The Origins of King Arthur's Legend

For centuries people have looked for King Arthur and his knights of the round table in history. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place looks at the origin of the legend, which was an almost instantaneous blockbuster sensation after the publication of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “History of the Kings of Britain” in 1136.

[lesteraponte]

I really enjoy these videos. I prefer the ones that have fewer interruptions. That woman really loves to hear herself talk.

[andrewbecker]

This guy is like a real life Daniel Jackson -- his mannerisms, chuckles, and depth of historical knowledge are spot-on.

[AWOL]

Lectures are great, but it’d be nice if the audience members could shut up and save their questions and comments for the end.

[benjammin]

It'd be awesome to have a lecture dedicated to Crusades ... really great lecture again! Thank you

[markanthonycoliinson]

Thank you again John Hamer. I enjoy your lectures very much.

[sicilianeye]

Are we sure the two naked figure aren't Romulus and Remus and not "Adam and Steve"? Especially considering there is a figure of a wolf next to them.

[edwardhanson]

Eleanor of Aquitaine was granddaughter of Guilhem de Peitius, the first recognized troubadour, who was in campaigns in Spain and brought back musicians from Spain.

[helenr]

Geoffrey of Monmouth with a story that went viral. I grew up near Caerleon, S Wales - Isca Silurium legionary fort. The Ampitheatre remains got claimed generations back as the round table site. So the quicky shops try to play off the Arthurian legends, though I was more interested in the Roman stuff - but then the bathhouse complex was being excavated in my childhood.

[sgtNUKEtroop]

an excellent presentation, very well done , ,, I have always found it interesting that Arthur is mentioned in the Poem " The Gododdin ", added to this quote from Lambert de St. Omer who was a Benedictine chronicler and abbot lauded for his great learning, in 1120 "" There is a palace of Arthur the Soldier, in Britain, in the land of the Picts, built with various and wondrous art, in which the deeds of all his acts and wars are seen to be sculpted "" ... makes you wonder, did Arthur come from what we now know as Lowland Scotland and his people were the Gododdin ??? , a good read is " ARTHUR OF THE GODODDIN " , be well all , Michael

[dwaynedeslatte]

John you are THE MAN! Love your lectures

[wasteyelo]

This was excellent. I look forward to the conversations.

[thechatteringmagpie]

a field azure three crowns or is also the arms of East Anglia.

[melenatorr]

The Gorlois story has some parallels to the Alcmene story of the birth of Heracles.

Thank you, as always, for this interesting presentation. Sorry I wasn't able to join live.

[prcessa]

The lecturer is incredible, wish I'd had any like him! And I went to a great NE-elite academic school 🙃

[veronicalogotheti]

Thank you for allowing us to see the lessons

[adamokolicsanyi]

It is very rare that one captivates one's audience he does. Very interesting! Thanks be than to him.

[danremenyi]

Why do you allow so many silly interruptions from your students. Why not have questions and comment at the end?

[purpleslog]

Ambrosius was real. He was a Romano-British leader in the 5th century. He has battle success against non-British invaders (e.g saxons, angles, jutes). He may be the same as (and I’m sure I spelling it wrong) Riothamus who is documented also at the same time. Riothamus might just be a title. Where does Arthur fit in here ? Maybe be a war leader successor to Ambrosius/Riothamus just before the proto-english get the the upper hand and start to ascend. Anyways…this is where I like the Arthurian stories to be placed.

[withoutairwithoutwords]

Fill a buster hilarious great presentation enjoyed it thoroughly thank you

[honoriswithin]

Example of how past stories CAN resonate and apply to later American Revolutionary war and it's heroes are extraordinarily relevant today. Big brains can do better but never really do and this presentation is a good example.