The real history and legends surrounding the Sword in the Stone

A legendary king, a round table, and a bumbling wizard who could turn himself into a crab are just some of the images conjured up at the mention of the name King Arthur. He commanded the knights of the round table, pulled a sword out of a stone, and hung out with his main mage, Merlin. But at the end of the day, are these stories just legends? Was Arthur even real? Is a round table even practical? Well, today we're extracting the true story behind the sword in the stone. There may have been a 5th century warrior who led the Britons against Anglo-Saxon invaders, and that legendary warrior may have been Arthur Pendragon, if he existed. Britain was decentralized, being bombarded by attacks from outside forces. So a leader who could unite his people against all odds was just what the doctor ordered. The Celts loved tales of magical weapons, like the Spear of Bedivere, which could draw blood from the wind, or the Spear of Right-Said Fredivere, which was so sexy it hurt, though that weapon did remain a one-hit wonder. And while Arthur's Excalibur may not have had any magical powers, its ceremonial power did help him wallop his enemies on the battlefield. The true story of King Arthur, along with a sword in the stone, has drifted from reality and fallen into legend. But hey, who says Excalibur wasn't forged by a powerful sorceress on the Isle of Avalon, where Arthur's body eventually laid to rest? It's not like any of us were there. We don't know how Arthur really got his sword, but there are several variations on the legend, with the most famous version having him pull it from a stone, like an improbable splinter. But others may choose to believe that the lady of the lake, sometimes called Nimue, sometimes the plainer Vivian, was the one who gifted Arthur the sword. After Arthur fell in battle, one of his loyal knights threw the sword back in the lake, where a hand grabbed it and disappeared, possibly with the Terminator-styled thumbs up. A 12th century version of the tale says it was stuck in an anvil, both thoughtful renditions. And aside from its origin, the name has also been known to change. But with such lackluster alternates as Caliburnus or Caladwulch, you'd stick with Excalibur too. The first historical mention of Arthur comes from Geoffrey of Monmouth, who wrote about the king in the 1100s. Geoffrey was a cleric and a historian in Oxford and wrote texts which included prophecies of Merlin and history of the kings of Britain. His texts on kings begins with Brutus, the descendant of the legendary Aeneas, and ends with the reign of Arthur Pendragon. These notes regarding Guinevere and Merlin would become standards in the legend for generations. It was 13th century poet Robert de Boron who put Excalibur in Arthur's hand. His poem, Merlin, chronicles the life of the legendary wizard, but ends with Arthur's rise to the throne after yanking the sword from that rock. It was de Boron who also wrote that the men at the court would make Arthur repeat the action of pulling the sword for months before finally agreeing to crown him king, the old-timey equivalent of, Pixar, it didn't happen, which ends the poem as the crown is placed on Arthur's head. Guess they gave him a thorough job interview. Sir Thomas Malory's book, Le Morte d'Arthur, was written between around 1470. but was not published for another 16 years, like a Guns N' Roses album. His work came out around the same time as the printing press, allowing his mass-produced story to become widely read and widely regarded. The popularity led to a second and even a third printing. Think Harry Potter fever, only in the 15th century. Mallory chose the wrong side in the War of the Roses and found himself locked up twice. His stints in the slammer may have provided him the time to write his tale. Even though he passed away before his work was published, Mallory's legacy went on to inspire future writers like William Shakespeare. Without Mallory, we wouldn't have such classic films as She's the Man and 10 Things I Hate About You. Thanks, Sir Thomas. While Mallory's version of King Arthur's story is well-regarded, some changes he made did cause a bit of confusion, mainly a differentiation between the sword in the stone and Excalibur, which, according to him, were two separate weapons. If you're not caught up on all the Arthurian lore, the story goes that the original sword is pulled from the stone, but then breaks during battle. Arthur must then earn the true Excalibur from the lady in the lake. And after his final battle with his nephew Mordred, the sword is returned to the lake from whence it came. Also, Mallory claims Excalibur's scabbard was the real treasure, not the sword itself. Maybe he'd gotten it autographed by Bruno Mars or something. The legend of Arthur was simply too good for Britain to keep to itself. As time went on, these stories made their way across the sea to other lands. And as new storytellers heard the tale, solo Arthur adventures were no longer exciting enough to hold attention. To unite his people and keep new readers entertained, Arthur had to get into new and exciting situations. So companions were invented for Arthur, between 13 and 1,600 companions, depending on who you ask. Just think of trying to collect the whole set. These knights, such as Sir Lancelot, Kay, Bedivere, Gawain, Galahad, and Mordred would go on to star in their own spin-off adventures. Lancelot, perhaps the most famous of all the little Arthur bunch, saved Arthur's life through his purity, while also falling in love with Queen Guinevere, which feels less pure. Kay is portrayed as Arthur's oldest companion and possible stepbrother. Next to Kay, you can usually find Bedivere, the one who returns Excalibur to the lake after Arthur's death. Gawain, the basis for Dev Patel's character and the Green Knight, famously battled a knight in green armor. Galahad was notable for finding the Holy Grail, although it turned out to just be a beacon. And finally, Mordred, sometimes written as Arthur's illegitimate son, is the one who defeats Arthur and tears down Camelot. And now, you're all caught up on the Arthurian extended universe. Before Sir Thomas Mallory penned his version of the Arthur story, readers only had two compilations to work with, the Vulgate Cycle, and the inventively named Post-Vulgate Cycle. These stories were mainly focused on Lancelot and his affair with Queen Guinevere. It was scandalous. French poet Chrétien de Troyes wrote Comte du Graal, The Tale of the Grail. Though de Troyes never finished it, the work was still able to influence Arthurian legends for generations to come. And in this version, Arthur never owned Excalibur. It belonged to Sir Gawain. He just let Arthur borrow it to impress his friends. because Gawain was a real one. The blade changes hands several times in this version. From Arthur to Gawain, Gawain to Lancelot, in order to protect Guinevere, Lancelot back to Gawain, and Gawain back to Arthur. If the sword was treated like how your buddies treat your car when they borrow it, we'd probably throw it in the lake too. Tales of King Arthur enjoyed an uptick in popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries. You could thank poet Alfred Lord Tennyson and writer T.H. White for that. Both writers borrowed plot points from Sir Thomas Mallory and made them their own. For example, Tennyson spins an epic poem about Arthur and his knights, with some attention on Guinevere and her affair with Lancelot. Tennyson's Morte d'Arthur is a standalone work that details the demise of Arthur and the loss of Camelot. In his version, Sir Bedivere is the one who chucks Excalibur into the lake and into the rummage drawer of the lady therein. And T.H. White's collection, The Once and Future King, is the one you likely read in school. The collection includes 1939's The Sword in the Stone, 1940's The Queen of Air and Darkness, 1941's The Ill-Made Knight, and 1958's The Candle in the Wind, which, as far as we know, is not an Elton John power ballad about Marilyn Monroe. The Once and Future King is also the basis of the Broadway musical and subsequent film Camelot. In the 12th century, Italian knight and nobleman Galgano Guidotti decided to leave the world of wealth behind and become a hermit. On his way to tell his fiance about his plan, Guidotti is visited by, plot twist, Jesus, Mary, and the apostles, and told to climb the Monte Siepi Hill. Once he reached the top, a voice told him to renounce his wicked ways, to which he replied something along the lines of, yeah, sure, and while I'm at it, why don't I just split this rock with my sword? When his demonstration led to the sword easily sliding into the stone at his feet, Guidotti presumably was very embarrassed. He lived on that hill in poverty for the rest of his days. In true Disney fashion, he befriended the animals and any pilgrims which made their way up the hill. The wolves were even said to guard him from would-be assassins sent by the devil, because the wolves were real ones. Guidotti's life of piety eventually earned him a sainthood, and his shack on the hill became the Rotonda di Montesiepi, an abbey where many pilgrims have visited. The rock and stone remained in the abbey, leading many to believe it was the inspiration for the legendary Arthurian sword in the stone. But most people believe the sword at Montesiepi was fake. Because only the hilt and a few inches of the blade are visible, it's tough to visually date the sword. Carbon dating has proven the metal is at least from the 12th century. Ground-penetrating radar also revealed a cavity underneath the sword, perhaps providing a burial place for a Saint Galgano. A pair of skeletal arms at the site also dates to the 12th century, which reflects a legend that anyone who tries to remove the sword will have their arms pulled out. Pilgrims and non-believers alike still travel to the site in Tuscany to this day, hopefully with their arms intact. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a subject that fascinates to this day. A contributing factor to that is likely because so many enjoyed the Disney version of the story, 1963's The Sword in the Stone. The film features a young Arthur, endearingly nicknamed Wart, who rises from nothing to become something, which is a beat we all can dance to. Young Wart has to contend with Madame Mim, Merlin's arch nemesis and an agent of chaos in the world. Along the way, he breaks a squirrel's heart, and some of us have never forgiven him for that. Whatever your favorite part of the film, it cannot be denied that Disney played a big part in keeping the legend alive. But they're not the only mega corporation doing so, because there's something about the legend of the sword and the stone that rings true in real life. People like stories about common folk overcoming insurmountable odds and achieving greatness. It's one reason why superhero movies are so popular, like that one they made about King Arthur. King Arthur, Legend of the Sword.