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King Arthur tales 'penned in Oxford chapel' say researchers King Arthur tales 'penned in Oxford chapel'
(about 7 hours later)
A Medieval tome which popularised the story of King Arthur is thought to have been written in a lost Oxford chapel. A medieval tome which popularised the story of King Arthur is thought to have been written in a lost Oxford chapel.
Researchers now believe Geoffrey of Monmouth's The History of the Kings of Britain was penned at St. George's chapel, before it was demolished to make way for Oxford Castle. Researchers now believe Geoffrey of Monmouth's The History of the Kings of Britain was penned at St George's chapel, before it was demolished to make way for Oxford Castle.
Deeds from the time have revealed the Welsh scholar was serving canon there when writing the chronicle in 1136.Deeds from the time have revealed the Welsh scholar was serving canon there when writing the chronicle in 1136.
Professor Helen Fulton called it an "exciting" find.Professor Helen Fulton called it an "exciting" find.
Charters and deeds dating from 1129 to 1151 signed by Geoffrey and countersigned by the Archdeacon of Oxford have been analysed by experts.Charters and deeds dating from 1129 to 1151 signed by Geoffrey and countersigned by the Archdeacon of Oxford have been analysed by experts.
The chapel was a teaching base for Oxford students and Geoffrey indicate in the paperwork his profession as a "magister" - meaning teacher. The chapel was a teaching base for Oxford students, and Geoffrey indicates in the paperwork his profession as a "magister" - meaning teacher.
Prof Fulton, a professor in Medieval literature at the University of York and an expert in Arthurian literature, called it a "new piece of the jigsaw in the quest to trace the origins of the Arthurian legends". Prof Fulton, a professor of medieval literature at the University of York and an expert in Arthurian literature, called it a "new piece of the jigsaw in the quest to trace the origins of the Arthurian legends".
"He would have been based there when he wrote his famous Latin chronicle, Historia Regum Britanniae," she said."He would have been based there when he wrote his famous Latin chronicle, Historia Regum Britanniae," she said.
"It was Geoffrey who introduced the figures of King Arthur and Merlin to a wide medieval readership and paved the way for the enormous popularity of the Arthurian legends in later centuries, right up to modern times.""It was Geoffrey who introduced the figures of King Arthur and Merlin to a wide medieval readership and paved the way for the enormous popularity of the Arthurian legends in later centuries, right up to modern times."
Guinevere and MerlinGuinevere and Merlin
According to Geoffrey, his work was based on a secret, lost Celtic manuscript to which only he had access.According to Geoffrey, his work was based on a secret, lost Celtic manuscript to which only he had access.
It told of Guinevere, Merlin, the sword Caliburn - later known as Excalibur - and Arthur's final resting place in Avalon.It told of Guinevere, Merlin, the sword Caliburn - later known as Excalibur - and Arthur's final resting place in Avalon.
More than 200 manuscripts still remain in existence, but all that is left of the building it was written in is the Saxon stone-built St. George's Tower and the ancient crypt. All that is left of the building where Geoffrey is thought to have written The History of the Kings of Britain is the Saxon stone-built St George's Tower and the ancient crypt.
"[He] would have walked the footprint of the crypt whilst penning his notable tome," a castle spokesman said."[He] would have walked the footprint of the crypt whilst penning his notable tome," a castle spokesman said.
Michael Speight, general manager of Oxford Castle Unlocked, said: "[It] has played a role in a number of key historical events in British history.Michael Speight, general manager of Oxford Castle Unlocked, said: "[It] has played a role in a number of key historical events in British history.
"We are so excited to have discovered that it is also the site where the legends of King Arthur were written.""We are so excited to have discovered that it is also the site where the legends of King Arthur were written."