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King Arthur

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King Arthur is a mysterious figure thought to be from the sixth century AD. He was the King of Britain for thirty years and during that time consolidated all the smaller kingdoms into the one country today known as England. He also founded The Order of the Round Table, a collection of knights that helped rule the kingdom. The help they provided was as counselors to the King, and as the military defense for the country. He was best known for his repelling the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons. This is ironic because much of England today is descendent from the Anglo-Saxons.

Arthur was the illegitimate son for the King Uther Pendragon, Arthur's predecessor, and Igraine of Cornwall, Gorlois' wife, one of Uther's generals. When he was born, he was taken away and raised by Sir Hector, in the Forest Sauvage(White 50). When he was a but a teen, he went to London with Hector and his son Kay. While they were there Arthur pulled a magical sword from an anvil in a churchyard. The sword had appeared many years before to mark the new king. Whoever pulled it out would take the throne. During his reign, Britain became a very prosperous nation. The knights of the Table achieved many wonderful new things, as did the general population. Arthur's rule ended because of the power of corruption that hiding things has. Lancelot, a knight, and Guenevere, Arthur's wife, were having an affair. The affair was not publicly admitted, and everything was going okay. Then some knights confronted Lancelot and a fight ensued. Lancelot slayed his attackers, but Arthur was forces to expel him from Camelot, and to chase him back to his castle in Brittany. While Arthur was overseas, Mordred, his illegitimate son by Arthur's half sister, took the throne by convincing the knights that Arthur had perished. Arthur went back to Britain and met to talk with Mordred. During the talks fighting broke out, and Arthur killed Mordred, but was mortally wounded in the process. When he died he was taken to the magical island of Avalon to recover and wait until Britain needed him again.

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