Gustave Doré’s illustration of Camelot from “Idylls of the King”, 1868

Camelot is the most famous fictional castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Idylls of the King, published between 1856 and 1885 is a cycle of twelve Narrative poems by the English poet Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809–1892 A castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. King Arthur is a legendary British leader who according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against the Saxon invaders Later romance depicts it as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm, from which he fought many of the battles and quests that made up his life. Camelot as a place is associated with ideals like justice, bravery and truth, the virtues Arthur and his knights embody in the romances. It is absent from the early material, and its location, if it even existed, is in England. Most modern academic scholars regard it as being entirely fictional, its geography being perfect for romance writers; Arthurian scholar Norris J. Lacy commented that "Camelot can be anywhere. "^[1] Nevertheless arguments about the location of the "real Camelot" have occurred since the 15th century and continue to rage today in popular works and for tourism purposes.

Early appearances

The castle is mentioned for the first time in Chrétien de Troyes' poem Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, dating to the 1170s, though it is not mentioned in all the manuscripts. Chrétien de Troyes was a French poet and Trouvère who flourished in the late 12th century. Lancelot the Knight of the Cart (Lancelot le Chevalier de la Charrette is an Old French poem by Chrétien de Troyes. ^[2] It is mentioned in passing, and is not described:

A un jor d'une Acenssion / Fu venuz de vers Carlion / Li rois Artus et tenu ot / Cort molt riche a Camaalot / Si riche com au jor estut. ^[3]

Upon a certain Ascension Day King Arthur had come from Caerleon, and had held a very magnificent court at Camelot as was fitting on such a day. ^[4]

Nothing in Chrétien's poem suggests the level of importance Camelot would have in later romances. For Chrétien, Arthur's chief court was in Caerleon in Wales; this was the king's primary base in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae and most subsequent literature. Caerleon (Caerllion is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Geoffrey of Monmouth ( Gruffudd ap Arthur or Sieffre o Fynwy) (c The Historia Regum Britanniae ( English: The History of the Kings of Britain) is a pseudohistorical account of British history Chrétien pictured Arthur, like a typical medieval monarch, holding court at a number of cities and castles. It is not until the 13th century French prose romances, including the Lancelot-Grail and the Post-Vulgate Cycle, that Camelot began to supersede Caerleon, and even then, many descriptive details applied to Camelot derive from Geoffrey's earlier grand depiction of the Welsh town. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The Lancelot-Grail, also known as the Prose Lancelot, the Vulgate Cycle, or the Pseudo-Map Cycle, is a major source of Arthurian legend The Post-Vulgate Cycle is one of the major Old French Prose cycles of Arthurian literature ^[1] Arthurian romances of this period produced in English or Welsh such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight did not follow this trend; Camelot was referred to infrequently and only in translations from French. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a late 14th-century In Britain Arthur's court continued to be located at Caerleon, or at Carlisle, which is usually identified with the "Carduel" of the French romances. Carlisle (pronounced CARLYLE(emphasis on the first syllable is a City in northern England the largest settlement in Cumbria. ^[5] It was not until the late 15th century Thomas Malory created the image of Camelot most familiar to English speakers today in his Le Morte d'Arthur, a work based mostly on the French romances. Sir Thomas Malory (c 1405 – 14 March 1471 was an English writer the author or compiler of Le Morte d'Arthur. Le Morte d'Arthur (spelled Le Morte Darthur in the first printing and also in some modern editions Middle French for la mort d'Arthur He firmly identifies Camelot with Winchester, an identification that remained popular over the centuries, though it was rejected by Malory's own editor, William Caxton, who preferred a Welsh location. Winchester or Winton ( archaic) is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40000 within a radius of its centre ^[6]

Etymology

The name's derivation is also unknown. Some have suggested it is similar enough to other Iron Age and Romano-British place names such as Camulodunum to suggest some historicity, while that particular locale was the first capital of Roman Britain and would have significance in Romano-British culture. In Britain and Ireland the Iron Age lasted from about the 7th century BC until the Roman conquest and until the 5th century in non- Romanised Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 Camulodunum is the Roman name for the ancient settlement which is today's Colchester, a town in Essex, England. Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 Romano-British culture is that of the Romanized Britons under the Roman Empire and later the Western Roman Empire, and of those exposed to Roman culture in the years Indeed Dr. John Morris (1913 - June 1977) the English historian who specialised in the study of the institutions of the Roman Empire and the history of Sub-Roman Britain, suggested in his book "The Age of Arthur" (1973) that as the descendents of Romanised Britons looked back to a golden age of peace and prosperity under Rome the name "Camelot" of Arturian legend was probably a reference to the capital of Britannia (Camulodunum) in Roman times. John Morris could refer to John Morris (actor, actor most famous for voice roles in the Toy Story films John Morris (composer, film Britannia was the term originally used by the Romans to refer first to the British Isles, and later to the island of Great Britain. Camulodunum is the Roman name for the ancient settlement which is today's Colchester, a town in Essex, England. If historical the first part of it, Cam, could also reflect the Celtic word meaning "crooked" which is commonly used in place names as seen in Camlann. The Battle of Camlann ( Cad Camlan) is best known as the final battle of King Arthur, where he either died in battle or was fatally wounded fighting his enemy and Given Chrétien's known tendency to create new stories and characters, being the first to mention the hero Lancelot and his love affair with Queen Guinevere for example, the name might also be entirely invented. In the Arthurian legend, Sir Lancelot ( Lancelot du Lac, also Launcelot) is one of the Knights of the Round Table. Guinevere was the legendary Queen consort of King Arthur. She was most famous for her love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot, which first ^[1]

Description in the romances

The romances depict the city of Camelot as standing along a river, downstream from Astolat. Astolat is a legendary city of Great Britain named in Arthurian legends It is surrounded by plains and forests, and its magnificent cathedral, St. Stephen's, is the religious center for Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. Knights of the Round Table were those men awarded the highest order of Chivalry at the Court of King Arthur in the literary cycle the Matter of Britain There Arthur and Guinevere are married and there are the tombs of many kings and knights. In a mighty castle stands the Round Table; it is here that Galahad conquers the Siege Perilous, and where the knights see a vision of the Holy Grail and swear to find it. Sir Galahad is a knight of King Arthur 's Round Table and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend. In Arthurian legend, the Siege Perilous (also known as The Perilous Seat) is a vacant seat at the Round Table reserved by Merlin for the According to Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish plate or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers Jousts are held in a meadow outside the city. In some romances Camelot is eventually destroyed by King Mark of Cornwall after the loss of Arthur at the Camlann. Mark of Cornwall ( Latin Marcus, Cornish Margh, Welsh March, Breton Marc'h) was a king of Kernow The Battle of Camlann ( Cad Camlan) is best known as the final battle of King Arthur, where he either died in battle or was fatally wounded fighting his enemy and ^[1]

The romancers' versions of Camelot drew on earlier descriptions of Arthur's fabulous court. From Geoffrey's grand description of Caerleon, Camelot gains its impressive architecture, its many churches and the chivalry and courtesy of its inhabitants. ^[1] Geoffrey's description in turn drew on an already established tradition in Welsh oral tradition of the grandeur of Arthur's court. The tale Culhwch and Olwen, associated with the Mabinogion and perhaps written in the 11th century, draws a dramatic picture of Arthur's hall and his many powerful warriors who go from there on great adventures, placing it in Celliwig, an uncertain locale in Cornwall. Culhwch and Olwen ( Culhwch ac Olwen) is a Welsh tale about a hero connected with Arthur and his warriors that survives in only two manuscripts Celliwig, Kelliwic or Gelliwic, is perhaps the earliest named location for the court of King Arthur. Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar Although the court at Celliwig is the most prominent in remaining early Welsh manuscripts, the various versions of the Welsh Triads agree in giving Arthur multiple courts, one in each of the areas inhabited by the Brythons: Cornwall, Wales and in the Old North. The Welsh Triads ( Welsh Trioedd Ynys Prydein, literally "Triads of the Island of Britain " are a group of related texts in Medieval Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar Yr Hen Ogledd is a Welsh term meaning 'The Old North' and referring to the sub-Roman Brythonic kingdoms of what is now Northern England This perhaps reflects the influence of widespread oral traditions common by 800 which are recorded in various place names and features such as Arthur's Seat indicating Arthur was a hero known and associated with many locations across Brythonic areas of Britain as well as Brittany. Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into Even at this stage Arthur could not be tied to one location. ^[7] Many other places are listed as a location where Arthur holds court in the later romances, Carlisle and London perhaps being the most prominent. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

Identifications

The romancers' versions of Camelot draw on earlier traditions of Arthur's fabulous court. The Celliwig of Culhwch and Olwen appears in the Welsh Triads as well; interestingly, this early Welsh material places Wales' greatest leader outside its national boundaries. The Welsh Triads ( Welsh Trioedd Ynys Prydein, literally "Triads of the Island of Britain " are a group of related texts in Medieval Geoffrey's description of Caerleon is probably based on his personal familiarity with the town and its impressive Roman ruins; it is less clear that Caerleon was associated with Arthur before Geoffrey. Caerleon (Caerllion is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South The later French romances make much of "Carduel", a northern city based on the real Carlisle. Carlisle (pronounced CARLYLE(emphasis on the first syllable is a City in northern England the largest settlement in Cumbria.

Malory's identification of Camelot as Winchester was probably partially inspired by the latter city's history. Winchester or Winton ( archaic) is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40000 within a radius of its centre It had been the capital of Wessex under Alfred the Great, and boasted the Winchester Round Table, an artifact constructed in the 13th century but widely believed to be the original by Malory's time. West Saxon redirects here For other meanings of Wessex or West Saxon see Wessex (disambiguation. Alfred the Great (also Ælfred from the Old English Ælfrēd ˈælfreːd (c Malory's editor Caxton rejects the association, saying Camelot was in Wales and that its ruins could still be seen; this is a likely reference to the Roman ruins at Caerwent. Caerwent (Caer-went is a Village and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, located about 5 miles west of Chepstow and 11 miles east ^[6] Malory associated other Arthurian locations with modern places, for instance locating Astolat at Guilford. Astolat is a legendary city of Great Britain named in Arthurian legends

In 1542 John Leland reported the locals around Cadbury Castle in Somerset considered it to be the original Camelot. This is about John Leland antiquary For other people called John Leland see John Leland (disambiguation. For other Cadbury Castles Camps and Hills see Cadbury. Cadbury Castle is an Iron Age Hill fort in the Civil parish Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county This theory is bolstered, or may have derived from, Cadbury's proximity to the River Cam and towns Queen Camel and West Camel, and remained popular enough to help inspire a large scale archaeological dig in the 20th century. Queen Camel is a village and Civil parish in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England, about seven miles north of Yeovil. West Camel is a village in south Somerset, England, about seven miles north of the town of Yeovil. Excavations by Leslie Alcock from 1966-70 were titled "Cadbury-Camelot", and won much media attention, even being mentioned in the film of the musical Camelot. Leslie Alcock ( 24 April 1925, Manchester &mdash 6 June 2006, Stevenage) was Professor of Archaeology at the University Camelot is the 1967 Film version of the successful musical of the same name. The dig revealed by far the largest known fortification of the period, with Mediterranean artifacts (representing extensive trade) and Saxon artifacts. The use of the name Camelot and the support of Geoffrey Ashe helped ensure much publicity for the finds, but Alcock himself later grew embarrassed by the supposed Arthurian connection to the site, following the arguments of David Dumville, feeling it was too late and too uncertain and modern archaeologists follow him in rejecting the name calling it Cadbury Castle hill fort. Geoffrey Ashe (born 29 March 1923) is a British cultural historian a writer of Non-fiction books and a few novels Professor David Norman Dumville (born 5 May 1949) is a British medievalist and Celtic scholar ^[8] Cadbury remains widely associated with Camelot.

The fact there were two towns in Roman Britain named Camulodunum, Colchester in Essex, and Slack in Yorkshire, deriving from the Celtic god Camulos has led to the suggestion they originated the name. Camulodunum is the Roman name for the ancient settlement which is today's Colchester, a town in Essex, England. Colchester ( /ˈkəʊltʃɛstə/ is a town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester, in Essex, England. Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain. In Celtic mythology, Camulus or Camulos was the god of war of the Remi, a Celtic tribe who lived in the area of today's Belgium However, the Essex Camulodunum was located well within territory usually thought to have been conquered early in the 5th century by Saxons, so it is unlikely to have been the location of any "true" Camelot. Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes. The town was definitely known as Colchester as early as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 917. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of Annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. ^[9] Even Colchester Museum argues strongly regarding the historical Arthur: "it would be impossible and inconceivable to link him to the Colchester area, or to Essex more generally" pointing out that the connection between the name Camuloduum and Colchester was unknown till the eighteenth century. ^[10] Other places in Britain with names related to "Camel" have also been suggested, such as Camelford in Cornwall, located down the River Camel from where Geoffrey places Camlann, the scene of Arthur's final battle. Camelford (Ryskammel is a town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The River Camel is a river in Cornwall, UK. It rises on the edge of Bodmin Moor and together with its tributaries drains a considerable The Battle of Camlann ( Cad Camlan) is best known as the final battle of King Arthur, where he either died in battle or was fatally wounded fighting his enemy and The area's connections with Camelot and Camlann are merely speculative.

Later uses

In American contexts, the phrase "Camelot" refers to the presidency of John F. Kennedy, as his term was said to have potential and promise for the future, and the period was symbolic of hope for many in the world, who were inspired by Kennedy's speeches, vision and political policies. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of The period was ended by Kennedy's November 22, 1963 assassination, which is often compared to the fall of King Arthur. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The assassination of John F Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, took place on Friday November 22 1963 in Dallas Texas The lines "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot," from the musical Camelot, were quoted by his widow Jacqueline as being from his favorite song in the score. Camelot is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics and Frederic Loewe (music "There'll be great Presidents again," she added, "but there'll never be another Camelot again … it will never be that way again. "^[11]

The 1960 musical Camelot, by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, is based on T. H. White's literary version of the legend, The Once and Future King. Camelot is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics and Frederic Loewe (music Alan Jay Lerner ( August 31, 1918 &ndash June 14, 1986) was an American Broadway Lyricist and Librettist Terence Hanbury White ( 29 May 1906 &ndash 17 January 1964) was an English Author best known for his sequence of Arthurian The Once and Future King is an Arthurian Fantasy novel written by T White's novel consisted of five books (The Sword in the Stone, The Witch in the Wood, The Ill-Made Knight, The Candle in the Wind and The Book of Merlyn), and contains witty anachronisms, a plethora of medieval tidbits, and ultimately a tragic and elegiac tone. The Sword in the Stone is a novel by T H White, published in 1938, initially a stand-alone work but now the first part of a tetralogy The Once "The Ill-Made Knight" is the third book in the epic novel The Once and Future King, by T The Book of Merlyn is an Arthurian Fantasy book written by T H The Lerner and Loewe musical on the other hand is a sentimentalized snapshot of the love triangle of Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere. In the Arthurian legend, Sir Lancelot ( Lancelot du Lac, also Launcelot) is one of the Knights of the Round Table. Guinevere was the legendary Queen consort of King Arthur. She was most famous for her love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot, which first Boasting some rhythmic tunes and poignant lyrics, the musical proved a successful vehicle on stage for Julie Andrews, Richard Burton, and Robert Goulet. Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1 1935) is an award-winning English Actress Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. Robert Gerard Goulet ( November 26 1933 – October 30 2007) was a Canadian Grammy - and Tony Award - winning The film adaptation was released in 1967 and starred Richard Harris as Arthur; Harris later recreated the role on stage in a number of revivals. Camelot is the 1967 Film version of the successful musical of the same name. Richard St John Harris ( October 1 1930 - October 25 2002) was a two-time Academy Award -nominated and Grammy Award

In the third series of Robin of Sherwood in the episode "The Inheritance" Robin is shown to be godson of a man called Agrivain. Robin of Sherwood, retitled Robin Hood in the US was an acclaimed 1980s British Television series, based on the legend of He and his daughter are the last of a family which has guarded 'Caerleon'(pronounced Kirleann) -their castle- and a round table for centuries. The castle is revealed to be Camelot and the table to be the Round Table of Arthurian legend.

See also

• Sites and places associated with Arthurian legend

Notes

References

• Lacy, Norris J. (Ed. Norris J Lacy (born 1940 is an American scholar focusing on French Medieval literature. ) (1986). The Arthurian Encyclopaedia. New York: Peter Bedrick Books.
• Malory, Thomas (1994). Le Morte D'Arthur. New York: Modern Library. ISBN 0-679-60099-X

External links

• About Camelot and King Arthur
• Shadows Over Camelot, a boardgame