Arthur

1. Arthur
   Welsh: Y Brenin Arthwr
   Arrtor, Art, Arther, Arthour, Arthoure, Arthoures, Arthours, Arthure, Arthus, Arthyr, Artijus, Artor, Artouret, Artourys, Artouzos, Artu, Artui, Artus, Artusin, Artuurs, Artuxe, Artuz, Hartu, Ortus

   The Once and Future King. [More]

   
   

2. Arthur of Brittany

   Hero of a fourteenth-century French romance called Artus de la Petite Bretagne and John Bourchier's sixteenth-century English translation, Arthur of Little Britain. Arthur of Brittany was a descendant of Lancelot named after Arthur.

   Other than Arthur of Brittany's connection to these two figures, the tale is non-Arthurian. Arthur became the greatest knight in the world and married Florence, daughter of the King of Sorlois; this place is found in what is now modern Iraq.

   
   

3. Arthur of Dalriada
   Arthur of Dál Riada

   Son of King Aedan mac Gabrain, who ruled Dalriada (a Scottish kingdom settled by the Irish c. 500) in the final quarter of the sixth century. His existence is attested in the Life of St. Columbia (c. 700) and other Irish texts. He had several brothers, including Echoid Find and Domingart.

   Aedan apparently fought a battle against the Picts at Miatha, in which Arthur was killed. Aedan was known as a prolific campaigner, and it is likely that Arthur participated in a number of battles before his death. He is said to have fallen in a battle against the forces of Aethelfrith, his death allegedly being foretold by his father by Saint Columba.

   Although he lived later than the traditional dates of Arthur, some scholars, including Richard Barber (The Figure of Arthur), argue for Arthur of Dalriada as the original prototype of King Arthur. According to this theory, Arthur of Dalriada was the "Arthur" to which Y Gododdin (a poem written in the north for northern audiences, contemporary to the life of Arthur of Dalriada) refers; his fame grew in oral legend until he was eventually attached to battles fought before his time, by other warleaders. A less controversial theory holds that some of Arthur of Dalriada's exploits were later conflated with his more famous predecessor's (after whom, presumably, Arthur of Dalriada was named).

   
   

4. Arthur of Dyfed

   A prince recorded in the genealogies of Dyfed.

   He was the son of Reitheoir, grandson of Vortipore, and the father of Naiee. He would have lived in the late sixth or early seventh century.

   
   

5. Arthur the Less
   Arthur the Little

   The son of Arthur by the daughter of Tanas, a lovely maiden that Arthur forced himself upon when he encountered her in the forest of Bretheam. Tanas later killed his daughter over an unrelated matter, and abandoned Arthur the Less, still a baby, in the forest.

   A widow found him and took him in, raising him to the age of fifteen. He was knighted by Tristan, and he soon proved his prowess by defeating both Perceval and Gawaine in combat.

   He called himself "The Unknown Knight" until his true lineage was revealed to him at Arthur's court. Arthur concealed the fact that Arthur the Less was his son, as he did not want others to know of the rape. Arthur the Less kept the secret, but remained fiercely loyal to his father. He supported Arthur against his Cornish and Saxon foes, accompanied Galahad during the Grail Quest, and was present at Corbenic (Carbonek), the Grail Castle, to witness Galahad's success. He also helped to repel King Mark's invasion of Camelot.

   He was slain by Bleoberis, whom he attacked for supporting Lancelot in the war against Arthur.

   
   

6. Arthur's Battles

   The twelve victories against the Saxons. [More]