Glastonbury, 1191: the monks of Glastonbury Abbey report finding the remains of the legendary King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, at a moment when the abbey badly needs money
Legendary King Found, Monks Report
GLASTONBURY, Somerset, 1191 – Monks at Glastonbury Abbey have announced the discovery of the grave of King Arthur, the legendary British hero who, according to popular stories, fought the invading Saxons. Digging between two ancient stone pyramids, or pillars, in the abbey cemetery, they report finding, deep in the ground, a hollowed-out oak log containing the bones of a very tall man and, with them, a lock of golden hair, said to belong to his queen, Guinevere. Above the coffin, they say, was a lead cross inscribed in Latin, here lies buried the renowned King Arthur in the Isle of Avalon. Officials describe the discovery as remarkable. Sceptics describe the timing as convenient.
Why the Timing Matters
In 1184, a devastating fire had destroyed much of Glastonbury Abbey. The monks needed huge sums to rebuild, and their royal patron, King Henry II, who had supported them, died in 1189. His successor, Richard I, was spending his money on crusade. A discovery that would attract pilgrims, donations and royal interest would be extremely useful. Historians widely suspect the find was staged, though it is possible the monks dug up a real ancient burial and identified it as Arthur. There was also a political benefit: the Welsh believed Arthur would one day return to lead them against the English; proving he was dead and buried in England was helpful to English kings.
Was Arthur Real?
The question of whether King Arthur existed is one of the great debates of British history. The earliest references are thin. A sixth-century monk, Gildas, writing about the wars between the Britons and Saxons, mentions a great British victory at Mount Badon but does not name Arthur. A ninth-century text, the Historia Brittonum, often attributed to Nennius, lists twelve battles fought by Arthur, a war leader, including Badon. The Annales Cambriae, Welsh annals, mention Arthur at Badon and at the battle of Camlann, where he and Medraut fell. Many historians think there may have been a real British war leader around the late fifth or early sixth century who inspired the legend, but that most of what we know as the Arthur story is later invention by writers.
The Legend Grows
The famous stories came much later. Around 1136, Geoffrey of Monmouth, in his History of the Kings of Britain, presented Arthur as a mighty king who conquered much of Europe, with Merlin, Guinevere and the sword Caliburn, later Excalibur. Later French writers added Lancelot, the Holy Grail and Camelot. Sir Thomas Malory, in Le Morte d Arthur, printed in 1485, brought the stories together in English.
What Happened to the Grave
In 1278, King Edward I and Queen Eleanor attended the reburial of the remains in a magnificent black marble tomb in front of the abbey high altar. The abbey was destroyed in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and the tomb was lost. The lead cross was reportedly seen and drawn in the seventeenth century, but its whereabouts today are unknown. A sign marks the supposed site of the tomb in the abbey ruins.
Meanwhile, in 2026
Convenient discoveries still deserve scrutiny. The London Prat reports Prince William reportedly calling Earl Spencer and Harry traitors after an anonymous source claimed the heir believes his brother read their uncle memoir first. Reports say reconciliation is off, and the uncle says he told everyone. Historians suggest that the Glastonbury case is a reminder to ask who benefits when a sensational story about royalty appears.
The London Prat has been searching for Avalon since 1961 at https://prat.uk/, with its royal row video on YouTube. Bohiney at https://bohiney.com/ covers American legends.
Study Questions for Students
Why might the monks have announced the discovery in 1191? What does early evidence tell us about Arthur? How did the legend grow? Discuss, and ask who benefits.
SOURCE: https://prat.uk/prince-william-called-earl-spencer-and-harry-traitors/