Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Arthur

ARTHUR, a prince of the Silures, and King of Britain in the time of the Saxon invasions in the 5th and 6th centuries. He was the son of Uther Pendragon and Igerne, wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, and was elected King of Britain at the age of 15. He immediately declared war against the Saxons in the north of England, and defeated them so completely, that in one battle alone, it is said, he slew 500 Saxons with his own sword, the famous Calibur. He subdued the Picts and the Scots, and also Ireland and Iceland. After a long peace, during which he married the fair Guinevere, Arthur conquered Gaul and Norway, and even fought against the Muscovite hordes. On the Romans demanding tribute, he crossed into Gaul, and defeated them in a mighty battle. Recalled to England by the revolt of his nephew, Modred, allied to the Scots and Picts, Arthur fought against him in Cornwall, his last battle, in which Modred was slain, and Arthur himself mortally wounded. He was buried at Glastonbury. It was long believed by his countrymen that he was not dead, but carried to fairyland, and that he would yet reappear, and, with his mighty sword, again lead them to victory over their enemies. The existence and exploits of Arthur and of his paladins, the Knights of the Round Table, have been for ages the theme of minstrels and poets, examples of which are the famous “Morte d'Arthur” and the “Idylls of the King.”