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King Arthur is a character featured in the Warner Bros. media franchise of the same name as one of Britain's most famous kings.
The historical basis for the King Arthur legend has long been debated by scholars. One school of thought, citing entries in the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons) and Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals), sees Arthur as a genuine historical figure, a Romano-British leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons some time in the late 5th to early 6th century. The Historia Brittonum, a 9th-century Latin historical compilation attributed in some late manuscripts to a Welsh cleric called Nennius, contains the first datable mention of King Arthur, listing twelve battles that Arthur fought. These culminate in the Battle of Badon, where he is said to have single-handedly killed 960 men. Recent studies, however, question the reliability of the Historia Brittonum.
The other text that seems to support the case for Arthur's historical existence is the 10th-century Annales Cambriae, which also link Arthur with the Battle of Badon. The Annales date this battle to 516–518, and also mention the Battle of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut (Mordred) were both killed, dated to 537–539. These details have often been used to bolster confidence in the Historia's account and to confirm that Arthur really did fight at Badon. Problems have been identified, however, with using this source to support the Historia Brittonum's account. The latest research shows that the Annales Cambriae was based on a chronicle begun in the late 8th century in Wales. Additionally, the complex textual history of the Annales Cambriae precludes any certainty that the Arthurian annals were added to it even that early. They were more likely added at some point in the 10th century and may never have existed in any earlier set of annals. The Badon entry probably derived from the Historia Brittonum.
This lack of convincing early evidence is the reason many recent historians exclude Arthur from their accounts of sub-Roman Britain. In the view of historian Thomas Charles-Edwards, "at this stage of the enquiry, one can only say that there may well have been an historical Arthur [but ...] the historian can as yet say nothing of value about him". These modern admissions of ignorance are a relatively recent trend; earlier generations of historians were less sceptical. The historian John Morris made the putative reign of Arthur the organising principle of his history of sub-Roman Britain and Ireland, The Age of Arthur (1973). Even so, he found little to say about an historical Arthur.
Partly in reaction to such theories, another school of thought emerged which argued that Arthur had no historical existence at all. Morris's Age of Arthur prompted the archaeologist Nowell Myres to observe that "no figure on the borderline of history and mythology has wasted more of the historian's time". Gildas' 6th-century polemic De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae (On the Ruin and Conquest of Britain), written within living memory of Badon, mentions the battle but does not mention Arthur. Arthur is not mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle or named in any surviving manuscript written between 400 and 820. He is absent from Bede's early-8th-century Ecclesiastical History of the English People, another major early source for post-Roman history that mentions Badon. The historian David Dumville has written: "I think we can dispose of him [Arthur] quite briefly. He owes his place in our history books to a 'no smoke without fire' school of thought ... The fact of the matter is that there is no historical evidence about Arthur; we must reject him from our histories and, above all, from the titles of our books."
Some scholars argue that Arthur was originally a fictional hero of folklore—or even a half-forgotten Celtic deity—who became credited with real deeds in the distant past. They cite parallels with figures such as the Kentish Hengist and Horsa, who may be totemic horse-gods that later became historicised. Bede ascribed to these legendary figures a historical role in the 5th-century Anglo-Saxon conquest of eastern Britain. It is not even certain that Arthur was considered a king in the early texts. Neither the Historia nor the Annales calls him "rex": the former calls him instead "dux bellorum" (leader of battles) and "miles" (soldier).
Historical documents for the post-Roman period are scarce, so a definitive answer to the question of Arthur's historical existence is unlikely. Sites and places have been identified as "Arthurian" since the 12th century, but archaeology can confidently reveal names only through inscriptions found in secure contexts. The so-called "Arthur stone", discovered in 1998 among the ruins at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall in securely dated 6th-century contexts, created a brief stir but proved irrelevant. Other inscriptional evidence for Arthur, including the Glastonbury cross, is tainted with the suggestion of forgery. Although several historical figures have been proposed as the basis for Arthur, no convincing evidence for these identifications has emerged.
At the beginning of the short Knighty Knight Bugs, King Arthur discusses with the knights of how his Singing Sword was stolen by the Black Knight (Yosemite Sam). When the knights refuse to go out to retrieve it, due to their fear of the Black Knight and his dragon, Arthur becomes angry at their cowardice, thinking that they are chicken and only dismayed when he sees chicken feathers. Bugs Bunny, the court jester, dances in and remarks that only a fool would go after it. Arthur improves the idea and forces Bugs to go after the sword or else he will be executed (put to the rack, burnt at the stake and beheaded). Bugs then laughs it off but starts crying after realizing that Arthur is serious. Arthur isn't seen again for the rest of the cartoon after this scene.
King Arthur is serious and important ruler of Camelot. He does not appreciate his knights' cowardliness or Bugs Bunny annoying him. Arthur can take remarks seriously from any jesters, and makes them do tasks that they must succeed.
Arthur has fair skin, white hair and mustache, gold crown, red shirt with a gold outline of the inverted triangle, purple pants and shoes.
King Arthur Pendragon is an important figure in English mythology This version of him is featured in the animated series, Animaniacs, voiced by Dave Thomas.
In the beginning of the film, King Arthur refused Ruber's demands for his share of the lands and banishes him from Camelot for attempted assassination. When Sir Lionel died after protecting the king, Arthur breaks the sad news to his family and holds his funeral at their farm. 10 years later, Excalibur is stolen by the Griffin, leaving Arthur seriously injured and having to be in care of Merlin. Kayley needs the help of Garrett, Ayden and Devon and Cornwall to return Excalibur to Arthur before Ruber can find it. This version he is a slender man who has fair skin, blue eyes, light brown hair and short beard, and voiced by Pierce Brosnan. His singing voice is served by Steve Perry.
A 1967 Warner Bros.-Seven Arts film adaptation of the successful 1960 Broadway musical of the same name, in turn heavily based on the last three of T.H.White's quartet of novels. It starred Richard Harris as King Arthur, Vanessa Redgrave as Guinevere, and Franco Nero as Lancelot du Lac.
John Boorman's 1981 Orion/Warner Bros. film Excalibur, based largely on Malory and probably the highest rated serious Arthurian film. It features Nicol Williamson as Merlin and Helen Mirren as Morgan Le Fay.
Arthur relies on his knights, but he becomes unhappy when they chicken out of going on a quest to rescue his Singing Sword.
Bugs Bunny[]
Arthur can sometimes find him annoying, but he is grateful to send Bugs on his task to retrieve the Singing Sword from the Black Knight. Failure to do so and the King will have Bugs put to the rack, burnt at the stake, and beheaded.
Quotes[]
[agreeing with Bugs Bunny's remark] A very good idea, fool. Unless you bring back the Singing Sword, you will be put to the rack, burnt at the stack, and, beheaded!
Gallery[]
Looney Tunes[]
King Arthur in Knighty Knight Bugs.
Quest for Camelot[]
Arthur pulling out Excalibur.
Arthur rebounding Ruber's attack with Excalibur.
Arthur glaring at Ruber after he rebounded the latter with Excalibur.
Arthur giving Lionel's shield to an grieving Julianna
"Sir Lionel, was our most, trusted knight, and also, my dear, dear friend. We will always remember how we bravely upheld the ideals of Camelot."
Arthur, slowly reaching for Excalibur.
Arthur gets seriously injured by the Griffin when it steals Excalibur
Arthur's injured arm being nursed and placed in a sling by his advisor Merlin.
Arthur, at the mercy of Ruber who is using Excalibur to kill him.
The magic wave from the stone heals Arthur's arm.
Arthur stepping out of the castle to the stone.
Arthur drawing Excalibur out of the stone.
Arthur knighting Garrett and Kayley for their bravery and heroic events.
"You have reminded us, that the kingdom's strength is not based on the strength of the king, but the strength of the people."
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