King Arthur: The Making of the Legend
“A leading medievalist takes a clear-eyed look at the evidence for the existence of the legendary Arthur.” —The Sunday Times “Best Paperbacks of 2021”
 
According to legend, King Arthur saved Britain from the Saxons and reigned over it gloriously sometime around A.D. 500. Whether or not there was a “real” King Arthur has all too often been neglected by scholars; most period specialists today declare themselves agnostic on this important matter. In this erudite volume, Nick Higham sets out to solve the puzzle, drawing on his original research and expertise to determine precisely when, and why, the legend began.
 
Higham surveys all the major attempts to prove the origins of Arthur, weighing up and debunking hitherto claimed connections with classical Greece, Roman Dalmatia, Sarmatia, and the Caucasus. He then explores Arthur’s emergence in Wales—up to his rise to fame at the hands of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Certain to arouse heated debate among those committed to defending any particular Arthur, Higham’s book is an essential study for anyone seeking to understand how Arthur’s story began.
 
“Likely to be the definitive text on the legendary warrior for the foreseeable future. With his profound knowledge of the rules of historical narrative and patient but forensic analysis of the evidence, Higham’s riveting book brings the historical Arthur to what may be his last, decisive battle.” —Max Adams, author of The First Kingdom
 
“Fascinating, authoritative analysis.” —P. D. Smith, The Guardian
 
“Intelligent and eminently readable . . . For fans of a fascinating story that is wonderfully well told, this is the perfect book to take you back to King Arthur’s time.” —All About History
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King Arthur: The Making of the Legend
“A leading medievalist takes a clear-eyed look at the evidence for the existence of the legendary Arthur.” —The Sunday Times “Best Paperbacks of 2021”
 
According to legend, King Arthur saved Britain from the Saxons and reigned over it gloriously sometime around A.D. 500. Whether or not there was a “real” King Arthur has all too often been neglected by scholars; most period specialists today declare themselves agnostic on this important matter. In this erudite volume, Nick Higham sets out to solve the puzzle, drawing on his original research and expertise to determine precisely when, and why, the legend began.
 
Higham surveys all the major attempts to prove the origins of Arthur, weighing up and debunking hitherto claimed connections with classical Greece, Roman Dalmatia, Sarmatia, and the Caucasus. He then explores Arthur’s emergence in Wales—up to his rise to fame at the hands of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Certain to arouse heated debate among those committed to defending any particular Arthur, Higham’s book is an essential study for anyone seeking to understand how Arthur’s story began.
 
“Likely to be the definitive text on the legendary warrior for the foreseeable future. With his profound knowledge of the rules of historical narrative and patient but forensic analysis of the evidence, Higham’s riveting book brings the historical Arthur to what may be his last, decisive battle.” —Max Adams, author of The First Kingdom
 
“Fascinating, authoritative analysis.” —P. D. Smith, The Guardian
 
“Intelligent and eminently readable . . . For fans of a fascinating story that is wonderfully well told, this is the perfect book to take you back to King Arthur’s time.” —All About History
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King Arthur: The Making of the Legend

King Arthur: The Making of the Legend

by Nicholas J. Higham
King Arthur: The Making of the Legend

King Arthur: The Making of the Legend

by Nicholas J. Higham

eBook

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Overview

“A leading medievalist takes a clear-eyed look at the evidence for the existence of the legendary Arthur.” —The Sunday Times “Best Paperbacks of 2021”
 
According to legend, King Arthur saved Britain from the Saxons and reigned over it gloriously sometime around A.D. 500. Whether or not there was a “real” King Arthur has all too often been neglected by scholars; most period specialists today declare themselves agnostic on this important matter. In this erudite volume, Nick Higham sets out to solve the puzzle, drawing on his original research and expertise to determine precisely when, and why, the legend began.
 
Higham surveys all the major attempts to prove the origins of Arthur, weighing up and debunking hitherto claimed connections with classical Greece, Roman Dalmatia, Sarmatia, and the Caucasus. He then explores Arthur’s emergence in Wales—up to his rise to fame at the hands of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Certain to arouse heated debate among those committed to defending any particular Arthur, Higham’s book is an essential study for anyone seeking to understand how Arthur’s story began.
 
“Likely to be the definitive text on the legendary warrior for the foreseeable future. With his profound knowledge of the rules of historical narrative and patient but forensic analysis of the evidence, Higham’s riveting book brings the historical Arthur to what may be his last, decisive battle.” —Max Adams, author of The First Kingdom
 
“Fascinating, authoritative analysis.” —P. D. Smith, The Guardian
 
“Intelligent and eminently readable . . . For fans of a fascinating story that is wonderfully well told, this is the perfect book to take you back to King Arthur’s time.” —All About History

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780300240863
Publisher: Yale University Press
Publication date: 06/24/2022
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 477
Sales rank: 282,117
File size: 30 MB
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About the Author

N. J. Higham is professor emeritus in history at the University of Manchester. He is the author or co-author of many distinguished works including The Anglo-Saxon World.

Table of Contents

List of Plates and Maps viii

Acknowledgements x

Introduction: Arthur, History and the Storytellers 1

Part I The 'Foreign' Arthurs

1 Lucius Artorius Castus: A Dalmatian King Arthur? 13

2 The 'Sarmatian Connection' 40

3 King Arthur and the Narts 77

4 King Arthur and the Greeks 117

Part II The 'British' Arthur

5 A Dark Age King Arthur 149

6 Arthur and the Historia Brittonum 176

7 A British Arthur: Starting the Tradition 216

8 'Fire', 'Smoke' and 'Highland Mist' 248

Appendix I The Artorius Inscriptions 281

Appendix II Arthur's Battles as Described in the Historia Brittonum and Annales Cambriae 285

Appendix III The Mirabilia: A List of Wonders and Miracles That Became Attached to the Historia Brittonum 289

Abbreviations 293

Endnotes 299

Bibliography 347

Index 371

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