Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Arthurian legend
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Sir Bedivere and the sword Excalibur Merlin and the future King Arthur death of Arthur and Mordred
Discover the mystery behind one of the most famous legends in history
For Students
Arthurian legend summary
Quizzes
Title page of The Boy's King Arthur.
A Quick Quiz on Arthurian Legend
Read Next
poem. A poet in a Heian period kimono writes Japanese poetry during the Kamo Kyokusui No En Ancient Festival at Jonan-gu shrine on April 29, 2013 in Kyoto, Japan. Festival of Kyokusui-no Utage orignated in 1,182, party Heian era (794-1192).
World Poetry Day
Discover
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
Title: Senate Square, St. Petersburg, December 14, 1825: repression of the troop mutiny - watercolor by Carl Ivanovitch Kollman, 1825 depicts Decembrist uprising clashing with cavalry, with spectators watching. (new style December 26, 1825) Europe. Saint
8 of the Largest Empires in History
Diverse elementary school children wearing school uniforms running outside of school. Boys girls
Pro and Con: School Uniforms
Thanksgiving Celebration Traditional Dinner Setting Food Concept
Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday?
An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.
11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.
Why Is Ireland Two Countries?
Santa Claus flying in his sleigh, christmas, reindeer
Was Santa Claus a Real Person?

Arthurian legend: Facts & Related Content

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/Arthurian-legend
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As Arthurian romance • matière de Bretagne • matter of Britain

Photos and Videos

Sir Bedivere and the sword Excalibur
Merlin and the future King Arthur
death of Arthur and Mordred
Discover the mystery behind one of the most famous legends in history
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

Original drawing by Aubrey Beardsley for an 1893–94 edition of Le Morte Darthur by Sir Thomas Malory.
Thomas Malory
English writer
Chrétien de Troyes
French poet
Marion Zimmer Bradley
American writer
Hartmann von Aue
German poet
Raoul de Houdenc
French author and trouvère
Lawamon
English poet
Geoffrey Of Monmouth
English bishop and chronicler
T. H. White
British writer

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
Title page of The Boy's King Arthur.
A Quick Quiz on Arthurian Legend