King Arthur

Every school child in the world grows up knowing something about these tales, but how many realise that the fantastic legends may be based on factual occurrences and actual people?

Based as they are in a Britain of the Dark Ages they weave around us wondrous tales of brave and, sometimes, not so brave knights in never ending stories of valour and the ideal of chivalry. Central to these tales is, of course, the King himself with his following of knights and ladies, all of whom have a tale to thrill us with.

It is worth noting as we read, however, that many of these characters appear in much earlier legendary cycles and can be traced back to reveal gods of thunder, water deities, seasonal spirits and many more besides.

The historical aspect is just as fascinating, with the researched possibility of the real Arthur existing as a Romano-Celtic warlord based in the area of England known as the Welsh Marches and being commander of a company of well trained group of fighting men existing at a time when Rome had left Britain and the Saxons were attempting to invade.

Whatever the reality, the fact is that the legends have endured for centuries and that the tales of magical swords and damsels in distress weave as strong a spell on us now as they did on our ancestors, with what can only be decried as a timeless magic, making these legends rightly referred to as "The Matter Of Britain".