<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

King Arthur was born a prince of the Britons according to Arthurian legend. He is supposed to have lived about the 6th century.

He is pictured in legend as the champion of the British tribes against the Saxon invaders and as the ideal of a knightly hero.

The son of King Uther, he became leader of the Britons after his father's death. He married Guenevere, supposedly, the fairest princess in the land, and with her lived in splendid state at Caerleon in Wales, known in ledgend as Camelot.

In Camelot, he included in his court hundreds of knights and ladies in waiting. Twelve of the bravest knights formed the center of the retinue, and sat with the king at a round table, known as the Knights of the Round Table.

From Arthur's court knights went forth to all countries in search of adventure, to protect women, chastise oppressors, liberate the enchanted and to enchain giants and malevolent dwarfs.

Among the most renowned of these heroes of legend were Percival, Tristram, Galahad, Lancelot, and the enchanter, Merlin.

Arthur was killed in battle by his half-nephew/son, Modred, who had revolted and led an army against him.

According to some legends, Arthur's body was carried by fairies to the Isle of Avalon to be cured, whence he was expected to return some day again to lead the Britons against the Saxons.

King Arthur was said to have possessed a mighty sword known as Excalibur. With it, he could not be defeated in battle. King Arthur also was said to have sent his knights on an errand to find and recover the Holy Grail or the Cup of Christ.

Many critics doubt the existence of Arthur, and, of course, the stories that have gathered about his name are, many of them, only fiction. His adventures have been told in many languages.