Excalibur is one of the most famous swords in European legend, belonging to King Arthur of Camelot. In Arthurian legend, this magical sword protects the king and his knights. Accounts of how he came to possess the sword vary, but it highlights its importance in each story.
Therefore, heartswords.com takes everyone to explore the history of Excalibur and the authenticity of King Arthur’s legend!
Was King Arthur a real person?
Historians cannot confirm whether King Arthur existed, but many believe he was a true warrior who led the British army against the Saxon invasion in the 6th century. In the early 5th century, Britain suffered from the weakening Western Roman Empire. When Roman rule over Britain ended, the native British rulers were left to fight the invaders alone.
When the Anglo-Saxons arrived in England, they gained some territory. By around 500 AD, the Britons, led by military leader Ambrosius Aurelianus, had a great victory at the Battle of Badon Hill, although later tradition identified him as King Arthur. In the Historia Britannia, a Welsh historian attributed 12 victories to Arthur, who was described as “Dux Bellorum,” or supreme commander.
In the 12th century, the English writer Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote the first story of Arthur’s life in his book “The Kings of Britain”. He also called King Arthur’s sword Caliburn (now called Excalibur), which was forged on the island of Avalon. However, he did not explain where the story of King Arthur came from, leading many later writers to believe that he made everything up.
Excalibur VS Sword in the Stone
In the most popular tradition, the Lady of the Lake, or Nimue as she is also known, gave King Arthur the sword Excalibur, which protected him from harm in battle. Excalibur is often confused with the Sword in the Stone, which Arthur drew to prove his parentage and royal status. While some accounts consider them to be the same, they are traditionally viewed as different weapons.
The Sword in the Stone is an unnamed weapon, sometimes referred to as a sword in an anvil. When Arthur is old enough to claim his inheritance, the wizard Merlin takes him to find the sword in a great rock. The sword is embedded in the rock by Merlin’s magic and can only be removed by the rightful King of Britain. Many knights have failed to pull the sword from the stone, but Arthur succeeds and reveals his destiny.
What will the Sword of Kings look like?
The appearance of Excalibur varies from story to story. In The Poems of the King, Alfred Lord Tennyson describes it as being encrusted with gemstones, including topaz and amethyst. In many versions, the words “Take me up” and “Cast me away” are engraved on either side of the blade. Some describe it as being so bright that it could blind Arthur’s enemies.
Other poets and storytellers created their own depictions of the sword. Modern replicas of Excalibur sometimes draw inspiration from medieval swords, especially longswords. In the film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Excalibur’s hilt is decorated with crystals and the blade is textured Damascus steel. The creators used a written language specifically for the film.
Some facts about Excalibur
The origins of Excalibur can be traced through the evolution of its name and early Welsh legends.
Here’s what you need to know about Excalibur:
- King Arthur’s sword was once called the Sword in the Stone (Caliburn).
The name Excalibur comes from the Welsh Caledfwlch – also from the Cornish Calesvol and the Breton Kaledvoulc’h. Caledfwlch appears in early Welsh literature, especially in Culwich and Olwyn, one of the earliest Arthurian texts. Geoffrey of Monmouth eventually Latinized the name to Caliburnus, sometimes spelled Caliburn. In Old French texts, it became Escalibor and finally Excalibur.
- The name Excalibur means “cutting steel”.
In the Arthurian legend Percival, the French poet Chrétien de Troyes described Excalibur as the best sword, which could cut iron as well as wood. Therefore, some authors believed that the French term Escalibor implied cutting iron, steel, and wood. Eventually, the English writer Sir Thomas Malory accepted this view and believed that the name Excalibur meant cutting steel.
- Excalibur may have been derived from the sword of an Irish hero, Caladbolg.
In Irish mythology, the Irish hero Fergus mac Róich wielded a great sword called Caladbolg, sometimes spelled Caladbou, which literally means hard man. Fergus used it to chop off the tops of three mountains in County Meath, Ireland, forming the flat hills we see today.
The Welsh word Caledfwlch and the Irish word Caladbolg are similar in pronunciation, so some people believe that the two swords are related, but there are still scholars who believe that the two words were used as a common name for the same sword, and then Caledfwlch became Arthur’s sword in English tradition.
- The scabbard of the Sword of Kings itself has magical power.
The extraordinary quality of King Arthur’s sword lies in its scabbard, which protects him and his knights from any harm. Therefore, Arthur’s sister Morgan (or Morgause), stole the scabbard of the sword, leaving him vulnerable. His traitorous son Mordred challenged his control of the kingdom and killed him at the Battle of Camlann.
- Excalibur must be returned to the lake from which it came.
Arthur was wounded in his final battle and asked his knight Bedivere (or Griffith) to throw his sword into the lake, where a hand reached out to take it, presumably the Lady of the Lake. After his death, a magical ship appeared and took him to the mythical island of Avalon. Folklore says he would heal on the island and continue to live, and eventually he would lead Britain when needed.
- Some of Arthur’s warriors also wielded Excalibur.
In the Celtic Culwich and Olwen, the sword of Excalibur, named Caledfwlch, is one of Arthur’s most valuable possessions. His warrior Llenlleawg used it to kill the Irish king Diwrnach, while stealing the so-called magic cauldron. The legend of Excalibur began to expand in the Vulgate Cycle and Post-Vulgate Cycle writings. Excalibur was Arthur’s sword, but his nephew and knight Gawain also used it, which is different from later versions that believe that the sword only belonged to the king.
- Arthur also uses several other weapons.
Excalibur isn’t the only weapon associated with Arthur. In “Culwich and Olwen,” he wields a spear called Rhongomyniad and a dagger called Carnwennan. In the Middle English alliterative poem “Le Morte d’Arthur,” he ritually uses Clarent, a sword of peace. In the poem, Mordred steals it and uses it to kill Arthur.
- The earliest records do not mention the prophecy of the Sword in the Stone.
There are different versions of the legend about this sword. In the earliest records, Arthur just inherited the throne from his father Uther Pendragon. The first mention of the sword in the stone was in the 12th century French epic poem Merlin, written by Robert de Boron.
- King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are the epitome of medieval chivalry.
The idea of a brotherhood of knights appeals to medieval notions of chivalry. English, French, and German writers have different versions of the story, but all portray Arthur as a wise and courageous ruler.
Arthur created the Round Table as a symbol of an ideal society with brave knights like Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan, Eric, Parzival, Ewing and Sir Kay. Most of the stories revolve around the ideals of bravery and honor of the king protecting the weak against the strong.
- Medieval writers told the story of Arthur and his adventures in different ways.
Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Chronicles of the Kings of Britain later inspired poets and storytellers in England and France. In the late 12th century, the French poet Chrétien de Troyes introduced the quest for the Holy Grail, a mysterious vessel associated with the Passion of Christ. Robert de Boron incorporated this theme into Arthurian legend, adding a sense of religious destiny to the Arthurian story.
The Vulgate Cycle is a set of Arthurian legends written between 1210 and 1230 that added pseudo-historical narratives to Arthur’s military adventures. The Post-Vulgate Cycle, written between 1230 and 1240, introduced other characters and adventures. The first English version of the Arthurian legend, in Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte d’Arthur, tells of Arthur’s birth and emphasizes the brotherhood between knights.
- As a magical sword, Excalibur reflects Celtic beliefs and traditions.
In Celtic tradition, it was common for weapons to have mystical origins. The Celts also attributed supernatural powers to the weapons of warriors, kings, and gods. Excalibur was a magical sword from another realm that had to be returned to its source. Throwing weapons into lakes and ponds was a common Celtic practice, which may have been based on Celtic sacrificial rituals.
Excalibur in popular culture
The story of King Arthur and his sword Excalibur continues to inspire writers and filmmakers to this day. There are many versions of the Arthurian legend, which has been successfully re-imagined. In the film Dark Ages, the legendary sword was in the hands of Uther Pendragon before it found its way to Arthur. In the TV series Cursed, the story ends a little differently. A woman named Nimue is the wielder of the sword, and her mission is to deliver Excalibur to Merlin.
Arthurian legend also influenced the Lord of the Rings film series, as seen in the symbolism of the Sword of Thrones. No wonder Excalibur is also common in cosplay, live-action role-playing games, or live action role-playing games, which allow players to take on the role of King Arthur or the Knights of the Round Table.
in conclusion
Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, the ruler of Britain. Throughout the many Arthurian legends, the sword has had many names and wielders, but it has maintained a powerful reputation in every story that has featured it. To this day, the legendary sword remains popular in movies, novels, cosplay, and live-action role-playing games.
