The Literature

So now that we know what the legend of King Arthur is (or, at least, we do if we read The Legend section), how is it that this legend came to be?

The legend of King Arthur can be traced as far back as the fourth and fifth centuries. But the earliest tales of Arthur were almost nothing like they are today. There were no wandering minstrels, or ladies–in–waiting, or knights in shining armor taking on bold quests to defend their ladies. Instead, there were tales of giants, and magic cups, and invaders from a foreign land. And to top it off, the idea of courtly love was virtually non–existent.

So where is it that the rich body of literature that we have today came from? In this section, we'll examine how the legend originated, and the ways in which it developed over the ages.