Are we a step closer to finding King Arthur? #Cornwall

 

Tintagel Castle

You may have read in the news that archaeologists have discovered what appears to be a Dark Age, possibly 5th or 6th Century, Royal Court at Tintagel Castle. If you missed it, then you can check out this post from The Independent.

 I have not seen such excitement from Tintagel since they discovered the Artognou Stone in 1998. Tintagel keeps on surprising us.

However, it seems to me that we are so desperate to connect Tintagel with King Arthur that we will do almost anything to make him fit there ~ regardless of the truth. Let's face it, Arthur is a tourist attraction, he always has been. So I can understand the excitement that English Heritage must be feeling with this discovery. However, let us be very careful not to get carried away.

Geoffrey of Monmouth was the first to make the link between Tintagel and Arthur, in his factually correct book The History of the Kings of Briton. If Monmouth story is to be believed, Tintagel was the place where Arthur was conceived and then born, which makes this castle a pretty special place. Tintagel is the beginning of Arthur’s story.

I do find the whole situation slightly bemusing. I think it is amazing what the archaeologists have discovered, and it has proven my theory that Tintagel was a pinnacle stronghold in Cornwall's Dark Age history.

I am fascinated with the history of Cornwall, and I have been for a very long time. I like to think of it as the forgotten Scotland. The Roman's dealt with their Scottish problem by building a great big wall, but they didn't have to do that with Cornwall, because Cornwall, was willing to trade. The Roman's wanted Cornwall's tin, and she was a mind to sell it to them. Apart from a few Milecastles, there is very little evidence of Roman occupation. Likewise, when the Saxon's invaded and Cerdic of Wessex started his reign of terror as he conquered one kingdom after another, Cornwell stayed strong. And not just for a couple of years but for hundreds of years.  I am not surprised the archaeologists have found more evidence that Cornwall was a wealthy trading nation. But does that mean they have found the birthplace of King Arthur? I'm sorry, I'm not convinced.

Monmouth's work cannot and must not be relied on as factual evidence. Dare I say, he made half of it up. It would be nice to think that Arthur was born at Tintagel, just like it would be nice to think that Arthur is buried at Glastonbury Abbey. Recent archaeological evidence has shed light on the Glastonbury Legend. Arthur was not buried at Glastonbury, but those monks sure knew how to bring in the pilgrims, just the same way as English Heritage is doing now with Tintagel. Don't get me wrong; I am not bashing English Heritage. English Heritage does a fantastic job at preserving well, England’s heritage, and for them, Tintagle and the Arthurian Legend is a little gem. The draw to Tintagel is King Arthur. King Arthur is Tintagel. I am pleased that they have found evidence of Dark Age occupation, but I will never be convinced that this was the birthplace of Arthur.

Merlin's Cave and Idylls of the King

“Wave after wave, each mightier than the last,
Till last, a ninth one, gathering half the deep
And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged
Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame:
And down the wave and in the flame was borne
A naked babe, and rode to Merlin's feet,
Who stoopt and caught the babe, and cried "The King!
Here is an heir for Uther!"

Idylls of the King Alfred, Lord Tennyson 

There is a cave – a mystical magical place - that is situated in the South-West of Britain, underneath the famous Tintagel Castle.

The sea has carved this cave, in a way only the sea can, slowly, but with persistence. Unlike us mere mortals, the sea is in no hurry, she has no concept of time.The floor of the cave is covered in sand, a place of refuge, perhaps?…Or perhaps not, for at every high-tide, the sea returns and floods the cave. There is something about this cave though, something magical and it is very easy to imagine Merlin, waiting there…waiting for Arthur.

Tennyson, like Monmouth before him, caught the imagination of the populace. This cave became woven into the Arthurian Legend and has been drawing people there ever since.

This cave was Merlin’s cave – hence the name.

The cave is accessible, although the climb down is steep and please, make sure you check the tide times before you embark on your adventure. Remember, even King Canute could not hold back the tide, so do not trust your magical powers to save you from the wildness of the sea!

Merlin's Cave makes the news!

 
English Heritage was recently accused of vandalism when they commissioned Merlin’s ‘face’ to be carved into the bedrock below Tintagel Castle.

"This official vandalism has been condemned by people who love Cornwall, both at home and as far away as Australia.” A spokesman from Kernow Matters To Us stated.

English Heritage stand accused of creating a tourist attraction around the whole King Arthur Legend, when there really is a terrible lack of proof that this place, this castle, had anything to do with the legend at all.  Are we to trust Monmouth’s version of history? Maybe - because let's face it- he could weave a really good yarn!

Like it or not, Arthur is, and probably always will be, a huge tourist attraction. I can understand English Heritage’s thinking, and it isn't like they are the first ones to use the legend in such a way - I believe those monks at Glastonbury Abbey had similar ideas once!

Now, I am not condemning or condoning them, I think that is up to each and every one of us to decide.

You can check out the full article from the Telegraph, where it goes in to the subject about Merlin's Cave and English Heritage's said 'vandalism', in a lot more detail. There are also some fantastic pictures of the said sculpture as well - just click on the link below...

The Telegraph and Merlin's Cave

 

Merlin's Cave and The Pitchfork Rebellion

Regardless as to whether this cave is Merlin’s or not, it a certainly a beautiful place to visit and it definitely inspired me when I wrote The Pitchfork Rebellion. I talk of a cave in 'Pitchfork' – a cave with a sandy floor that is inaccessible at high-tide, for the sea floods the chamber and - more often than not, - with devastating consequences for those chained inside.

If you even find yourself at Tintagel Castle, be sure to check out Merlin's Cave as well.

Tintagel Castle and Arthurian Legend

"...it is right by the sea, and surrounded by the sea on all sides; and there is no other way into it, except that provided by a narrow rocky passage—and there, three armed warriors could forbid all entry, even if you took up your stand with the whole of Britain behind you..." 

Geoffrey of Monmouth

This is quite an achievement. I have spent the last 6 months blogging about Arthur and his Knights, but I have failed to mention Tintagel Castle. Why? I hear you ask...Truefully, I just haven't got around to it until now. I know, poor excuse, but hey, I am on it!

Tintagle Castle is located on the peninsula of Tintagel Island in Cornwall. It is a medieval fortification, built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall in the 13th Century. The castle became a tourist attraction in the 19th Century when archeologist started to excavate the site. In the 1930's a team of archeologists discovered a much earlier high status building. But what does this have to do with King Arthur and his Knights?

Well...a certain Welshman wrote a certain book, you may have heard of it...It goes by the name, The History of the Kings of Britain. Yes, that's right, I am talking about Monmouth yet again!!

Can you remember the story about Uther Pendragon falling madly in love with the Duke of Cornwall's wife? No?  Okay, quick recap...

***

King Uther Pendragon holds court, and there he meets Igrain, the wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. Uther is driven almost out of his mind with lust for Igrain. He cannot help but make his attraction known. But Igrain loves her husband and tells him of Uther's pursuit. Gorlois whisks his wife away from court and they head back home to the safety of Tintagle Castle.

So great is Uther's lust that he follows her home, and while Gorlois is out fighting in a noble battle, Uther asks the great sorcerer, Merlin, to disguise him as Gorlois. Thinking Uther is Gorlois, Igrain makes love to him. That very night, Gorlois dies.

***

So, if we believe Monmouth's versions of events ( and there is not reason not to...he did, after all, have that ancient manuscript that he conveniently lost ) Arthur was conceived at Tintagel. Monmouth never suggested that Arthur was born at Tintagel, neither did he mention Arthur ever visiting the place..but you know what it's like when poets get hold of a story! As the years passed, Tintagel became embroidered into the delicate tapestry which is Arthurian Legend.

But still, there are those who want proof - something that they can see, that they can touch. If Arthur was at Tintagle then surly there would be evidence?

Ralegh Radford (1900 -1999) an English archaeologist whose interest was in Dark Age Britain, had this to say about Tintagle and Arthurian legend in 1935.

"...no concrete evidence whatsoever has yet been found to support the legendary connection of the  (Tintagel) Castle with King Arthur..."

Charles Thomas - a well respected historian and archeologist stated;

"...there simply is no independently attested connection in early Cornish folklore locating Arthur, at any age or in any capacity, at Tintagel..."

But how does this explain the Artognou stone?

"patern coli avi ficit artognou"

"Artognou, father of a descendant of Coll, has had this constucted" 

The stone's discovery in 1998, met with much media excitement. Had evidence of Arthur been found at last? Did the name Artognou really translate as Arthur? The stone is of the right age and, if Monmouth is to believed, then Arthur was conceived at Tintagle - at last, here is the proof.

 Of course there were plenty of people to discredit such a notion - including many historians. I guess, like with everything else when it comes to Arthur and his knights, it depends on what you believe. And thats why Arthur and his world drew me in in the first place...the endless possibilities.