Historicity of King Arthur
The historicity of King Arthur has been debated both by academics and popular writers. While there have been many claims that King Arthur was a real historical person, the current consensus among specialists on the period holds him to be a mythological or folkloric figure.
Former site of Arthur's purported grave in "Avalon" at Glastonbury Abbey
King Arthur, according to legends, was a king of Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain.
Tapestry showing Arthur as one of the Nine Worthies, wearing a coat of arms often attributed to him, c. 1385
King Arthur returning from the Battle of Mons Badonis (or Mount Badon). First reference to Arthur, found in early Welsh literature. Stained glass in Llandaf Cathedral, Cardiff.
Supposed former gravesite of Arthur at Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset
A page of Y Gododdin, one of the most famous early Welsh texts featuring Arthur (c. 1275)