Camelot

By Crusader1307

Perhaps no other part of Medieval Legend is best remembered (save The Sword Excalibur) than that of the mythical Kingdom of Camelot. Camelot served as the background for the majority of 12th Century AD Thomas Mallory’s “Le Morte de Arthur’’  - and has been incorporated into many tales. Again however, much of Camelot’s details were gleaned nit from The Middle Ages, but the resurgence of that Era in the 19th Century. It’s scholarly existence has been debated for Centuries. More than likely, Camelot represented an ideal personified of a unified Kingdom (in this case England). Camelot is closely linked to The Round Table mythos (another example). Some scholars link it’s many pronounced names with the Welsh battle site where Arthur supposedly perished – Cammlann. Other Scholars link a theory to Ancient Rome. When Breton was occupied by Rome, “Britannica’s’’ Capital was Camulodunum (or what is now modern Colchester). It has been argued that a British translation to “Camaalot’’ was put forth in the early 20th Century. Both links are intriguing. In terms of actual structures, many Scholars point to Cadbury Castle in Somerset, England. Dating to The Bronze Age (and possibly earlier) – some components of a massive foundation remain still. Such a foundation may well have supported mighty walls and parapets, all befitting a King the stature of Arthur. The Romance novels of the 19th Century paint Camelot as a “wonderous’’ Castle. Larger than any known then in Europe, the perimeter walls and casements were silver and gold. As such they reflected light continuously (day and night). If true, Camelot Castle would have been “seen” for many miles. The Castle was so large that it no doubt supported it’s own City within it’s walls (much as Carcassonne, France). It would be so feasible to imagine that such a giant defensive structure needed such. Despite the true (or ever proven) location of a Camelot, as stated – it represented a vital need at unification in a war weary Europe during the late Middle Ages. Wars, plagues and Despots were all common facets that such tales as a Camelot were supposed to remove.