character
King Arthur
The legendary British king whose court at Camelot defines noble leadership in Western fantasy.
Origin
A semi-legendary figure assembled from Welsh tradition, medieval romances, and Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (1485). Arthur unites Britain, gathers the Knights of the Round Table, sends them in search of the Holy Grail, and is ultimately betrayed by his queen Guinevere and his nephew Mordred.
Modern usage
Anchors a vast genre. Every fantasy 'true king' character — Aragorn, Jon Snow — owes him directly. 'Camelot' is now shorthand for a noble era that ended.
Tags
king
fantasy
leadership