NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Media

Mede, Medea

The kingdom of Media is an ancient historical and geographical region that played a significant role in the history of the ancient Near East. It was situated in the western part of modern-day Iran, encompassing parts of what is now northwestern and western Iran, and parts of eastern Turkey and Iraq.

In Arthur’s time, it was ruled by King Boccus or King Politetes, who was subject to the Procurator Lucius. The King of Media fought in the Roman wars against Arthur.

By the first century AD, the region of Media, as an independent entity, had already faded into history due to the conquests of Alexander the Great and the subsequent rise of the Parthian Empire.


Sources
Historia Regum Britanniae | Geoffrey of Monmouth, c. 1138
Vulgate Merlin | 1220-1235