And written in the speech ye speak yourself. Taking it, but old Merlin counsell'd him. The time to cast away. Is yet far off. Took, and by this will beat his foemen down,". Excalibur: the mystical sword of King Arthur, a weapon of great physical and magical powers, and one of the most well-known objects associated with Arthurian legends; "No sword has had the impact and universal appeal as that enjoyed by Excalibur, legendary sword of the Britons," Peterson King Arthur carried this sword throughout his reign and realm, achieving legendary status for both himself and the sword.
Throughout Arthurian legend, the sword is credited with many traits, names, origins, and even wielders. Its story changes and ebbs with the authors' whims, but it remains a symbol of power, magic, and the kingdom of Arthur.
It is also the symbol of the power one man can wield, bringing an entire kingdom under his rule. The origins and evolution of Excalibur can be traced through the development of the name Excalibur, by looking at Celtic and Welsh legends, and by tracing the evolution of Excalibur's tale and attributes through various Arthurian stories. Widely known by its name Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur has held other various names throughout Arthurian literature. Geoffrey of Monmouth, who is usually credited with first adding the sword to legend, named it Caliburnus Lacy "Encycolpedia" This name, sometimes shortened to Caliburn, stems from the Latin word chlybs , meaning steel Lacy "Handbook" In addition to the Latin form, there are two theories for the origin of Caliburnus.
One is an Irish word, also the name of a legendary sword, Calad-cole Brown "Grail" The other is the Welsh word Caledvwlch , meaning a strong carving instrument Warren n In The Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh prose poetry, Caledvwlch is a legendary sword with the same attributes as Excalibur Gantz He claims the name Excalibur developed out of many different legends and authors' adaptations.
Caledvwlch probably developed out of one of the forms of the Irish Calad-cole , and then became Caliburnus in Monmouth's writings. According to Loomis, there existed, "A peculiar tendency to attach the prefix es- to names," Loomis Calibor then became Escalibor, which eventually transformed into Excalibur. There was more to this sword than its name however, as can be send through the various Celtic and Welsh legends it evolved from.
In Celtic legend, it was common for weapons and other objects to have mysterious origins. Nuada's sword, Lugh's spear, the sword of Fergus, and Cuchulain's gae bulga spear all had origins similar to Excalibur. These weapons were forged by a smith with great skill and power. Similar characters, such as Wayland, appear as otherworldly smiths continuing the pattern, "The concept of an exceptionally skilled craftsman is a common theme in mythology.
Swords of such power are made so that only a few or one specific person can effectively wield them," Peterson Some argue Wayland evolved from the, "Roman god Vulcan, who was modeled on the Greek god Hephaestus, the master smith whose forge was beneath the volcano of Aetna Day Magical weapons forged by supernatural smiths were then wielded by great heroes.
Commonly in Celtic legend though, the hero died at the end of his fight or quest. The hero's weapon was usually thrown into a lake afterwards. This was both popular in legend and as a practice among the Celts Peterson There is historical evidence to support this, as archeologists continue to find weapons and armor in the lakes and ponds of Britain.
Perhaps this act was to keep others from using their weapons Lacy "Handbook" It may have also been a symbolic act, an acknowledgement of defeat or, "a sacrifice or a votive offering made to fit a cult ritual," Day Celtic religion had a sacrificial element; therefore this assessment of throwing weapons into lakes may be based in religious beliefs and practices. Like the Celts and their heroes, Arthur also returned his sword to the lake from whence it came, back to the Lady of the Lake.
The origin of the name Excalibur can be traced through Celtic legends as well. Loomis writes, "The derivation of the famous brand Calibor, better known as Excalibur, from the sword Caledvwlch in The Mabinogion , and ultimately from the sword variously called Caladcolg or Caladbolg in the Irish sagas, is accepted by all scholars," Loomis In Kulhwch , Arthur has a sword called Caledvwlch. The name is composed of two words, "calet" meaning hard and "bwlch" meaning notch Loomis also argues, "The origin of the name Calibor or Caliborc has long been known, and forms one of the most impressive arguments for the infiltration of Welsh and even Irish names into Arthurian romance," Loomis' argument can be best shown and supported in the following Celtic tales and their recognizable names, characters, and events.
He demands his sword from King Ailill. The king, "sends for it and presents it to Fergus, who greets it as 'Caladcolc'," Loomis In the Book of Leinster, a variation of the same story, the sword is called Caladbolg. This sword is said to have come from "faery palaces and to become as long as a rainbow when it is brandished," He does not realize this until he is in the middle of the battle.
In The Death of Fergus Mac Leite , Fergus is mortally wounded and, "he implored the Ulstermen to give his sword to one who would be worthy of it," The sword of Fergus is from a magical place and has magical attributes, as does Excalibur. He also gives a speech about the proper and worthy wielder of Excalibur as he lays dying The names Caladcolg and Caladbolg are very similar to Caledvwlch, which as previously discussed is the sword in The Mabinogion.
This sword was also associated with battle prowess, as it is used to defeat the Ulstermen. Arthur's sword is a symbol of battle prowess, as his victories and, "reputation on the battlefield helped make the sword legendary; it became seen as the sword of kings. The sword then became a more powerful symbol for his reign than any crown," Williams Excalibur has origins in Welsh stories as well. In a set of poems known as The Welsh Triads , the sword was mentioned by the name Caledfwlch, "Above all there was his magnificent sword — Caledfwlch , the 'Lightning Sword,' associated with the old Lightning Gods," Williams It belonged to Arthur, who was not called a king, but was a warrior with a great hall, a ship, many magical objects, and a wife named Gwenhwyfar.
Taliesin, a sixth century Welsh poet, wrote The Spoils of Annwfn In it, Arthur went on a mission to Annwfn in the otherworld to find a magic cauldron. On this trip he also found a, "flashing, deadly sword. As legend progressed, this theme continued as Avalon became the most common forging place of Excalibur. As can be seen through similar names, events, and traits, Excalibur's origins clearly lie, at least partly in Celtic and Welsh legends. From these legends, the sword developed into its popular role as Arthur's sword.
Over its evolution, Excalibur's tale picked up many commonalities usually repeated in each tale. Excalibur was given to Arthur through magical means, from Merlin or the Lady of the Lake. It was not forged in this world. Sometimes it was the same as the sword in the stone, but more than often was not. If there was a sword in the stone, Arthur usually broke it and Merlin arranged for Arthur to have a magic one Lacy "Handbook" In the earlier stories, Excalibur did not solely belong to Arthur, in later stories it did.
Merlin warned Arthur not to lose the scabbard because of its magical protective powers. The scabbard was stolen by Morgaine or Morgan le Fay. In the end, before Arthur died, he told one of his knights, Bedivere or Girflet, to throw the sword back into the water. This request was denied twice and then completed upon the third request. The Lady of the Lake took the sword back, and Arthur died Don't have an account? Sign up. Have you ever heard the name of King Arthur, and wondered about one of the most legendary figures in English history?
Did King Arthur really exist? Where did he come from? Who were the legendary Knights of the Round Table? What is Excalibur? If you have ever wanted to know more about the legendary King Arthur, read on…. The young child was sent away by the King to hide his true identity as the rightful heir to Britain.
After the death of King Uther, it was necessary to find the real successor to the King. Although many would-be kings tried their hand, none succeeded to pull the magical sword out, and claim their stake to the throne. Presenting, King Arthur! Merlin brought Balin out of the castle.
Merlin showed the devastation of the three kingdoms that Balin had caused with that one stroke of the lance. Balin had been warned several times by Merlin and other people that this would happened. Balin had heedlessly sought glory and fame as a knight, only to bring sorrow to so many. Despite succeeding the quest to avenge the unnamed knight, Balin left the devastated kingdom; he was distressed that he had caused so much havoc and sorrow.
Balin was mortally wounded when the castle collapsed. When Balin witnessed the devastation he had caused he died repenting for what he had done. Balin arrived at a castle that has a custom, where a knight-errant entering their castle, he must joust with another knight-errant from the island tower. Though Balin did not like custom, he thought they would see him as a coward if he did not joust with the other knight. As he ready himself for the coming joust, the host offered a new and better shield than the worn shield he now carried.
However, a girl arrived at the castle, carrying a message for Merlin. Balin had great foreboding of what will happen. His opponent emerged from the other tower, wearing red armour and shield, and mounted on white horse. Neither of them recognised the other knight. The two knights fought one another, long and hard. They only stopped fighting when both knights were mortally wounded.
They were both horrified and grief-stricken when they revealed their identity to one another. As Merlin and the maiden, who had given the sword to Balin, had foretold, he would regret that he had ever kept the sword that he had won.
Balan, his brother, was the red knight. Each has delivered a deathblow to the brother he loved. The only thing that Balin asked from the people of the castle and tower that would bury them together. They had both died by evening. Merlin arrived and attended the funeral of Balin and Balan. Merlin set the sword into the marble slab. Merlin then made this stone float on water.
The stone would float and moved around the world until it arrived in Camelot, 22 years later. Quest of the Holy Grail. Leodegan gave the Round Table to Arthur as a wedding gift.
This table could seat knights. Merlin had design the table using the Grail table as a model. Joseph of Arimathea had designed the Grail Table to only seat 13 people. However, the 13th seat was the Perilous Seat Siege Perilous , which no one may sit on, without dying. So the Perilous Seat was left vacated. Merlin warned Arthur and the other knights that only the greatest knight in the world could sit in this deadly chair, and that knight would be the true Grail Knight.
Now the Round Table was used as dowry. Leodegan also gave Arthur a hundred worthy knights to sit at the table. Merlin and the Archbishop of Canterbury helped Arthur find the rest of the knights 49 , to fill the seats of Round Table. The Knights of the Round Table swore oaths of fellowship. Merlin told Arthur that he required three knights to fetch the hart and the brachet, and rescued the lady.
Merlin assigned the individual quest to three knights. Gawain must seek out the white stag, while Tor, the bastard son of Pellinor, had to fetch the brachet.
Gawain angrily fought the knight in single combat, because Ablamor had killed his hounds. Though the other knight admitted defeat, Gawain refused to give mercy to the knight. Gawain killed the lady when his sword struck off her head. Gawain was upset for killing the lady. Four knights would later capture Gawain and his brother.
The four knights would have killed the brothers, had Gawain not revealed his identity to the four damsels that he was the nephew of King Arthur. They set him free and gave the hart to Gawain. When he returned to Camelot, Gawain won shame instead of glory. Guinevere and all the ladies punished Gawain. They also made him promise to always give mercy to another knight who ask for it, and that he must always give aid to any lady or damsel who ask for it. Though King Pellinor was also successful in his quest to rescue the lady, his adventure was marred by the fact that he failed to aid a damsel weeping over a wounded knight, because he was in a hurry to complete his quest.
The damsel cursed Pellinor that one day his friend will fail him when he needed help the most. Pellinor had rescue the lady by defeating two knights: killing one and wounding the other. As Pellinor return to Camelot with the lady, he found that the damsel, he had abandoned, had killed herself in her grief. While lions had ate part of her body. This had greatly upset Pellinor. Finally we know the identity of the lady that King Pellinor had rescued.
Before the wizard left Arthur, Merlin told the king he would never return. His feeling for Niniane irritated her, but she promised she would returned his love if he would teach his magic to her.
Because of his uncontrollable lust for the Lady of the Lake, he foolishly agreed, despite the warning of his vision of his own doom.
Later, Niniane wanted to return home. Merlin wanted to follow her. They took a ship where they landed in Brittany. Merlin foretold that either Lancelot or her grandson Galahad would become the greatest knight in the world. Later at the death of Ban, Niniane would later take the child away from Helen and raised the child as her own. Merlin and Niniane continued on their journey, until they arrived in the Forest of Broceliande.
Merlin told Niniane that Arthur was in danger through the machination of Morgan le Fay. Merlin wanted to save Arthur, but he knew that he would die if he go to the king. Niniane promised to protect the king if he went. Niniane then lure Merlin into a cave, where she used the magic she had learned from Merlin, sealing him in a rock.
Though she had no love for Merlin, she did love Arthur. The damsel told Arthur that he could gain freedom if he fight in single combat. This young woman was actually Morgan le Fay , disguised as an ordinary damsel. Morgan le Fay also visited Accolon who became her lover. While she gave the bogus Excalibur and scabbard to her brother. When Arthur engaged the other knight, he did not recognise Accolon. They fought until Arthur realised he had been betrayed.
His sword did no damage to Accolon, while he received wounds from his enemy. He realised his sword was counterfeit.
He tried to bravely defend himself as best he can, but his shield was soon in tatter, while he received many wounds. Rather than yielding to his enemy, Arthur rushed at his enemy with what left of his shield.
Niniane cast a spell, which caused Accolon to drop Excalibur to the ground. Arthur immediately seized the advantage, regaining Excalibur. Arthur then set about defeating his enemy. Accolon was mortally wounded. Arthur then discovered the identity of his opponent.
Accolon confessed that when Arthur was killed in combat, then she would murder her husband, King Urien of Gorre. Thereupon, she would marry and make Accolon, who will become king of Logres and Gorre. By night-time Accolon had died from his wound. Morgan le Fay thought her brother was dead. At night, she was going to murder her husband, while Urien was asleep. Their son, Yvain , discovered the plot against his father. Yvain rescued his father, but he would not harm his mother.
Yvain allowed his mother Morgan to escape. The next day, Morgan le Fay heard news that Arthur had survived and was now returning to Camelot, and that her lover Accolon had died.
But Arthur had slept with Excalibur in his hand, so Morgan stole the magic scabbard, before fleeing. When Arthur woke and found that his sister had stolen his scabbard, he set off in pursuit. Before Arthur could catch her, she threw the scabbard into the lake. Then she changed herself and her attendants to look like rocks. Not able to find her, Arthur was forced to continue his journey to Camelot without his magical scabbard.
Later, Morgan sent one of her damsels to her brother, in Camelot. The damsel brought to Arthur a beautiful robe, as a gift and peace offering. Arthur accepted, but Niniane , the Lady of the Lake, advised Arthur not to wear the robe.
Arthur immediately ordered the damsel to wear the robe. The damsel reluctantly put on the robe and immediately died. Arthur was angry that his sister was still seeking his death. However, he was uncertain about the innocence and loyalty of his nephew Yvain.
Arthur banished his nephew from his court. Gawain loved his cousin, enough to accompany Yvain in an adventure where they meet the Irish knight Marhaus Thomas Malory called him Morholt.
You will find this episode in my Sir Gawain page. However, there are three important tales, you should probably read after the Legend of Excalibur. These tales formed part of the Lancelot-Grail cycle , which was often called the Vulgate Cycle. Due the size of these tales, I have to tell them in three separate pages four pages if you include the introduction and notes to the Vulgate Cycle.
It would be best to follow these tales in this order, though each of these stories are complete in itself, they are also tied together to make up the legend of Excalibur. Contact us. Merlin told these nobles that the man who draws the magic sword out of the stone, would be king of Logres Britain. Suite du Merlin from Post-Vulgate cycle c. Arthur would later challenge and fight Pellinor in single combat. In the middle of the fight, his sword had broken in two.
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