King Arthur: What Everybody Gets Wrong

YouTube ^ | March 18, 2023 | Cambrian Chronicles

[SunkenCiv]

In this video, I hope to shine a proper light of the Medieval origins of King Arthur. We'll see how Chretien's story developed from fiction written by Geoffrey of Monmouth. We'll see how Geoffrey adapted King Arthur from figures found in Welsh Mythology. We'll see how the mythologies of Wales shifted and moulded King Arthur to fit whatever story they were trying to tell, and we'll see how Wales in the 9th century developed one of the most famous historical figures of all time.

King Arthur: What Everybody Gets Wrong | 35:05
Cambrian Chronicles | 44.4K subscribers | 381,648 views | March 18, 2023

[Adder]

He invented a damn fine flour.

[Reeses]

these noblewomen had no trouble wielding them, swinging them to and fro as they fought with gusto

Fortunately, free tampon dispensers had been installed in all the knight's bathrooms, so the idiot sex could plug the saviors' wounds and nurse them back to reality.

[z3n]

Catholic priests also would mention Arthur.

~~~

I think that’s your best chance for historical leads, rather than relying on sources that have some composite characters both historic and fictional.

During the dark ages almost everyone was illiterate except for the upper classes and the religious class and monks did a lot of work recording events and genealogy. What survives is probably buried in the Vatican archives.

[SunkenCiv]

As I said above, repurposed for various time periods and agendas.

A similar, possibly real historical anecdote, may be the source of this modern tv series vignette — Emperor Justinian was ready to flee Constantinople, and his hooker consort encouraged him to stay and fight, win or lose.

He pulled it together, regrouped the troops, suckered the rioters into the hippodrome, then set his troops to killing them all. There were no further riots.

[SunkenCiv]

The 2004 movie?

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1133964-king_arthur

[BenLurkin]

One day a king will come...and the sword will rise again.

[SunkenCiv]

And powdered wigs.

[SunkenCiv]

That’s what she said.

[Bratch]

Yep.

Other than Guinevere the Barbarian, it was pretty realistic.

[Bob Ireland]

The Arthurian legend has universal appeal. It notes the noblest of human endeavor, betrayal, forgiveness and hope for restitution. The tale has subsequently attracted a number of additional characters who only add depth to the basic appeal. It somewhat mimics ancient Greek myths such as Odysseus.

Geoffrey of Monmouth knew a good story when he found one. He could have produced great movies.

[SunkenCiv]

Both King Arthur and the historical figure and genocidal a-hole Boudicca has, ironically, been co-opted into the supporting myths of the post-Conquest monarchy of Great Britain.

It's not unlike the mythical Scottish resistance to Roman rule (it never happened) and the ridiculous "battle that stopped Rome" cooked up about the miserable failure, flash-in-the-pan turncoat Arminius, adopted as if he was ancestral to modern Germany, which instead is descended from migrants who replaced those people from whom Arminius sprang.

[FLNittany]

I always thought John Boorman did it best. Don't care about "accuracy", just being entertained.

[SunkenCiv]

But yeah, Mary Stewart, author of “The Crystal Cave” and its sequel, did a magnificent job telling an entirely inticing piece of fiction based on the Arthurian legends, and in her afterword, notes that Geoffrey’s name was mud with historians, but as a source of great stories, he was (if memory serves) “terrific”.

[SunkenCiv]

King Arthur has proven to be at his best as an entertainer, by proxy at least. :^)

My favorite of the “real guy” genre is this:

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/king-arthur-the-true-story_graham-phillips_martin-keatman/422768/

[SunkenCiv]

Realism be damned! :^)

[SunkenCiv]

enticing [blush]

[joethedrummer]

What - no coconuts?!?

[SuzyQue]

Yeah, I really dislike those “what everybody gets wrong” stories. And, they’re usually wrong.

[Hootowl]

History aside, White’s “The Once and Future King” is still the finest Arthurian book ever written.

[GingisK]

Then it wasn’t returned to the Lady of the Lake after all?