King Arthur
legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries For other uses, see King Arthur (disambiguation). "Arthur Pendragon" redirects here. For other uses, see Arthur Pendragon (disambiguation). Tapestry showing Arthur as one of the Nine Worthies, wearing a coat of arms often attributed to him [1] (c. 1385 ) King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians. [2] The sparse historical background of Arthur is gleaned from various sources, including the Annales Cambriae , the Historia Brittonum , and the writings of Gildas. Arthur's name also occurs in early poetic sources such as Y Gododdin . [3] Arthur is a central figure in the legends making up the M