Home Page Arthurian Links with Herefordshire

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Frequently Asked Questions

Arthurian Links with Herefordshire

Mary Andere

Logaston Press

FAQ

Was Arthur a historical figure?
When did Arthur live?
Where did Arthur live?
Who was Arthur's father?
What is known of Arthur's mother?

Was Arthur a historical figure?
Yes. Although through the centuries Arthur's life has been clouded by legend, romanticised in poetry and distorted for political and economic ends, King Arthur as a war leader and defender of his country undoubtedly existed.

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When did Arthur live?
Arthur's life spanned the 5th and 6th centuries. He was born in 482 AD (some 70 years after the Romans left Britain) and died aged 80 in 562 AD.

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Where did Arthur live?
Arthur's birthplace was the former Roman military station of Caput Bovium, now Boverton, near Llantwit Major in South Glamorgan. It was in reality in this part of Britain (what is today southern Wales and the Herefordshire area) that Arthur lived and not in Cornwall and the "West Country" as legend suggests. As King of the Britons, Arthur travelled extensively around Britain and fought various defensive battles around the kingdom.
 Beyond Britain, Arthur held lands in his own right in Brittany and Armorica (today north-western France) through his marriage to Guinevere. After recovering from critical wounds received at the Battle of Camlan in 537, Arthur abdicated and subsequently settled in Brittany where he died at St Armel des Boschaux.

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Who was Arthur's father?
Arthur's father was King Mouric of Morgannweg, grandson of the great King Teithfallt, last of the great Silurian kings. When the Roman legions left Britain in 410, the Roman republic of the Silures was replaced by a monarchy and Teithfallt was made king of the former Silurian area which included what we know as West Glamorgan in south-east Wales.

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What is known of Arthur's mother?
The "Book of Llandaff" gives the genealogy of the kings of Morgannweg and Gwent contained in the ancient register held in Cardiff at the cathedral church of Llandaff. In this we find that Athrwys (Arthur) is the son of Onbrast, wife of King Mouric of Morgannweg and daughter of Gwergant Mawr, the king of Erging.
 Onbrast had 4 sons (Athrwys, Idnerth, Frioc & Comerg) and 3 daughters (Anna, Gwenonwy & Afrella). The marriage of the three daughters to the sons of the Emperor of Armorica formed a strong link between the royal families in Britain and those whose lands and fortunes lay in Armorica or Brittany (in what is today north-western France).

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