Explorations in Arthurian History

The Places

 

 

 

  • Agned: the site of the 11th of the 12 great battles of Arthur according to Nennius. Some manuscripts give the name as Breguoin. Click here for more about the battle.
  • Annwn: land of the underworld, a magical world across the water, take your pick. Spoils of Annwn mentions Arthur by name.
  • Avalon: the sacred island Arthur is said to have been taken to after receiving his mortal wound. It has never been positively placed in the geography, but the good folks in Glastonbury would have you believe that Glastonbury Tor, which was an island centuries ago, was Avalon. For more, click here.
  • Badbury Rings: Iron Age hill-fort that is a contender for the site of the Battle of Badon Hill. An aerial view highlights its high ground, fortification ditches, and junction of several Roman roads.
  • Badon Hill: the site of Arthur's greatest victory over the Saxons. It is the last of Arthur's 12 victories, but its exact location has not been determined. Geoffrey locates it at Bath, but all that is really known is that it was somewhere in southern Britain. The sources and arguments are many. Click here and here for other views and here for a discussion of the politics of the time.
  • Bassas: site of the sixth of the 12 great battles of Arthur according to Nennius. Click here for more about the battle.
  • Bath: major Roman site and home to hot springs. Many structures of Roman times still stand. Geoffrey says Bath was Badon Hill. Indeed, the British pronunciation of Badon could very well have been Bath-on.
  • Brittany: French territory that is home to many Arthurian legends. The Broceliande forest is in Brittany. Click here and especially here for a brief history of Brittany and here for a list of kings.
  • Broceliande: the mystical forest is mentioned in many of the tales, including those by Wace and Chretien. It is also the place, tradition holds, where Niniane held Merlin captive. In the heart of Britanny, which has its own distinct Arthurian tradition.

  • Cadbury Castle: a castle in Romano-British times. Serious excavations at this site lend evidence to modern historian/archaeologist Leslie Alcock to conclude that this might indeed have been Camelot. For more, click here and especially here. and here
  • Caerleon: site of Arthur's plenary court and Guinevere's convent, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth. Also, an amphitheater uncovered here is in the shape of a large round mound, giving rise to the legend that this was the true Round Table. Further, some think that Caerleon was Nennius's City of the Legion. For more, click here and here.
  • Caledonian Forest: site of the seventh of the 12 great battles of Arthur, according to Nennius, who lists it as Celidon. Click here for more about the battle. This forest is also said to be the place where a mad Merlin took refuge.
  • Camelot: the legendary court and capital of Arthur, it has not been positively placed in the geography, though modern historian/archaeologist Leslie Alcock makes a good case for Cadbury. For more about the legend, click here and here.
  • Camlann: site of the final battle of Arthur. As with Badon Hill, the location has yet to be conclusively proven. Some contenders: here, here and here.
  • Carmarthen: birthplace of Merlin according to Geoffrey. Name means "Myrrdin's Town" in Welsh. Present-day Carmarthen has many sites with Merlin's name, including Bryn Myrrdin, Merlin's Wood and Merlin's Stone. Site of the Black Book of Carmarthen, which contains an oblique reference to Arthur in the tale of the Battle of Llongborth.
  • Castle Dore: Cornwall castle thought to be tied the story of Tristan and Isolde.
  • Catterick: site of battle that is the subject of the Gododdin.
  • Certicesford: "Cerdic's ford," battle fought between Britons and Saxons about 520 in southern England. Some think that this was the Battle of Camlann, Arthur's last battle. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says it was a Saxon victory after the Britons had demolished themselves.
  • Chester: originally the Roman fortress of Deva, founded to control the Brigantes and Ordovices. Click here for more information.
  • City of the Legion: site of the ninth of the 12 great battles of Arthur, according to Nennius. Click here and especially here for more about the battle. Some say it was Chester; others say it was Caerleon. Nennius called it "Cair Lion."
  • Colchester: Britain's oldest town and first Roman capital. Some scholars think that Colchester was Camelot. Indeed, the Roman name was Camulodnum. Later became part of the Saxon kingdom of East Anglia.
  • Cornwall: many of the great Arthurian legends come from Cornwall and are associated with places there. Cunomorus, a leader in the 6th century, is thought to be the basis for both King Mark and Mordred. With Mark comes the story of Tristan and Isolde. Merlin is also said to be involved in many legends of Cornwall. Click here for a general history of the region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Devon: with Cornwall made up the powerful kingdom of Dumnonia.
  • Dinas Emrys: Iron Age hill-fort in Gwynedd thought by some to be alternately Ambrosius's or Vortigern's hideout. Also thought to be the hill wherein Merlin made his name famous by seeing the Red and White Dragons. Click here for more. Click here for extensive inquiry.
  • Dumnonia: powerful kingdom containing both Devon and Cornwall in ancient Britain. Click here for a list of the kings of Dumnonia and here for more information.
  • Dubglas: river in the Linnuis region listed as the sites of the second through the fifth of the 12 great battles of Arthur by Nennius. Click here for more about the battles.
  • Dyfed: powerful kingdom of ancient Britain. According to Geoffrey, Merlin's mother was Princess of Demetia, which is Dyfed. Click here for a list of the kings of Dyfed. Dyfed is also the home of Pwyll, who met a prince of Annwn in the first branch of the Mabinogion.
  • Ercing: lesser kingdom of ancient Britain and site of tomb thought to belong to Amr, the son of Arthur. (See Nennius.)
  • Glastonbury: The good folks at Glastonbury claim that Arthur's (and Guinevere's) remains were found here in the 12th century. That claim notwithstanding, Glastonbury was the site of the first permanent British Christian community. Legend has it that the famous abbey was the inspiration of the community's first great leader, Joseph of Arimathea, not coincidentally the legendary bearer of the Holy Grail to Britain. For more, click here and here.
  • Glein: or Glen, river that was the site of the first of the 12 great battles of Arthur according to Nennius. Click here for more about the battle.
  • Gododdin: ancient kingdom between Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall. People forced to move to Wales, a migration recorded in the ancient Welsh work the Gododdin. Click here for a list of the kings of Gododdin.
  • Guinnion: site of the eighth of the 12 great battles of Arthur according to Nennius. Click here and here for more about the battle.
  • Gwent: also known as Ewyas. Ancient kingdom of Britain. Click here for a list of the kings of Gwent.
  • Gwynedd: powerful kingdom of ancient Britain (repopulated by the migration from Gododdin) said to be ruled jointly by the king of Powys in Arthur's time. Click here for a list of the kings of Gwynedd.

 

 

 

  • Kent: Saxon stronghold founded by Hengist and held by his son Octha.
  • Liddington Castle: prominent Iron Age hill-fort near Badbury. Thought to be contender for the site of the battle of the Badon Hill. Click here for a view of archaeological excavations.
  • Lincolnshire: Anglian area containing the River Glen and Lindsey, thought to be the sites of Arthur's second through sixth battles.
  • Lindsey: thought to be Linnuis, site of four of the 12 great battles of Arthur according to Nennius.
  • Linnuis: region containing the river Dubglas, site of the sites of the second through the fifth of the 12 great battles of Arthur by Nennius. Click here for more about the battle.
  • Little Solsbury Hill: high hill overlooking Bath. Some say it was the site of the Battle of Badon Hill. For a view from the top, click here.
  • Llongborth: battle in which Arthur was directly or indirectly involved. So say the Black Book of Carmarthen and the Book of Taliesin. Click here and here for more.
  • Logres: alternately a kingdom or the whole of England. Geoffrey names it the latter. It is also the setting of Chretien de Troyes's Chevalier de la charrette and Perceval. Click here and here for more.
  • Lothian: land in Scotland. King was Lot, alternately supporter or foe of Arthur, depending on the source.
  • Lyonesse: the lost kingdom, said to be across the water. Often associated with Cornwall. Click here for more.
  • Mercia: Saxon kingdom founded by leader Offa. The success of Offa sounded the death knell for British influence outside Wales. Click here for a map of Mercian conquests and here for a list of the kings of Mercia.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Powys: powerful kingdom of ancient Britain. Click here for a list of the kings of Powys.
  • Stonehenge: the Giants' Dance (or Ring in Geoffrey), the circle of stones thought to be the burial place of many great British heroes, among them Uther Pendragon. For more, click here and here and here.
  • Sussex: Saxon stronghold founded by leader Aelle, the first Bretwalda.
  • Thanet: island occupied by Saxon leaders Hengist and Horsa as compensation from Vortigern for helping him fight encroaching Picts. Click here for a lesson in the history of Thanet.
  • Tintagel: the legendary birthplace of Arthur, according to Geoffrey and subsequent romancers. In the Tristan stories, Tintagel Castle belongs to King Mark. For more, click here and here and especially here.
  • Tribruit: site of the 10th of the 12 great battles of Arthur, according to Nennius. Click here and here for more about the battle.
  • Viroconium: ancient Roman military stronghold in western Britain. Capital of the Cornovii tribe and seat of power of Vortigern in Powys. See also Wroxeter.
  • Wessex: Saxon stronghold founded by Cerdic. Click here for more information.
  • Wroxeter: city built in and around the Roman city of Viroconium. Modern archaeological inquiries include a major excavation and a virtual tour.
Other relevant links

Various and sundry place-names in the Arthurian tradition

Map of the kingdoms of Dark Age Britain

Map of the kingdoms of Wales

Map of the Celtic tribes of Roman Britain

Nennius's 28 Towns of Britain

Battles on British soil

Roman settlements in Britain

Roman military timeline in Britain

Present day names of Roman cities

A short history of Arthurian Archaeology

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Explorations in Arthurian History and Legends

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