King Arthur is one of the most celebrated legends to come out of Britain. He is known as the great medieval leader who overpowered the Saxons and other foes to unify Britons under peaceful times.
His mythical exploits have inspired other renowned tales, such as his encounters with Merlin the Wizard, the sword Excalibur, and his Knights of the Round Table and their quest for the Holy Grail.
Camelot is also among the names that have become part of Arthurian legend.
Tales about Arthur first appeared in the fifth or sixth century and became more solidified between the 12th and 15th centuries. They make up one of the most enduring legends in recorded history, according to the MSN Web site, www.encarta.msn. com.
Out of all the castles linked to the Arthurian legend, Camelot is the most famous. It is there that Arthur established a brilliant court and seated the greatest and most chivalrous warriors in Europe, the Knights of the Round Table, according to the Web site, www.camelotcastle.com.
And it is from this castle that Arthur and his knights launched their search for the Holy Grail, the sacred cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, the Web site added.
Camelot was first mentioned in the 12th-century romance novel “Lancelot” by French writer Chrétien de Troyes, the MSN Web site said.
The actual location of Camelot is unknown. Throughout the years, writers have placed it in Wales, London and Cornwall, among other places.
Cadbury Castle, in southwestern England, is one of the castles believed to be Camelot. In 1542, John Leland became the first known author to refer to Cadbury as Camelot, according to the Britannia Web site.
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