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THE ARTHURIAN TAPESTRY The Diffusion of the Arthurian Legend in the Middle Ages

THE ARTHURIAN TAPESTRY The Diffusion of the Arthurian Legend in the Middle Ages. Roman Britain 1st-5th c. 1st-4th Century: Historical Antecedents.

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THE ARTHURIAN TAPESTRY The Diffusion of the Arthurian Legend in the Middle Ages

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  1. THE ARTHURIAN TAPESTRYThe Diffusion of the Arthurian Legend in the Middle Ages

  2. RomanBritain1st-5th c.

  3. 1st-4th Century: Historical Antecedents • 184:Lucius Artorius Castus, commander of a Roman detachment led his troops from Britain into Gaul to quell a rebellion -- 1st appearance of name Artorius in history • 383: Magnus Maximus (Macsen Wledig) was proclaimed Emperor in Britain by the Roman garrison there -- conquered Gaul, Spain and Italy, but was defeated by Theodosius the Eastern Emperor in 388. Huge loss of Roman troops for Britain.

  4. 5th Century: Historical Background • 402:Roman troops recalled from Britain to defend Italy against Alaric and Visigoths • 406-7:Roman army in Britain elects series of usurping Emperors: Marcus,Gratian and Constantine III • 407:Constantine III withdrew remaining Roman legion to rally support in Gaul: “the end of the Roman Empire in Britain.”

  5. 5th Century: Celtic Disarray • 408: Devastating attacks by Picts, Scots and Saxons led Britain to declare “independence” from Rome in 410. • 440-450:Civil war and famine in Britain. Country divided along factional lines • 445:Vortigen authorized use of Saxon mercenaries against Scots and Picts • 450: adventus Saxonum:Hengest arrived with 3 ships of warriors. Saxons increased settlements.

  6. 5th Century: The Historical Arthur • 458-60: Migration of British aristocrats and urbanites across the Channel to Brittany • 460-70: Ambrosius Aurelianus led Britons in containing Saxon settlement -- assumed High-kingship of Britain • 485-96: Period of Arthur’s “twelve battles” according to Nennius • c. 496: Ambrosius and Arthur dux bellorum defeated Saxons at Mt. Badon. A generation of peace ensued

  7. 5th CenturyInvasions and Migrations

  8. 5th-7th Century: Welsh Texts • Annales Cambriae:Welsh chronicle entries, 10th c. mss: • c.516:“The Battle of Badon in which Arthur carried the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ for three days and three nights on his shield and the Britons were the victors.” • c.537:“The Strife of Camlann in which Arthur and Medraut perished.” • mirabilia give Arthur a son, Anir, and a dog, Cabal. • Welsh Triads composed (survive in 13th c. mss.)

  9. 5th-7th Century: Celtic Texts • 5th-6th c:Celtic noblemen named their sons Arthur. • Gildas:De Excidio: c. 540, chronicles internecine strife amongst British Kings and mentions the Seige of Mt. Badon • Aneirin:Gododdin: c. 600, used phrase"ceni bei ef Arthur"-"but he was no Arthur" to describe a great warrior

  10. 9th-10th Century:The Legend Grows • Nennius:Historia Brittonum, c.830 • Lists 12 battles with Anglo-Saxons • Mentions Arthur, dux bellorum. • Annales Cambriae compiled, c.970

  11. 11th Century: MSS. Versions of Older Welsh Oral Tales • Mabinogion,four branches collected c. 1050 • Culhwch ac Olwen,final version appears in writing, c. 1100 • Arthur becomes the king of a band of adventure-seeking heroes with marvellous powers and gains a queen, Gwenhyfar

  12. 11th Century: Archivolt of Modena Cathedral,ItalyAbduction of Guinevere Winlogee(Guinevere) Arthur Caradoc Unnamedknight Kay Mardoc Gawain Durmart Ider Galeron

  13. 11th Century:Saints’ Lives • Legend of St. Goeznovius,c. 1019: Breton legend which mentions Arthur and calls him the King of the Britons • c.1090: Professional hagiographers write various saints’ lives which mention Arthur and his exploits, usually in unflattering terms • Caradoc: Life of Gildas: Latin/Welsh • St. Padarm, St. Cadog, St. Iltud, St. Carannog

  14. 12th Century: British Historians • William of Malmesbury: • c.1125: Gesta Requm Anglorum (Deeds of the English Kings) • c. 1129: De Antiquitate Glastoniensis Ecclesiaea(a history of Glastonbury Abbey) • Geoffrey of Monmouth: • c.1136: Historia Regum Brittaniae.(History of the Kings of Britain) • c.1150: Vita Merlinei (The Life of Merlin) • Wace:Roman deBrut, c. 1155, Anglo-Norman (French) translation of Geoffrey • Lazamon: Brut,c. 1190, Anglo-Saxon (English) translation of Geoffrey

  15. William of Malmesbury calls Arthurian legends "fabulous lies” but says Arthur should be recognized as “one who long sustained his tottering country and gave the shattered minds of his fellow citizens an edge for war.”

  16. Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia • One of the greatest works of medieval fiction which was accepted as history for 600 years • British foundation myth • Created a hero-king whose vast empire reflected Norman ambitions • Captured latest fashions in courtly behaviour • Wildly popular in original Latin version and as the basis for other chroniclers and romance writers

  17. Geoffrey gave Arthur a father, Uther Pendragon; a mother, Igerne and a sister, Anna. He elaborated the story of Arthur’s begetting, birth and surrender to MerlinAnd told of the death of Arthur in battle with Mordred.

  18. Wace, Roman de Brut Anglo-Norman translation of Geoffrey, dedicated to Eleanor of Aquitaine, introduced the Round Table

  19. Lazamon’s Brut Anglo-Saxon translation of Geoffrey: first English appearance of Arthur

  20. Glastonbury • 1184: Fire ravages Glastonbury Abbey, destroying the Old Church • 1190: Digging at a spot described by a bard, monks claim to discover the grave of Arthur and Guinevere between two markers at Glastonbury Abbey: “At seven feet down, they found a stone slab with an inset lead cross; at 16 feet down they found a hollowed out log that contained the skeletal remains of an exceptionally large man and a delicate woman.” • Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales) • 1192-3: “Liber de Principes Instructione” reports the finding of Arthur’s grave • 1216: “Speculum Ecclesiae” again recounts the discovery • 1278: Edward I and Queen Eleanor officially rebury the remains of Arthur and Guenevere. Edward proclaims his son, Edward, the Prince of Wales.

  21. HIC IACIT SEPVLTVS INCLITVS REX ARTHVRIVS, IN INSVLA AVALONIA:: Here lies entombed the renowned King Arthur on the Isle of Avalon."

  22. 12th Century: French Romances • Marie de France: Lais, Anglo-Norman, c.1160-80 • “Chevrefueil” • “Lanval” • Chretien de Troyes: 5 Arthurian romances:Erec et Enide, Cliges, Lancelot, Yvain, Perceval,c. 1160-90 + four continuations by others • Beroul, Roman de Tristan,c. 1170-90 • Thomas d’Angleterre, Tristan,Anglo-Norman, c. 1175

  23. The Lais of Marie de France • Breton troubadour influence • Courtliness and magic • Investigations into the intricacies of love and honor • Explores questions of sovereignty in relationships

  24. Chretien de Troyes • Attached to the Court at Champagne, under the patronage of Countess Marie de Champagne, daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Louis VII of France • First to depict Round Table as center of chivalry and to name Camelot as Arthur’s capital. • Morgan la Fee appears as Arhur’s sister and a famed healer

  25. The Knight of the Cart, or Lancelot Introduced the French knight, Lancelot and the concept of amour courtois (courtly love) into Arthurian romance:Lancelot becomes the queen’s champion, protector, and lover

  26. Perceval: The Story of the Grail • First Grail Romance • Grail not here associated with the cup of the Last Supper or the cup used to catch Christ’s blood • A symbol of beauty and mystery, but not of religious devotion

  27. The Celtic Tale of Tristan and Isolt becomes attached to the Arthurian legend French: Beroul, Roman de Tristan and Thomas d’Angleterre, Tristan German: Eilhart von Oberge, Tristan

  28. The love triangle of Tristan-Isolt-Mark parallels that of Lancelot-Guinevere-Arthur

  29. 12th Century: The Spread of Romance • Hartmann von Aue, ErekandIwein, German, c.1195-1205 • Ulrich Von Zatzihoven, Lanzelet, Swiss, c.1194-1203

  30. Courtly Love • Humility • Courtesy • Adultery • The Religion of Love

  31. Worship of the chosen lady Declaration of passionate devotion Virtuous rejection by the lady Renewed wooing with oaths of eternal fealty Moans of unsatisfied desire Heroic deeds of valor which win the lady's heart Consummation of the secret love Endless adventures and subterfuges Tragic end The "rules" for this game :

  32. 13th Century: Welsh Romances • The Black Book of Carmarthen: Geraint son of Erbin and Merlinpoems,c. 1250 • Mabinogion:final version, c. 1250 • Geraint and Enid • Peredur • Owein

  33. 13th Century: German Romances • Wirnt von Gravenberg:Wigalois,c. 1204-10 • Wolfram von Eschenbach:Parzival,c.1204-12,“the greatest medieval German romance” (Wagner’s Parsifal) • Gottfried von Strassburg:Tristan und Isolt,c. 1210 (Wagner’s Tristan) • Arthurian tales appear in Austria, Scandinavia, and Holland

  34. 13th-14th Century:French Grail Romances • Robert de Boron, Joseph d’ArimathieandMerlin,c.1202-12 • Didot Perceval: Perceval le Gallois ou le Conte du Graal, c.1210-20 • Vulgate prose cycle: French Cistercian retelling of Estoire del Saint Graal, Estoire de Merlin, Lancelot du Lac, Queste del Saint Graal, and Mort Artu,c. 1215-30 • Roman Du Graal and Lancelot Cycle: variant versions of the Vulgate Cycle, c. 1230-1320

  35. Cistercian Spirituality • Transforms the grail into “the Holy Grail” -- the cup in which Joseph of Arimathea caught the blood dripping from Jesus’ wounds • Claims that Joseph of Arimathea brought the grail to Britain • Grail quests become the central activity of the Arthurian knights, especially Gawain, Perceval, and Lancelot: none of whom can achieve the grail because of their impurities.

  36. Introduction of Galahad, son of Sir Lancelot and the maiden Elaine, who, because of his purity is able to attain “The Holy Grail”Morgan la Fee becomes a sorceress and enemy to Arthur’s court, especially to Guenevere Emphasis placed on the fallen nature of Camelot, especially on the treasonous adultery of Guenevere and Lancelot

  37. 14th Century: Emergence of English Arthurian Romance • Alliterative Morte Arthur,c. 1360 • Sir Gawayne and the Grene Knight, c.1390 • Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” c.1392-94 • Stanzaic Mort Artu,c. 1400 • Various anonymous English romances,14th-15th c.

  38. 15th Century: Sir Thomas Malory, Morte Darthur • Ultimate compilation of the Arthurian legend • Composed in early Modern English prose in the 1460s during the Wars of the Roses, probably while Malory was in prison • Sources include the French Vulgate and Grail cycles, Layamon’s Brut, the English Mort Artu and Morte Arthur, and Welsh tales • Scholarly controversy over “hoole book” or eight separate, but related tales. • First masterpiece of English prose

  39. Sir Thomas Malory, Morte Darthur • Part One: The Coming of Arthur and the Round Table • Part Two: Arthur’s War Against the Enperor Lucius • Part Three: Sir Lancelot du Lake • Part Four: Sir Gareth of Orkney • Part Five: Sir Tristam of Lyoness • Part Six: The Quest of the Grail • Part Seven: Lancelot and Guenivere • Part Eight: The Death of King Arthur

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