Arthur of the Britons

Lore & Background

Set in the Dark Ages a century after the Roman withdrawal from Britain and during the Anglo-Saxon settlement, Arthur is instructed by his adoptive father Llud and assisted by Kai, a Saxon orphan reared as Arthur's brother. His greatest rival is his cousin, Mark of Cornwall. The Jute chief Yorath and his daughter Rowena are initially allies against the Saxons but later mediate peace negotiations between the Celts and the Saxons. Cerdig, chieftain of the Saxons, is Arthur's principal counterpart who insults him as a man 'with many brothers but no father' but learns to respect him.

Reader's Guide

The series dispenses with the legendary Round Table and popular figures such as Merlin, Guinevere and Lancelot, and attaches no significance to magic or superstition. Neither Arthur nor his fellow Celts are clad in shining armour. Arthur is portrayed as a skilled fighter but especially as a cunning politician who eventually comes to good terms with the Saxons. The show depicts a culture clash between Celts and Saxons defined by their different ways of life, not by Christianity or simple good versus evil. Arthur seeks to forge an effective Celtic alliance in spite of religious differences, rivalry and animosity among leaders, and prepares from a position of strength a peaceful coexistence. Unlike many iterations of Arthurian legend, Arthur does not die or suffer severe wounding; the penultimate episode ends with Arthur and his men disappointed but still hopeful that one day there will be a lasting peace.

Did You Know?

• The theme music was composed by Elmer Bernstein.
• Arthur is portrayed by Oliver Tobias, and Kai by Michael Gothard.
• The series includes an episode titled 'The Girl From Rome' in which Arthur falls in love with a Roman princess named Benedicta, portrayed by Catherine Schell.
• The looks of King Arthur and his brother-in-arms Kai resemble contemporary rockstars.