, he shall be king’. After the King’s death, Arthur is said to have pulled Merlin’s Excalibur sword from this stone, proving his right to the throne.
The legend doesn’t specify exactly where this lake was and among the claimed locations are Martin Mere in Lancashire, the Lily Ponds at Bosherston, and Dozmary Pool on the edge of Bodmin Moor.
Legend continues that during his reign, in the kingdom of Camelot, King Arthur met with his knights at a Round Table, journeyed after the Holy Grail and fought a number of battles using the infamous sword.