King Arthur: His Life and Legends

The legend of King Arthur is one of the greatest in English folklore, and tales of brave, chivalrous knights rescuing damsels in distress never fail to thrill and delight audiences of all ages. Even now, King Arthur is more popular than ever, and this program will take you on a fantastic journey of discovery to explore this beloved legend. From the ragged, dramatic cliffs of Tintagel in Cornwall, where it's claimed Arthur was born, to the peaceful serenity of Glastonbury Abbey, where visitors can stumble upon King Arthur's grave, this truly is a remarkable story. Search for the magical ancient island of Avalon, uncover the hill where Arthur and his knights lie sleeping, and piece together the colourful cast of characters that surrounded England's favourite king. Whatever your interest in King Arthur, the intoxicating mix of mythology and fact will prove utterly irresistible.

The legend of King Arthur is one of the most evocative stories in British mythology. We think of the romantic King, with his beautiful wife Guinevere by his side and the trusty sword Excalibur in his hand. The truth, we discover, is very different. The story was written in the medieval period but it was set hundreds of years earlier - in the Dark Ages. The programme finds evidence that a real 6th Century warlord actually did exist, and that many of the most famous chapters of the story - such as the round table, the sword in the stone, Camelot - may well have been inspired by real places and events. Hosted by Richard Harris.

Come with us on a magical journey of mystery and discovery as we attempt to uncover the truth behind the legend of history’s most well known sovereign—King Arthur. Explore verdant, dew-drenched plains, wander amongst ancient crumbling ruins, and scour the rugged weather-beaten coastline of Great Britain in search of the elusive spirit of King Arthur and the enchanting Camelot. on this well-worn trail, you will encounter the likes of beautiful Guinevere, valiant Lancelot, magical Merlin, and the glorious Knights of the Round Table—not to mention Excalibur and the Holy Grail! Discover the possible final resting places of King Arthur, explore the potential locations of Camelot, and join the debate over the existence of the Holy Grail. It is all here and more, so charge forward into the realm of magic, mystery, and chivalry to uncover the truth behind the legend.

Click for full movie details & trailers.

Patrick Stewart narrates the investigation into the true origin of Britain's King Arthur and his fabled heroes, and whether or not Camelot exists in some forgotten corner of England.

Click for full movie details & trailers.

His name, image and adventures stir something in all of us - a time of chivalrous deeds, damsels in distress and gallant quests. King Arthur is the archetypal hero, a shining light from an age whose romance and myth still casts a spell over all who show a flicker of interest in his enduring legend. However, when we look for historical facts Arthur and his legend are shrouded in mystery and darkness, with little to no hard proof ever such a man existed. In the absence of concrete evidence, history and fantasy have fused together and in this video we attempted to separate fact from fiction with the expert opinion of historians and renowned Arthurian authorities. - The Power Of The Legend - Hidden Treasure In The Writings - Horsemen Of The Red Dragon - Power Of The Sword

Mark Horton, a British archaeologist, is investigating King Arthur’s castle. But did it really exist? Camelot, the seat of the court of the legendary King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, where the Knights of the Round Table gathered in the 5th and 6th centuries, could it be a real place, inspired by a Roman-era ruin? Mark Horton travels across Britain to examine medieval texts and post-Roman archaeological sites.

With exclusive access to a major new excavation, Alice Roberts discovers what King Arthur's Britain was like, including surprisingly modern connections we all share with our past.

King Arthur returns home after fighting the Roman Empire. His illegitimate son has corrupted the throne of Camelot and King Arthur must reunite with the wizard Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table to fight to get back his crown.

King Arthur, accompanied by his squire, recruits his Knights of the Round Table, including Sir Bedevere the Wise, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot and Sir Galahad the Pure. On the way, Arthur battles the Black Knight who, despite having had all his limbs chopped off, insists he can still fight. They reach Camelot, but Arthur decides not to enter, as "it is a silly place".

Wart is a young boy who aspires to be a knight's squire. On a hunting trip he falls in on Merlin, a powerful but amnesiac wizard who has plans for him beyond mere squiredom. He starts by trying to give him an education, believing that once one has an education, one can go anywhere. Needless to say, it doesn't quite work out that way.

In an ancient time when majestic fire-breathers soared through the skies, a knight named Bowen comes face to face and heart to heart with the last dragon on Earth, Draco. Taking up arms to suppress a tyrant king, Bowen soon realizes his task will be harder than he'd imagined: If he kills the king, Draco will die as well.

An Arthurian legend of young Prince Valiant, son of the King of Scandia. After the King is exiled by an evil leader, the Prince travels to Camelot to secure the aid of King Arthur in helping restore his family to power and prevent a plot by the Black Knight.

In medieval England, Merlin and King Arthur banish the evil enchantress Morgana and her son Mordred to the ends of the universe as Morgana vows revenge. In present day, Knights descendant Penn doesn't take much stock in the legends of his supposed ancestors, even as the descendants meet in Thailand to practice fighting. But when Morgana and her son return to earth, armed with alien technology and hell-bent on destroying every last descendant of King Arthur and his knights, Penn must to come to terms with who he was born to be, and bring together the new Knights of the Round Table to save themselves and the earth from Morgana's total vengeance.

The timeless tale of King Arthur and the legend of Camelot are retold in this passionate period drama. Arthur is reluctant to hand the crown to Lancelot, and Guinevere is torn between her loyalty to her husband and her growing love for his rival. But Lancelot must balance his loyalty to the throne with the rewards of true love.

Idealism, treachery, honor, and perfidy collide in this richly lyrical opera by French composer Ernest Chausson. This opulently scored work, which premiered in 1903, lays bare the tragedy of King Arthur’s betrayal at the hands of his queen Genièvre and his trusted knight Lancelot. Considered one of the finest examples of French romanticism, King Arthur (Le roi Arthus) was composer Chausson’s only opera—his own composing career was tragically cut short by his early death at age 44. Performed by a stellar cast, helmed by baritone Norman Garrett, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, and tenor Matthew White, this production of King Arthur takes us to a world in the midst of upheaval where long-standing codes of honor and loyalty no longer hold sway.

Arthur fulfills his fate by bringing together the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot and unifying the country. However, this flawed monarch faces greater tests ahead in pursuit of love, the Holy Grail, and his nation's survival.

When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern, Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword Excalibur from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy... whether he likes it or not.

The story of the Arthurian legend, based on the 'Sarmatian hypothesis' which contends that the legend has a historical nucleus in the Sarmatian heavy cavalry troops stationed in Britain, and that the Roman-British military commander, Lucius Artorius Castus is the historical person behind the legend.