The Reign of Arthur

Christopher Gidlow examines the evidence for Arthur as a possible ruler of post-Roman Britain, setting early accounts against the political and military realities of the 5th and 6th centuries. The book considers Arthur’s reported battles, including Camlann, alongside the collapse of British power and the succession of native kings.

It then traces how a historical figure, or remembered war leader, developed into the Arthur of legend. Gidlow discusses Arthur’s companions, saints’ lives and Geoffrey of Monmouth’s influential history, while suggesting locations for Arthur’s greatest battle and final defeat. The closing section examines the 1190 discovery at Glastonbury of a supposed tomb and the continuing question of Arthur’s historical identity.