King Arthur: Man or Myth

by Tony Sullivan

Overview

This book differs from the usual Arthur theories in that it favors no particular theory simply analyses and clarifies the evidence presenting it all in chronological order.

The book is an investigation of the evidence for King Arthur based on the earliest written sources rather than later myths and legends.

The evidence is laid out in a chronological order starting from Roman Britain and shows how the legend evolved and at what point concepts such as Camelot, Excalibur and Merlin were added.

It covers the historical records from the end of Roman Britain using contemporary sources such as they are, from 400-800, including Gallic Chronicles, Gildas and Bede.

It details the first written reference to Arthur in the Historia Brittonum c.800 and the later Annales Cambriae in the tenth century showing the evolution of the legend in in later Welsh and French stories.

The work differs from other books on the subject in not starting from or aiming at a specific person. It compares the possibility of Arthur being purely fictional with a historical figure alongside a list of possible suspects.

The evidence is presented and the reader is invited to make up their own mind before a discussion of the Author’s own assessment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526763679
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	05/27/2020
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	231,098
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Tony Sullivan lives in Kent with his wife and children. He spent 31 years in the London Fire Brigade and have recently retired. He has been interested in dark age history and King Arthur in particular for many years.

Table of Contents

Introduction vi

Chapter 1 Roman Britain 1

Chapter 2 The End of The West 15

Chapter 3 Contemporary Sources 21

Chapter 4 Gildas, going to hell in a hand cart 31

Chapter 5 The Venerable Bede 47

Chapter 6 The Historia Brittonum 53

Chapter 7 The Welsh Annals 69

Chapter 8 The Anglo-Saxons 74

Chapter 9 Archaeology and Other Evidence 82

Chapter 10 Timelines 94

Chapter 11 Saints' Lives 103

Chapter 12 The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth 113

Chapter 13 The French Romances and Welsh Legends 128

Chapter 14 The Brittany Connection 150

Chapter 15 Genealogies and Kings 158

Chapter 16 Arthur, the name 182

Chapter 17 Final Evidence 186

References and Bibliography 228

Endnotes 232

List of Maps 238

List of Tables 239

Genealogy Tables 240

Index 241