Legend of King Arthur and Camelot
The History Camelot
The legend of King Arthur is over 1000 years old. While there are many variations of the
tale, the basic story is the same.
Uther Pendragon, the King of Britain, was in love with a woman named Ygraine. With
the help of Merlin, the king’s advisor, they had a son who was named Arthur.
Ygraine's daughter, Morgan LeFay, hated King Uther. She also hated the child Arthur
that her mother had with the King, and she cursed him with her magical powers.
When Arthur was 16 years old, the King mysteriously died. Merlin suspected that
Ygraine's daughter, the angry Morgan LeFay, might be responsible. Ygraine ruled as
queen, but she was a weak leader. Different lords tried to step in as king, causing unrest
within the kingdom.
Merlin brought together the knights and lords of England. Merlin showed them a strange
sight: a sword in a stone, with a message that read: "whoever can pull this sword from
this stone will be King of Britain." All of the knights and lords tried, but not one could
pull the sword from the stone.
Soon after, Arthur was at a tournament with his brother, Kay. Arthur had forgotten Kay's
sword, and ran to find it. He saw the sword in the stone, and thinking he would borrow it
to give to Kay for the tournament, pulled it out.
When the knights and nobles discovered what had happened, they were stunned with
disbelief. This young boy had pulled the sword from the stone? Arthur put the sword
back, and one at a time everyone else tried to remove it, every time unsuccessfully.
And every time Arthur tried, he pulled it out again with no effort. The knights and
lords of the realm saw that their new king had come at last.
Arthur ruled as a strong and righteous king. His court flourished, and knights and
maidens came to the frequent feasts and tournaments. After defeating a rebellion
within the kingdom, Arthur took a wife. He married the daughter of King
Leodegrance of Cameliard, a woman named Guinevere.
But Arthur's half-sister Morgan le Fay still sought vengeance. She decided to use
Arthur’s son, Mordred, to get even with him. Merlin prophesied that the child Mordred
would someday destroy his kingdom.
Camelot and The Knights of the Roundtable
rthur returned to his kingdom to build what would be the
greatest court ever seen - Camelot.
Camelot took five years to build, and when it was finished
Arthur wed Guinevere. Guinevere brought to Camelot a gift
from her father: a great oak round table which had once
belonged to Uther Pendragon. Now Uther's son, King Arthur,
would have it once again.
Arthur and Guinevere were married in a majestic ceremony attended by great men and
women from lands near and far. Arthur announced the Fellowship of the Round Table,
which would give places to the greatest knights in the world.
The wedding festivals and tournament lasted for a week, and the knights who proved
themselves in competition earned places at the Round Table, including Lancelot du Lac,
who distinguished himself as the knight who defeated all challengers.
The victories and adventures of King Arthur extended throughout Europe. His greatest
adventure was the quest for the Holy Grail, which was said to be the cup from which
Jesus drank during the Last Supper.
While Arthur was off on one of his adventures, his nephew Mordred started a rebellion in
Camelot and seized the kingdom. Arthur was called home to defend his throne, and in a
final battle, Arthur and Mordred were both killed, each by the other's sword.
As Arthur lay dying by the side of a lake, he sent a knight to the waters with Excalibur to
fulfill his agreement with the Lady of the Lake. The knight threw Excalibur into the
water, where it was caught by her hand.
Arthur was then taken away on a ship to Avalon, from which he will someday return.
From “The Queest4Camelot
http://www.quest4camelot.com/legend/frameset.html