Watched "Quest for King Arthur" from the History DVD set King Arthur and Medieval Britain. This episode traces the legend of King Arthur way back to its first record in 1469 by Sir Thomas Malory. It hypothesizes that the figure of King Arthur could have originated from any of the following personages:

1) Lucius Artorius Castus, a heroic warrior who pushed back the barbarians from Brittania in 185 CE.

2) Ambrosius Aurelianus, who led the revolt against the tyrant King Vortigern in the 5th century.

3) The lieutenant of Ambrosius, to whom leadership was passed and who fought in the Battle of Baden Hill in 500 CE.

I'm happy that I bought this set. It has magnificent scenes, a lot of medieval art, interesting dramatizations, and new insights on British history I'd never previously known. Aside from the narration there are stand-up interviews with history professors and Arthurian specialists.

Nice to know that the heretofore mysterious Stonehenge was erected in the 5th century to mark the greatest act of treachery during the Saxon wars, when the Saxons slaughtered 460 Briton barons and consuls. This monument was a ring of stones erected to commemorate what was called the Massacre of the Elders.

This episode ends with the cultural concept of chivalry and court life, which completely changed with the introduction of gunpowder.

It also contains the original myths of King Arthur all the way from his birth through the fall of Camelot (in the earlier version due to the treachery of Mordred, in the later, romantic version due to the adultery of Guinevere).

The documentary concludes that there is any one of the following possibilities:

1) That there was no such historical figure as King Arthur ("arth" being the Celtic word for "bear", images of which were emblazoned on banners)
2) That there were at least three possible historical models of King Arthur, the problem being which one of them was the real Arthur
3) That King Arthur is a fictional composite of several historical figures.

King Arthur was mortally wounded by Mordred and then brought to lie in state on the Isle of Avalon, where he is said to be neither dead nor alive. It is also said that he will rise when Britain needs him again.

Is post-Brexit England the time?

Love that crown of gold, laurel leaves!