From Troy to Camelot: The Classical Origins of King Arthur
Explore how the Historia Brittonum and classical literature shaped the legends of King Arthur, from Trojan ancestry to medieval political identity in Wales and beyond.
New Medieval Books: Realms of the Round Table
This collection retells thirty stories from Arthurian literature, drawn from lesser-known medieval sources that reveal the rich and varied legacy of the Arthurian legend.
The Sword in the Stone and Other Legendary Blades of the Middle Ages
Explore medieval swords like Excalibur, Joyeuse, and Durendal, where legend, miracle, and history meet in tales of power and mystery.
Medieval Merlin Manuscript Fragment Revealed Through Digital Unfolding
A rare 13th-century manuscript fragment of Merlin and King Arthur has been rediscovered in a 16th-century book binding at Cambridge University Library and digitally revealed using advanced imaging techniques.
The Phantom Book That Changed the Course of British History
Was England’s medieval history shaped by a book that never existed? Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae claims to be based on a lost Breton manuscript—but no one has ever found it, leaving historians to debate whether it was real or a masterful invention.
Sir Moriaen: The Black Knight of Arthurian Legend
Discover the tale of Sir Moriaen, the bold Black knight who defied medieval stereotypes and earned his place among King Arthur’s greatest heroes.
Visualizing Camelot: How King Arthur Captured Popular Culture
The recent exhibit Visualizing Camelot examined the enduring influence of King Arthur and his legendary court. What lessons does it offer about how medieval legends continue to shape art, culture, and imagination today?
The 7 Rules You Need to Follow to Survive a Medieval Fairy Tale
Think you’d survive a medieval fairy tale? Discover the seven unbreakable rules that determined who thrived—and who perished—in tales filled with magic, monsters, and moral twists.
Top 50 Masterpieces of Medieval Literature
Unlock the rich and diverse world of medieval literature with our list of 50 masterpieces. From epic tales of heroism to timeless romances and spiritual writings, these works from the Middle Ages have shaped cultures and influenced storytelling traditions for centuries.
Uncovering Merlin’s Scottish Legacy: New Archaeological Findings at Drumelzier
Excavations at Tinnis Fort, which overlooks Merlin’s Grave, revealed that this prominent hillfort was occupied around the late sixth and early seventh centuries AD.
Unraveling the Legend: Did Medieval People Believe in King Arthur?
If you’ve ever had your doubts that King Arthur was a real, living, breathing human being at some point, you’re not alone.
Medieval Arthurian Literature with Kathy Cawsey and Elizabeth Edwards
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Kathy Cawsey and Elizabeth Edwards about the changing face of Arthur, the way his legend spread across the medieval world, and the ways in which storytellers adopted – and adapted – his myth.
Introducing Chrétien de Troyes
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle introduces Chrétien de Troyes, a thirteenth-century master of Arthurian literature and one of the most influential writers of all time.
New Medieval Books: Tales of Merlin, Arthur, and the Magic Arts
Tales of Merlin, Arthur, and the Magic Arts: From the Welsh Chronicle of the Six Ages of the World By Elis Gruffydd, translated…
King Arthur’s Lovers
Arthur himself is not quite so chaste and honourable as popular culture tends to imagine. He too takes several lovers, and he acts rather terribly in his affairs.
From Monmouth to Malory: A Guide to Arthurian Literature
Here are ten important steps in the development of medieval Arthurian literature.
The Magical Kings of Medieval England
While magic and historical figures seem like polar opposites to many today, in the Middle Ages, they were frequently connected. Medieval historical records even contain several accounts of former kings who used magic in their reigns: one king magically constructed hot baths, while the other used magic to build a bridge over the English Channel.
Ghosts in Medieval Literature
Looking to get into the Halloween spirit? Check out a few of the ghosts that the medieval literary world has to offer.
Manuscript fragments of the Merlin legend now published
Their collaborative research and findings, which include a full transcription and translation into English of the text, have been brought together in a new book called The Bristol Merlin: Revealing the Secrets of a Medieval Fragment
Before Arthur and the Round Table: The Knights of Franc Palais
The Knights of Franc Palais have their roots in the fourteenth-century Le Roman de Perceforest, a massive prose romance that recounts the rise and fall of a legendary dynasty in pre-Arthurian Britain.
In Search of the Once and Future King: A Continuing Quest
In our final entry, we examine the case for Arthur’s historicity as well as the pertinacious campaign waged by scholars, amateur historians and enthusiasts to discover the real Arthur.
What are Merlin’s Prophecies?
A look at Merlin and his prophecies, which anticipated many of the events that would happen over the course of England’s history.
In Search of the Once and Future King: A Constructed Authenticity
Trying to give the Arthurian legends greater credence and authenticity by locating them in a more accurate historical context.
In Search of the Once and Future King: In Glorious Technicolour
How the story of King Arthur gets told during Hollywood’s Golden Age – the 1950s and 60s.
