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Speaking of Dating and Monty Python & The Holy Grail, the reason that in the opening scene it says England 932 AD is because Terry Jones was a medievalist nerd like us, and in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the entry for that year is something along the lines of "Nothing of importance happened this year."
If you ignore Keira Knightley and her bikini made out of braided leather belts (which is really hard) it wasn't a terrible film. Well, comparatively, at least. As much as I love Sean Connery the movie First Knight was the crap of legends.
The thing about folk tales is that they deal in archetypes. It's possible that 'Arthur' became a shorthand term for a variety of real and fictional early medieval Brythonic warriors and rulers, in the same way that 'Robin Hood' became a generic term for outlaws in England, and a variety of stories eventually got attached to the name. It's really easy to understand how this happens when you think about it. Imagine a bunch of early medieval Welsh kids being entertained by their mother and asking for another story about Arthur because they liked the last one, but she doesn't know any, so she just tells them one she knows about Ambrosius instead, but changes the name to keep them happy. They might go on to tell others the story with Arthur's name attached to it. This also explains why roles, time periods and titles can all get rolled together and mixed up.
As far as I can work out the same sort of thing happened with Ragnar of Norse legend. It seems like if a poet was telling the tale of a great warrior or leader but may have forgotten who that was they could well have put Ragnar in their place and thus he became a Norse equivalent of Hercules in a way
It seems to me that the kernel of the myth of Arthur would be the King of the Catuvellauni who fought against Roman invaders for 9 years and was taken off alive to a country known for its large sweet apples (Italy) after being betrayed by a queen who dropped her husband (a different bloke) for a shieldbearer. Caractacus/Caratacus/Caratauc/Caratacos/Caradog/Caratoc was the son of a man who had been called King of the Britons after successfully oppressing many of his neighbours. Caradoc had ruled from Camulodunum, close enough to Camelot, surely? I wrote a long article about this on my blog _Some Bad Photos of Plants._ There are many interesting parallels, including the weird one from Geoffrey of Monmouth where Arthur invaded the Roman Empire and overthrew Emperor Lucius Tiberius to become Emperor himself. So, about 500 to 800 years earlier than most people think.
This is why legends, myths, and folklore is so delicious. The best part of it is the retelling centuries later with it without the proper truth. Ugh. I love stories.
🤔 "You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you" Thanks so much for the Monty Python... a more dignified reply to come, or could be something completely different.
Jimmys catchphrase is "We don't know" and I like that. History is not easily defined and that is important to remember. I am so exited for the Arthur-outfit based on Bernadettes picture!
I taught high school history and kids hated when I'd say that (though it was usually something additional they asked about, not core material) "Most or best evidence in the primary sources says ______" "We don't have reliable evidence for that in the primary sources we have, but it can't be definitely ruled out"
"Real Arthur" research as a teen got me super into post-Roman Britain, and reading translations of Bede, Gildas, Nennius, Aneirin, etc online in the late 90's when finding that kind of material was so hard... This is a big YES on more regarding the topic. If this could include at least a partial recitation of Y Goddoddin that'd be fab. I know it's only tangential but...
same here. i know that their accuracy has been questioned over the years since but John Morris' "The Age Of Arthur" books blew my mind at the time & are still some of my favorites .. he also published his sources as English translations : Gildas, Nennius & St. Patrick .. which was like the icing on the cake. Also had a great book called "A Celtic Quest" by John Layard which was described as an in-depth psychology study of The Mabinogion legend of Culhwch & Olwen. Ah happy days! He did mention Y Goddoddin in regards to the battle of Catraeth & the stories of The Spartans i think but i agree - a whole video on it would be great: "Men went to Catraeth at morn, Their high spirits lessened their life-span, They drank mead, gold and sweet, ensnaring; For a year the minstrels were merry. Red their swords, let the blades remain uncleansed, white shields and four-sided spearheads, Before Mynyddog Mwynfawr's men! :)
I would suggest most of the myth of Arthur was based on a nucleus of the true history of Caradoc, King of the Catuvellauni who ruled from Camulodunum - the best candidate for Camelot. He fought against Roman invaders for 9 years and was taken off alive to a country known for its large sweet apples (Italy) after being betrayed by a queen who dropped her husband (a different bloke) for a shieldbearer. If you are really obsesssive you might like my long and in-depth article on my blog _Some Bad Photos of Plants._
I'm glad you addressed the fact that a historical Arthur would by no means be the "great English king" that he's been co-opted into. I've always found that to give off a whiff of colonizer revisionism...
I feel like there needs to be a series "Jimmy Subjects Himself To [Film]", which should start with the appalling dreck starring Clive Owens as Arthur and Ioan Gruffydd as Lancelot that claims to be "the real story of Arthur as Dux Bellorum". Please? I promise I'll donate enough for several pots worth of coffee to get you through it.
Did I expect any BBC Merlin references in this video? No. Am I so happy to have seen them? Ohhhhh goodness me oh my, am I ever glad to have 'em come across this screen XD
it is so comforting to be in the dress history bubble. a bunch of nerds all over the world knowing eachother and nerding out about what people wore in the past... and more. and the pendantry. love the pendantry. because usually I'm being told not to be pedantic... but in the dress history bubble being pedantic is part of the game and it doesn't ruin anything. you can say that a detail is not accurate and still enjoy the thing. but it feels so much better to say THAT the detail is not accurate because it isn't. to fully acknowledge what IS always makes me feel better.
Where does the drawing a sword from a stone Arthur business come from? Is it a bronze age tale sewn into the larger legend? I hope you look into the Arthur legend again. Making garb from Bernadette's drawing would be awesome.
It does seem to be a reference to bronze sword smithing (or specifically, casting). Drawing the sword from the stone could quite easily be literally taking the cast sword from the stone mold.
@@rubeniscool Spot on! And, if you consider the process for mining the metals, you are literally taking the sword from the stone as you mine the raw materials.
Probably bronze casting. Metal smithing at the time was a magical/god(s) given skill. So a man who is not a smith being able to break open a stone would have definitely been important. Could also have been buried in a stone tomb of some kind. Like a kist.
I remember reading a factual book many years ago that mentioned that some celtic warriors stuck their swords in the earth and then sang and danced for them as a ritual - possibly something to do with becoming a warrior? I have not been able to find any mention in published research on the internet and that was over forty years ago, so take all that with a pinch of salt.
I know that a lot of what we think of as "Arthurian legend" stuff is made up out of whole cloth, but after watching this video I have the feeling someone could do a very interesting movie that shows your sub-Roman generalissimo doing his thing, and there are just semi-random bits and pieces of his life that will later get expanded upon all out of proportion to become the legend we all know and, arguably, love. Get on it, Hollywood!
I want Hollywood to do the version where King Caradoc of the Catuvellauni fights Emperor Claudius for nine years and highlight all the parallels to the Arthur myth. Then have Derek Jacobi reprise Emperor Claudius as an old man, impressed by Caradoc's eloquence. Very soon, please.
So happy to find someone else unimpressed by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Chretien de Troyes also massively ticks me off when it comes to Arthur stuff. Lovely to hear all the names being pronounced properly.
DO IT. DO THE ARTHUR RECREATION. That will be really cool. I love hearing about the real history, as well as appreciating the literary history. It's very cool to see how a certain set of legends and ideas are consistently being recreated by new generations as symbols for what they need. But it's equally as awesome to track back who they really were and find out the truth as nearly as we can tell. We do have to hand it to Geoffrey of Monmouth. His fanfic really caught on. 😂
'Always a pleasure; never a chore' is exactly how I'd describe this channel. And yes, more hystorical Arthur and company. I like it when folk describe Troyes and Monmouth as 'fanfic writers.' They so were.
I remember reading a choose your own adventure book when I was little where you end up at the court of Arthur, one of your choices is to recite a poem about Arthur which goes horribly wrong when you name Arthur, the king of England and therefore you are praising some leader of the hated Angles
This is not at all the point of the video, but I did so enjoy hearing all the Welsh names and places, and knowing it was said properly. More Welsh videos!
Yes, more real Arthur thoughts please, very fascinating! ❤ Also, yes to cosplay Bernadette's art of proper Arthur that you guided!! As much as the fanciful Arthur is enjoyable (I loved the inclusion in the cartoon series Gargoyles), the actual nonbiased historical info is more enjoyable. The little tidbits that morphed into a legendary fictional figure.
In the Merlin TV show the druids' name for Merlin is Emrys. It's also a great show, anachronisms aside. I tend to treat most Arthurian legends more like fantasy than historical tales, that way it bothers me less when they get things wrong.
@@arwenrosefall8081 Bernadette Banner. She does mostly late Victorian and Edwardian costuming here on UA-cam, and is one of those people in the hobby who do thorough research. :-)
Have you read Sword at sunset? It's a really amazing arthurian novel that puts it back in the late fifth century and really explores arthur as a person over his years as a warlord and as a king. It's really amazing and definitely worth the read!!
All of Rosemary Sutcliff's books about this time period are worth the time. It seems to me, she was always writing about loss and change and what remains. I believe the Sword at Sunset is a sequel to The Lantern Bearers though each can be read alone. I was thinking as I listened today, of all the different Arthurs as not just being propaganda but attempts to belong to something and attempts to explain how 'we' ended up as we are
Excellent. I remember researching origin stories many years ago, including one college course on Medieval English. Go as deeply as you wish. Pronounce names correctly--unlike what I learned in Texas. Yes, show us Bernadette's Arthur. I reserve the right to love a few works based on later versions, not confusing them with history. The Once And Future King showed T H White's sincere love of the High Middle Ages rather than any Real Arthur. He admitted it. After all, you have affection for Monty Python's version...
Would it be shallow to lead with, I like the haircut? Having already been shallow, I shall go on to observe that you are delightful because you actually address little knots of history that are not easily disentangled. Thank you. Perhaps you might more fully explain how one became a king? There seem to be a large number of them all at the same time.
I am so interested in our Welsh history/mythology. I recently did the walk Dinas Emrys in North Wales and (even though it was in the harshest rain weather ever) it was beautiful. Fascinating the ruins of the castle forts walls of Vortigen reign remains after all this time from 6th century. And I love how there is a story linked to the castle; the walls falling down because of two dragons fighting beneath it. Understandably just myth but I love it all the same 🥰 Would love another Arthur video ❤️
Diolch yn fawr for this great video. I for one would love to see more Arthur-related content, especially given your knowledge of archaeology and Early-Medieval History. Out of curiosity, have you ever seen any episodes of "Kaamelott", which is a French comedy series based on the arthurian legends? It's no documentary, obviously, but it is one of the few adaptations that at least attempts to recreate a Post-Roman setting, as opposed to the more frequent and incorrect High Medieval one. Either way, Arthur was a Briton, not English and in fact it's quite irritating as a Welsh person so see much of world think of him as a purely English cultural product. Also, if you don't mind my suggesting, perhaps an interesting video idea could be to cover the current historical and archaeological theories as to how the part of the island now known as England went from a mostly brythonnic culture to a mostly Anglo-Saxon one? As someone with very little knowledge of the period, I am aware that there are different ideas on the subject, ranging from outright conquest to a more nuanced "top-down" change through the elites along with a degree of peaceful co-existence (probably a mix of all of these). Either way, thanks again and looking forward to seeing the Bernadette Arthur brought to life! Also, Gwynedd is great but Powys is pretty cool too (hides behind Offa's Dyke to keep safe from Gwynedd rage)!
You touched the subject, now i'm gonna go full berserker here. About Arthur: 1. Yes, I also believe he is a historical character, not fiction as some scholars want to display in modern times. 2. I think the Battle of Camlann was made as an explanation of the famines that were happening around the globe, and Arthur's death was a way to answer the question of: Why is the land suffering with plagues and hunger? 3. Could Riothamus and Ambrosius Aurelianus be the same person, or different individuals? 4. You think Vortigern is a ficticious character, or the memory of an actual "Tyrant" king in early medieval Brittain? 5. Some say Gildas did not mentioned Arthur in his writtings because he was angry that Arthur killed his brother. Don't know how accurate of real that can be.
Fun fact: When I see a video on my feed that looks interesting but is from a channel I don't recognize, I'll watch it in a private window so it doesn't mess up my recommendations if I decide I don't like it. This video - I got 30 seconds in and said "nope, I'm watching this". One video and I'm subscribed! Keep up the amazing videos!
Sounds a lot like my response to “Do you believe in Jesus?” Of course I believe in Jesus, the human guy, wandering around on earth talking to people about being kind.
I love that painting Bernadette did of Arthur!! I bought it a few months ago when she was auctioning it off for Team Seas and it's my most prized possession!
Come for the fascinating history (via Bernadette’s channel); stay for the odd bits of Welsh (which I started learning this year). Diolch! And definitely yes to more Arthur. Reading various versions of the Arthurian legends was my passion from age 12 until my mid-20s.
Well, I read very many theories about Artus (as he is called in German). The most convincing I ever read was that he was a hired sword from "France", with a Roman or Latin background. He then became famous due to his leadership and martial skills. So, basically something very similar to what you presented. Interestingly I saw a video a few days ago from an appaerently famous British historian who claims that the Saxon Invasion never took place ( a theory I am strictly against, since my ancestors were Saxons and can be traced back to the 8th century. Id like to believe that some ancient relative did take a little trip to "England". You know, for meeting new people and have some nice large fires in their villages). His reasoning: we have found no battlefield remains, therefore there was no battle. What do you think about it? Ah yes: I would love to see some pictures from your Arthur-Reenactment. It sounds like an awesome idea.
Well done. I remember reading a book years ago - cannot remember the authors or title - which put forth the theory that Arthur was a Welsh war chief. As I recall, it was rather a convincing work (for me, anyway).
First! I love the way you say Arthur - I always appreciate your naming the Welsh way - but especially when the name is so 'known' and I've just accepted it - it took me a little while to realise you were saying Arthur - just differently. It's very pleasing to my ear. Second! Do you now how long it took to get through this video? Because my attention kept slipping and I realised it was because none of this had any context for me and it was just a bunch of names being said. Same thing happened when I saw The King and then had to spend a week google searching English-British monarchs going back to about 1100-ish and working up to figure out where that character fell in all that. I only do that when something interests me and I realise I need more background to really understand - so it was google search 'who were the anglo-saxons in 500ad' then 'where and when was the battle of Badon' then click on Nennius and Gildas and the Bede fellow - then you mention the wonderful Bernadette Banner and a video which I'd missed - so I had to go watch that. See, your videos are so interesting I'm willing to do homework to understand what's going on - keep up the good work!
That would explain the Mabinogion to me too - I always equated Arthur from those tales but if it's written somewhere in 12th to 13th century, then it's off again for a historical Arthur
I'm super excited for this, especially you recreating the drawing Banner did. It's hard to find visual representations of what clothing, armor, and weapons looked like in the late Roman and post-Roman period of Britain. I've been on various museum websites recently trying to do research. Everything seems to want to skip from Boudica to the Saxons.
Yes, I do want to see this reenactment outfit, but what I *really* want to see now is Jimmy's live commentary while watching Monty Python's Holy Grail.
My favourite novel about Arthur, which is set in the late 5th/early 6th centuries, is Rosemary Sutcliffe's Sword at Sunset. I also used to like the British TV series that came out in the early 70s called Arthur of the Britons.
@@pattheplanter i think Arthur was his own thing and if I was to specify a specific person it wouldn't be strong since there's a plethora of candidates from Emrys to Artious
@@evandxvies Kng Caradoc of the Catuvellauni fought against Emperor Claudius in the Roman invasion of Britain. He was taken off alive to a country known for its large sweet apples (Italy) after being betrayed by a queen who dropped her husband (a different bloke in this case) for a shieldbearer. Caractacus/Caratacus/Caratauc/Caratacos/Caradog/Caratoc was the son of a man who had been called King of the Britons after successfully oppressing many of his neighbours. Caradoc had ruled from Camulodunum, close enough to Camelot, surely? I wrote an overlong article about this on my blog Some Bad Photos of Plants. There are many interesting parallels, including the weird one from Geoffrey of Monmouth where Arthur invaded the Roman Empire and overthrew Emperor Lucius Tiberius to become Emperor himself.
I just love how passionate you are about Welsh history. Would be nice to have some more videos on its mythology and legends or historical figures . Also the whole reenactment videos really make me want to go and check out some events! Keep up the great content 😊
Jimmy, THANK YOU for your videos about Wales! I'm fascinated with the amazing Welsh history and language, as well as most things related to the CELTS: languages, history. I've never been that interested in the Vikings for some reason. Your video on Arthur was revealing and groundbreaking. Please continue adding content about Wales, por favorcito! Also, Why have filmmakers not created epic saga films about Llywelyn Fawr, and other important Welsh figures and periods?! Hello!
I am in the Arthur is a Welshman camp during the Romano Britian time frame. I believe I saw a map that shows Wales as Brittania Secundus. So he could have been in charge of that area and it was later misunderstood.
Wrong end of Roman Britain for me. I think the myth was based on King Caradog of the Catuvellauni. By think, I mean wrote a massive article on it that all of a hundred people have glanced on the internet.
I could be completely off the mark here and I happily admit that I don't have any evidence to back this up, but looking at the map of the battles Arthur was supposed to have fought in, could he have possibly been a mercenary leader or "soldier for hire"? It just seems that he was fighting all over the place and maybe he was actually fighting for/with many different chieftans or kings? Thanks for another fabulous, thought provoking episode.
I'm totally game for a discussion of when Arthur would've lived if he'd been real. Anything that delves into post-Roman/early Anglo-Saxon Britain meets my interests, so bring it on!
When I was younger I went through a stage of reading and researching the "real" king Arthur - but then I realised - That way lays madness.......... Just enjoy the legends - from the original Welsh poems to Chrétien de Troyes to Malory etc and the ONLY 2 (there I said it - there are only 2 good King Arthur films) films worth watching (Excalibur and MP and the Holy Grail) - just enjoy them and accept - short of an epic Sutton Hoo/Rosetta Stone level discovery that says otherwise- we are unlikely to ever know for sure...
If I can tempt you to a little more madness, I argue that the kernel of the Arthur myth was Kng Caradoc of the Catuvellauni who fought against Emperor Claudius in the Roman invasion of Britain. He was taken off alive to a country known for its large sweet apples (Italy) after being betrayed by a queen who dropped her husband (a different bloke) for a shieldbearer. Caractacus/Caratacus/Caratauc/Caratacos/Caradog/Caratoc was the son of a man who had been called King of the Britons after successfully oppressing many of his neighbours. Caradoc had ruled from Camulodunum, close enough to Camelot, surely? I wrote an overlong article about this on my blog _Some Bad Photos of Plants._ There are many interesting parallels, including the weird one from Geoffrey of Monmouth where Arthur invaded the Roman Empire and overthrew Emperor Lucius Tiberius to become Emperor himself.
@@pattheplanter Yeah sure but I can give you at least half a dozen others who fit the bill in similar ways. That's what I mean but this way lies madness.... He seems much more like a hybrid character... same as Robin Hood. You fall in to the same hole with Robin Hood... Today we have figures we know to be fictional - like Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, even Tarzan - yet all can be traced to multiple real life influences...
@@deanmaynard8256 Go on then, I am agog to hear these six other characters from before 600 AD whose stories have so many parallels to Arthur. What are these six Camelots, I wonder?
@@pattheplanter I would have to look some of them up- As I said I was in to this long ago but from memory here are just a few - Lucius Artorius Castus. Riothamus, Owain Danwyn and/or his father Cuneglasus, a later Arthur from the Dál Riata (and yes I do Include Caractacus in the gang) etc etc... and BTW this is done if you are going to use this retched condescending language so do not bother replying as I wont.
@@deanmaynard8256 I am sorry you read that as condescending. That was not my intent. I fielded a British King who lived in Camelot and fought a 9 year defense against invaders. You fielded some footnotes from history.
I became interested in the Arthur legend while reading a series of novels by Mary Stewart. The first novel is called "The Chrystal Cave" and the series focuses on Merlin. Mary uses the old sources to create a plausible story, and provides a heap of footnotes to her sources and way of thinking. While the story is capturing and good reading, those notes were what really got me!
I AM *READY* FOR THIS
CAN NOT WAIT!
Happy to see you here, good luck!
"but please don't click away because... I'm poor."
Me: time to write a comment for those algorithm Gods.
"Oh mighty UA-cam, please bless our favorite creators on this your strongest of wifi days, may they be showered with likes and may their videos be plentiful in your recommended tab. Amen"
"So let it be written. So let it be done."
A humble token of a reply is offered.
Speaking of Dating and Monty Python & The Holy Grail, the reason that in the opening scene it says England 932 AD is because Terry Jones was a medievalist nerd like us, and in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the entry for that year is something along the lines of "Nothing of importance happened this year."
That's brilliant!!
I yearn for a year like that!
Had no idea! So glad to know this now!
@@carrielovesfanta I don't think we've had one since the 1980s.
Wow, that's awesome
Thank you for making me feel zero guilt when I watch King Arthur 2004 for the millionth time. 😂
Good movie
YES. But also, I'd watch it anyway because of the actors they cast...
Literally I was going to mention this one
If you ignore Keira Knightley and her bikini made out of braided leather belts (which is really hard) it wasn't a terrible film. Well, comparatively, at least. As much as I love Sean Connery the movie First Knight was the crap of legends.
I watched it yesterday!!!💗💗💗 Ioan Gruffudd, Mads Mikkelsen and Clive Owen are hunks!!
The thing about folk tales is that they deal in archetypes. It's possible that 'Arthur' became a shorthand term for a variety of real and fictional early medieval Brythonic warriors and rulers, in the same way that 'Robin Hood' became a generic term for outlaws in England, and a variety of stories eventually got attached to the name. It's really easy to understand how this happens when you think about it. Imagine a bunch of early medieval Welsh kids being entertained by their mother and asking for another story about Arthur because they liked the last one, but she doesn't know any, so she just tells them one she knows about Ambrosius instead, but changes the name to keep them happy. They might go on to tell others the story with Arthur's name attached to it. This also explains why roles, time periods and titles can all get rolled together and mixed up.
As far as I can work out the same sort of thing happened with Ragnar of Norse legend. It seems like if a poet was telling the tale of a great warrior or leader but may have forgotten who that was they could well have put Ragnar in their place and thus he became a Norse equivalent of Hercules in a way
I was thinking this in the video but you put it into such clear words that I could have never explained it any better.
It seems to me that the kernel of the myth of Arthur would be the King of the Catuvellauni who fought against Roman invaders for 9 years and was taken off alive to a country known for its large sweet apples (Italy) after being betrayed by a queen who dropped her husband (a different bloke) for a shieldbearer. Caractacus/Caratacus/Caratauc/Caratacos/Caradog/Caratoc was the son of a man who had been called King of the Britons after successfully oppressing many of his neighbours. Caradoc had ruled from Camulodunum, close enough to Camelot, surely? I wrote a long article about this on my blog _Some Bad Photos of Plants._ There are many interesting parallels, including the weird one from Geoffrey of Monmouth where Arthur invaded the Roman Empire and overthrew Emperor Lucius Tiberius to become Emperor himself.
So, about 500 to 800 years earlier than most people think.
This is why legends, myths, and folklore is so delicious. The best part of it is the retelling centuries later with it without the proper truth. Ugh. I love stories.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail was a DOCUMENTARY of the highest level of research and accuracy!
haha 😂haha good one 😂
I love the idea that Arthur’s round table was actually a camp fire where they’d sit and make battle plans and tell stories.
Jimmy says “…he must’ve been a king, then.”
My brain, reflexively: “So, he didn’t have shit all over him.”
Probably had excellent curtains too.
🤔 "You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you"
Thanks so much for the Monty Python... a more dignified reply to come, or could be something completely different.
Absolute YES for recreating Bernadette's Arthur. We want to see you in the whole (proper) Arthurian glory!
Yes, I'm super excited to see it!
Jimmys catchphrase is "We don't know" and I like that. History is not easily defined and that is important to remember.
I am so exited for the Arthur-outfit based on Bernadettes picture!
Don't forget the other historical catch phrase, "well it depends on..."
I taught high school history and kids hated when I'd say that (though it was usually something additional they asked about, not core material)
"Most or best evidence in the primary sources says ______"
"We don't have reliable evidence for that in the primary sources we have, but it can't be definitely ruled out"
Been listening to the Horns Of Odin podcast, and Dr Matthias Nordvig's catchphrase is "well... it's complicated."
The post credits rant is the icing on the cake hahahahah
7:09 Now that’s a good insult! A ducks bellen… oh sorry, yes a war chief, that’s what I thought.
😂
"Real Arthur" research as a teen got me super into post-Roman Britain, and reading translations of Bede, Gildas, Nennius, Aneirin, etc online in the late 90's when finding that kind of material was so hard... This is a big YES on more regarding the topic. If this could include at least a partial recitation of Y Goddoddin that'd be fab. I know it's only tangential but...
nice!
same here. i know that their accuracy has been questioned over the years since but John Morris' "The Age Of Arthur" books blew my mind at the time & are still some of my favorites .. he also published his sources as English translations : Gildas, Nennius & St. Patrick .. which was like the icing on the cake. Also had a great book called "A Celtic Quest" by John Layard which was described as an in-depth psychology study of The Mabinogion legend of Culhwch & Olwen. Ah happy days! He did mention Y Goddoddin in regards to the battle of Catraeth & the stories of The Spartans i think but i agree - a whole video on it would be great:
"Men went to Catraeth at morn,
Their high spirits lessened their life-span,
They drank mead, gold and sweet, ensnaring;
For a year the minstrels were merry.
Red their swords, let the blades remain uncleansed,
white shields and four-sided spearheads,
Before Mynyddog Mwynfawr's men! :)
I would suggest most of the myth of Arthur was based on a nucleus of the true history of Caradoc, King of the Catuvellauni who ruled from Camulodunum - the best candidate for Camelot. He fought against Roman invaders for 9 years and was taken off alive to a country known for its large sweet apples (Italy) after being betrayed by a queen who dropped her husband (a different bloke) for a shieldbearer. If you are really obsesssive you might like my long and in-depth article on my blog _Some Bad Photos of Plants._
Gotta do a Gododdin series at some point, I grew up on it! Thanks so much for sharing this as well :)
They probably needed a dux bellorum to get any decisions made with several kings scoring of each other!
Yes to more of this series! And yaaaaaaaaas to bringing Bernadette’s artwork to life!!
I'm glad you addressed the fact that a historical Arthur would by no means be the "great English king" that he's been co-opted into. I've always found that to give off a whiff of colonizer revisionism...
I love Arthurian legends. I do have a soft spot for Merlin-lore also. Will Merlin be included in your Arthur series?
I agree, next time should be abt earliest Merlin mentions.
I feel like there needs to be a series "Jimmy Subjects Himself To [Film]", which should start with the appalling dreck starring Clive Owens as Arthur and Ioan Gruffydd as Lancelot that claims to be "the real story of Arthur as Dux Bellorum".
Please? I promise I'll donate enough for several pots worth of coffee to get you through it.
Ehhhh, I don't think it was dreck. Or appalling. (or historical)
I also don't claim to have high standards in movies. So there's that.
Should add playing Tomb Raider Legend and Underworld to that list, Arthurian and Norse!
Didn't Mads Mikkelsen have a ming dynasty liuyedao?
Did I expect any BBC Merlin references in this video? No. Am I so happy to have seen them? Ohhhhh goodness me oh my, am I ever glad to have 'em come across this screen XD
Honestly, this Arthur is so much more interesting. More please!
it is so comforting to be in the dress history bubble. a bunch of nerds all over the world knowing eachother and nerding out about what people wore in the past... and more. and the pendantry. love the pendantry. because usually I'm being told not to be pedantic... but in the dress history bubble being pedantic is part of the game and it doesn't ruin anything. you can say that a detail is not accurate and still enjoy the thing. but it feels so much better to say THAT the detail is not accurate because it isn't. to fully acknowledge what IS always makes me feel better.
Where does the drawing a sword from a stone Arthur business come from? Is it a bronze age tale sewn into the larger legend? I hope you look into the Arthur legend again.
Making garb from Bernadette's drawing would be awesome.
It does seem to be a reference to bronze sword smithing (or specifically, casting). Drawing the sword from the stone could quite easily be literally taking the cast sword from the stone mold.
@@rubeniscool Spot on! And, if you consider the process for mining the metals, you are literally taking the sword from the stone as you mine the raw materials.
@@rubeniscool That's what I've always thought - that it's a metaphor for that or something similar.
Probably bronze casting. Metal smithing at the time was a magical/god(s) given skill. So a man who is not a smith being able to break open a stone would have definitely been important.
Could also have been buried in a stone tomb of some kind. Like a kist.
I remember reading a factual book many years ago that mentioned that some celtic warriors stuck their swords in the earth and then sang and danced for them as a ritual - possibly something to do with becoming a warrior? I have not been able to find any mention in published research on the internet and that was over forty years ago, so take all that with a pinch of salt.
I know that a lot of what we think of as "Arthurian legend" stuff is made up out of whole cloth, but after watching this video I have the feeling someone could do a very interesting movie that shows your sub-Roman generalissimo doing his thing, and there are just semi-random bits and pieces of his life that will later get expanded upon all out of proportion to become the legend we all know and, arguably, love.
Get on it, Hollywood!
The problem is that they already got on it and it was awful...
Yeah, I'd watch that!
@@beth12svist Maybe if the director (or screenwriter) who made that story *wasn't* a racist homophobe??
@@CapriUni I think basically my point was that I'd prefer it done not quite by Hollywood. :D
I want Hollywood to do the version where King Caradoc of the Catuvellauni fights Emperor Claudius for nine years and highlight all the parallels to the Arthur myth. Then have Derek Jacobi reprise Emperor Claudius as an old man, impressed by Caradoc's eloquence. Very soon, please.
You impression of a late Roman/ Sub-Roman Arthur is going to be epic.
So happy to find someone else unimpressed by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Chretien de Troyes also massively ticks me off when it comes to Arthur stuff. Lovely to hear all the names being pronounced properly.
DO IT. DO THE ARTHUR RECREATION. That will be really cool.
I love hearing about the real history, as well as appreciating the literary history. It's very cool to see how a certain set of legends and ideas are consistently being recreated by new generations as symbols for what they need. But it's equally as awesome to track back who they really were and find out the truth as nearly as we can tell.
We do have to hand it to Geoffrey of Monmouth. His fanfic really caught on. 😂
'Always a pleasure; never a chore' is exactly how I'd describe this channel. And yes, more hystorical Arthur and company. I like it when folk describe Troyes and Monmouth as 'fanfic writers.' They so were.
I remember reading a choose your own adventure book when I was little where you end up at the court of Arthur, one of your choices is to recite a poem about Arthur which goes horribly wrong when you name Arthur, the king of England and therefore you are praising some leader of the hated Angles
As a huge fan of Arthurian myth I would love for you to do a video just saying all of their names in Welsh..it would be amazing!
This is not at all the point of the video, but I did so enjoy hearing all the Welsh names and places, and knowing it was said properly. More Welsh videos!
I was about to post a comment saying the same! It is a delight to hear the proper pronunciations roll off his tongue.
Yes, more real Arthur thoughts please, very fascinating! ❤ Also, yes to cosplay Bernadette's art of proper Arthur that you guided!! As much as the fanciful Arthur is enjoyable (I loved the inclusion in the cartoon series Gargoyles), the actual nonbiased historical info is more enjoyable. The little tidbits that morphed into a legendary fictional figure.
In the Merlin TV show the druids' name for Merlin is Emrys. It's also a great show, anachronisms aside. I tend to treat most Arthurian legends more like fantasy than historical tales, that way it bothers me less when they get things wrong.
I found you through Bernadette and am thoroughly enjoying learning more about history via your channel. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Same here. :-)
Who is Bernadette?
@@arwenrosefall8081 Bernadette Banner. She does mostly late Victorian and Edwardian costuming here on UA-cam, and is one of those people in the hobby who do thorough research. :-)
Lmaoooooo that face is EXACTLY how I felt when I noticed the knitted chain mail as a kid
Have you read Sword at sunset? It's a really amazing arthurian novel that puts it back in the late fifth century and really explores arthur as a person over his years as a warlord and as a king. It's really amazing and definitely worth the read!!
All of Rosemary Sutcliff's books about this time period are worth the time. It seems to me, she was always writing about loss and change and what remains. I believe the Sword at Sunset is a sequel to The Lantern Bearers though each can be read alone.
I was thinking as I listened today, of all the different Arthurs as not just being propaganda but attempts to belong to something and attempts to explain how 'we' ended up as we are
If you want a good laugh at dodgy wigs try watching the 70's childrens series Arthur of the Britons. I remember it with great fondness.
Excellent. I remember researching origin stories many years ago, including one college course on Medieval English. Go as deeply as you wish. Pronounce names correctly--unlike what I learned in Texas.
Yes, show us Bernadette's Arthur.
I reserve the right to love a few works based on later versions, not confusing them with history. The Once And Future King showed T H White's sincere love of the High Middle Ages rather than any Real Arthur. He admitted it.
After all, you have affection for Monty Python's version...
Whatever you look like, you'll need a helmet like that one gold-looking one with the mohawk-looking slice on it!
I just loooove your welsh pronunciation!
I feel like the BBC Merlin cast needs to see this. Please tag them on twitter?
Bernadette and Jimmy collab, please. The amount of hype you each give each other is great though so no complaints about that.
I’m very glad I stayed for that last minute.
It's so neat that there is actually an historical reference with all those names together!
Yes please! More Arthur!
Would it be shallow to lead with, I like the haircut? Having already been shallow, I shall go on to observe that you are delightful because you actually address little knots of history that are not easily disentangled. Thank you. Perhaps you might more fully explain how one became a king? There seem to be a large number of them all at the same time.
Kings ruled over vastly smaller geographical areas the farther back you go, so there many more living at the same time.
I love your hair like this... Sorry I know it's unrelated 😂 hello again fellow Welsh Citizen! 😂
I love your sense of humour and the nice input.
I am so interested in our Welsh history/mythology. I recently did the walk Dinas Emrys in North Wales and (even though it was in the harshest rain weather ever) it was beautiful. Fascinating the ruins of the castle forts walls of Vortigen reign remains after all this time from 6th century. And I love how there is a story linked to the castle; the walls falling down because of two dragons fighting beneath it. Understandably just myth but I love it all the same 🥰
Would love another Arthur video ❤️
Diolch yn fawr for this great video. I for one would love to see more Arthur-related content, especially given your knowledge of archaeology and Early-Medieval History. Out of curiosity, have you ever seen any episodes of "Kaamelott", which is a French comedy series based on the arthurian legends? It's no documentary, obviously, but it is one of the few adaptations that at least attempts to recreate a Post-Roman setting, as opposed to the more frequent and incorrect High Medieval one. Either way, Arthur was a Briton, not English and in fact it's quite irritating as a Welsh person so see much of world think of him as a purely English cultural product.
Also, if you don't mind my suggesting, perhaps an interesting video idea could be to cover the current historical and archaeological theories as to how the part of the island now known as England went from a mostly brythonnic culture to a mostly Anglo-Saxon one? As someone with very little knowledge of the period, I am aware that there are different ideas on the subject, ranging from outright conquest to a more nuanced "top-down" change through the elites along with a degree of peaceful co-existence (probably a mix of all of these).
Either way, thanks again and looking forward to seeing the Bernadette Arthur brought to life! Also, Gwynedd is great but Powys is pretty cool too (hides behind Offa's Dyke to keep safe from Gwynedd rage)!
Made me immensely happy to see a Huw Puw clip turn up in this.
Absolutely disgutin!
Just here for the historical analysis of Monty Python. But seriously, man … make the costume! Can't wait. 👍
This is such a great and informative video! Your content makes my Arthurian nerd heart so happy.
Yes, he absolutely does this. The boy Ambrosius and the man Ambrosius. So many liberties, Geoff.
3 am upload,I know halo just came out but damn good sir go to bed.
Absolute yes for seeing a real world version of Bernadotte’s Arthur!
You touched the subject, now i'm gonna go full berserker here.
About Arthur:
1. Yes, I also believe he is a historical character, not fiction as some scholars want to display in modern times.
2. I think the Battle of Camlann was made as an explanation of the famines that were happening around the globe, and Arthur's death was a way to answer the question of: Why is the land suffering with plagues and hunger?
3. Could Riothamus and Ambrosius Aurelianus be the same person, or different individuals?
4. You think Vortigern is a ficticious character, or the memory of an actual "Tyrant" king in early medieval Brittain?
5. Some say Gildas did not mentioned Arthur in his writtings because he was angry that Arthur killed his brother. Don't know how accurate of real that can be.
im still heartbroken by the merlin series but i would definitely love to see more about arthur, especially the historically accurate outfit :3
Fun fact: When I see a video on my feed that looks interesting but is from a channel I don't recognize, I'll watch it in a private window so it doesn't mess up my recommendations if I decide I don't like it. This video - I got 30 seconds in and said "nope, I'm watching this". One video and I'm subscribed! Keep up the amazing videos!
Yay! Thanks!
Sounds a lot like my response to “Do you believe in Jesus?”
Of course I believe in Jesus, the human guy, wandering around on earth talking to people about being kind.
Definitely do more Arthur videos. Definitely add more Monty Python, and a little Terry Prachertt as well.
Yes, you DO have the best place names!!
Absolutely more Arthurian history !!!
Please more!
I love that painting Bernadette did of Arthur!! I bought it a few months ago when she was auctioning it off for Team Seas and it's my most prized possession!
Come for the fascinating history (via Bernadette’s channel); stay for the odd bits of Welsh (which I started learning this year). Diolch!
And definitely yes to more Arthur. Reading various versions of the Arthurian legends was my passion from age 12 until my mid-20s.
Yesss for more Arthur stuff! I’d love to see bits about the places in Wales connected with the legends and possible locations for Camelot.
Ooo, excited for her drawing to come to life.
Well, I read very many theories about Artus (as he is called in German). The most convincing I ever read was that he was a hired sword from "France", with a Roman or Latin background. He then became famous due to his leadership and martial skills. So, basically something very similar to what you presented.
Interestingly I saw a video a few days ago from an appaerently famous British historian who claims that the Saxon Invasion never took place ( a theory I am strictly against, since my ancestors were Saxons and can be traced back to the 8th century. Id like to believe that some ancient relative did take a little trip to "England". You know, for meeting new people and have some nice large fires in their villages). His reasoning: we have found no battlefield remains, therefore there was no battle. What do you think about it?
Ah yes: I would love to see some pictures from your Arthur-Reenactment. It sounds like an awesome idea.
Well done. I remember reading a book years ago - cannot remember the authors or title - which put forth the theory that Arthur was a Welsh war chief. As I recall, it was rather a convincing work (for me, anyway).
Was no Wales at that point just like there was no England
@@andyc750 I believe they were speaking more about the geography rather than nationality.
I’ve still got a soft spot for the theory that the round table was the amphitheater at Caerleon.
Nothing to add, just happy to be here. (engagement, mo money)
'tis a lovely place...
(and a reply for the algo)
Are you really making Bernadette's Arthur? Can't wait to see it!
First! I love the way you say Arthur - I always appreciate your naming the Welsh way - but especially when the name is so 'known' and I've just accepted it - it took me a little while to realise you were saying Arthur - just differently. It's very pleasing to my ear.
Second! Do you now how long it took to get through this video? Because my attention kept slipping and I realised it was because none of this had any context for me and it was just a bunch of names being said. Same thing happened when I saw The King and then had to spend a week google searching English-British monarchs going back to about 1100-ish and working up to figure out where that character fell in all that. I only do that when something interests me and I realise I need more background to really understand - so it was google search 'who were the anglo-saxons in 500ad' then 'where and when was the battle of Badon' then click on Nennius and Gildas and the Bede fellow - then you mention the wonderful Bernadette Banner and a video which I'd missed - so I had to go watch that.
See, your videos are so interesting I'm willing to do homework to understand what's going on - keep up the good work!
I absolutely love that my Welsh Duolingo is coming throughhhhh because now I actually know what you're saying some of the time!!!
*does all the happy wiggles* 😁😁😁
That would explain the Mabinogion to me too - I always equated Arthur from those tales but if it's written somewhere in 12th to 13th century, then it's off again for a historical Arthur
Please more Arthur! Love this!!!
Yes! Sewing nerd is excited! Sword nerd is pretty interested too.
This, sir, was a delightful study. I agree with you that this view of Arthur is far more engaging than the classical myth.
Completely agree, and it makes Arthur a far more interesting character, at least to me :)
Stumbling over this a year later, I'm looking forward to see where this went--it sounds like an excellent project.
I'm super excited for this, especially you recreating the drawing Banner did. It's hard to find visual representations of what clothing, armor, and weapons looked like in the late Roman and post-Roman period of Britain. I've been on various museum websites recently trying to do research. Everything seems to want to skip from Boudica to the Saxons.
How wonderful ❤️
Yes, I do want to see this reenactment outfit, but what I *really* want to see now is Jimmy's live commentary while watching Monty Python's Holy Grail.
That would be fun to watch, such a brilliantly fun film!
Yes to more Arthur content! I'd be keen to hear your views on how Arthur got linked with the Saxon Uther Pendragon legends.
Beloved! Bring it! I love this side of Jimmy. It’s like me when I go off about Texas History/History of the American West.
That's David Crockett, not Davy! 🎈
My favourite novel about Arthur, which is set in the late 5th/early 6th centuries, is Rosemary Sutcliffe's Sword at Sunset. I also used to like the British TV series that came out in the early 70s called Arthur of the Britons.
I'm a fan of Geoffrey Ashe's speculation that he was Riothamus, or rather that Riothamus was Arthur.
Dux belloram would be a great name for a band.
Looking forward to seeing the Arthur impression.
I cannot wait to see your reenactment impression of Arthur!
Fideo gwych. The amount of arguments I've had with some people about what Arthur is. Is nuts. They always see him as English
Arthur was King Caradog of the Catuvellauni - fight me! Or have a polite discussion, if you prefer.
@@pattheplanter i think Arthur was his own thing and if I was to specify a specific person it wouldn't be strong since there's a plethora of candidates from Emrys to Artious
@@evandxvies For most of them we have one snippet of story. Caractacus has quite a lot of detail, much of which provides parallels to Arthur.
@@pattheplanter what points to him being Arthur?
@@evandxvies Kng Caradoc of the Catuvellauni fought against Emperor Claudius in the Roman invasion of Britain. He was taken off alive to a country known for its large sweet apples (Italy) after being betrayed by a queen who dropped her husband (a different bloke in this case) for a shieldbearer. Caractacus/Caratacus/Caratauc/Caratacos/Caradog/Caratoc was the son of a man who had been called King of the Britons after successfully oppressing many of his neighbours. Caradoc had ruled from Camulodunum, close enough to Camelot, surely? I wrote an overlong article about this on my blog Some Bad Photos of Plants. There are many interesting parallels, including the weird one from Geoffrey of Monmouth where Arthur invaded the Roman Empire and overthrew Emperor Lucius Tiberius to become Emperor himself.
I just love how passionate you are about Welsh history. Would be nice to have some more videos on its mythology and legends or historical figures . Also the whole reenactment videos really make me want to go and check out some events! Keep up the great content 😊
Jimmy, THANK YOU for your videos about Wales! I'm fascinated with the amazing Welsh history and language, as well as most things related to the CELTS: languages, history. I've never been that interested in the Vikings for some reason. Your video on Arthur was revealing and groundbreaking. Please continue adding content about Wales, por favorcito! Also, Why have filmmakers not created epic saga films about Llywelyn Fawr, and other important Welsh figures and periods?! Hello!
I am in the Arthur is a Welshman camp during the Romano Britian time frame. I believe I saw a map that shows Wales as Brittania Secundus. So he could have been in charge of that area and it was later misunderstood.
Wrong end of Roman Britain for me. I think the myth was based on King Caradog of the Catuvellauni. By think, I mean wrote a massive article on it that all of a hundred people have glanced on the internet.
For obvious reasons, I would love a little information regarding Guinevere. Thank you as always for your wonderful videos.
Fun subject. I find it fascinating that the Arthurian mythology has permeated so deeply into our collective psyche.
Yes to everything in this video!! Arthur is one of my favourite figures and I would love to learn more.
Umm late to the party.....catching up on videos. YAS!!!!!! I am down for bringing Arthur to life!!!!!!!
Peter Diamond also has some really cool art of Arthur in this vein of being an actual warrior instead of a do-nothing king
I could be completely off the mark here and I happily admit that I don't have any evidence to back this up, but looking at the map of the battles Arthur was supposed to have fought in, could he have possibly been a mercenary leader or "soldier for hire"? It just seems that he was fighting all over the place and maybe he was actually fighting for/with many different chieftans or kings? Thanks for another fabulous, thought provoking episode.
Pretty much what I think, mercenary army leader
I'm totally game for a discussion of when Arthur would've lived if he'd been real. Anything that delves into post-Roman/early Anglo-Saxon Britain meets my interests, so bring it on!
When I was younger I went through a stage of reading and researching the "real" king Arthur - but then I realised - That way lays madness.......... Just enjoy the legends - from the original Welsh poems to Chrétien de Troyes to Malory etc and the ONLY 2 (there I said it - there are only 2 good King Arthur films) films worth watching (Excalibur and MP and the Holy Grail) - just enjoy them and accept - short of an epic Sutton Hoo/Rosetta Stone level discovery that says otherwise- we are unlikely to ever know for sure...
If I can tempt you to a little more madness, I argue that the kernel of the Arthur myth was Kng Caradoc of the Catuvellauni who fought against Emperor Claudius in the Roman invasion of Britain. He was taken off alive to a country known for its large sweet apples (Italy) after being betrayed by a queen who dropped her husband (a different bloke) for a shieldbearer. Caractacus/Caratacus/Caratauc/Caratacos/Caradog/Caratoc was the son of a man who had been called King of the Britons after successfully oppressing many of his neighbours. Caradoc had ruled from Camulodunum, close enough to Camelot, surely? I wrote an overlong article about this on my blog _Some Bad Photos of Plants._ There are many interesting parallels, including the weird one from Geoffrey of Monmouth where Arthur invaded the Roman Empire and overthrew Emperor Lucius Tiberius to become Emperor himself.
@@pattheplanter Yeah sure but I can give you at least half a dozen others who fit the bill in similar ways. That's what I mean but this way lies madness.... He seems much more like a hybrid character... same as Robin Hood. You fall in to the same hole with Robin Hood... Today we have figures we know to be fictional - like Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, even Tarzan - yet all can be traced to multiple real life influences...
@@deanmaynard8256 Go on then, I am agog to hear these six other characters from before 600 AD whose stories have so many parallels to Arthur. What are these six Camelots, I wonder?
@@pattheplanter I would have to look some of them up- As I said I was in to this long ago but from memory here are just a few - Lucius Artorius Castus. Riothamus, Owain Danwyn and/or his father Cuneglasus, a later Arthur from the Dál Riata (and yes I do Include Caractacus in the gang) etc etc... and BTW this is done if you are going to use this retched condescending language so do not bother replying as I wont.
@@deanmaynard8256 I am sorry you read that as condescending. That was not my intent. I fielded a British King who lived in Camelot and fought a 9 year defense against invaders. You fielded some footnotes from history.
I became interested in the Arthur legend while reading a series of novels by Mary Stewart. The first novel is called "The Chrystal Cave" and the series focuses on Merlin.
Mary uses the old sources to create a plausible story, and provides a heap of footnotes to her sources and way of thinking.
While the story is capturing and good reading, those notes were what really got me!
I love the Arthur stuff, can't wait for the next videos!