THE CELTIC ARTHUR Riothamus Ambrosius Arthur Arthur and Riothamus/Ambrosius There has been considerable discussion about the identity of a recognisable historical figure from the late 5th and early 6th century in Britain and the Continent. The meaning of Riothamus is ‘supreme king/leader’ (Brythonic).= a title and not a name as such. Arthur and Riothamus/Ambrosius The main players in this discussion have been: Ashe, Padel, Fleuriot, Snyder, Alcock. Morris. They have not by any means come to a concensus that has been accepted generally and the discussion continues. Arthur and Riothamus/Ambrosius Briefly, vigorous claims have been made for identifying Riothamus and Ambrosius Aurelianus as the same person- a late Romano-Celtic supreme leader of the Britons in a time of crisis. (Fleuriot) Further claims have been made however that Riothamus is in fact another name for the elusive historical Arthur. (Ashe) Riothamus The chronicler Jordanes relates that in 469-70, a force under Riothamus (=supreme king or leader) was fighting for Emperor Anthemius in the Loire Valley against the Visigoths. According to Jordanes, Riothamus landed in the territory of the ancient Bituriges (Aquitania) c 468. Should we see him as a ‘federate king’? Riothamus The theory expounded by Léon Fleuriot (Les origines de la Bretagne). Riothamus Fleuriot has energetically championed the idea that Riothamus may be equated with Ambrosius Aurelianus. Recap: Gildas said of Ambrosius: Gildas on Ambrosius Aurelianus: Their leader was Ambrosius Aurelianus, a gentleman who, perhaps the last of the ‘Romans’, had survived the shock of this notable storm: certainly his parents, who had worn the purple, were slain in it. His descendants in our day have become greatly inferior to their grandfather’s excellence. Under him our people regained their strength… Riothamus Fleuriot has seen this character as being one and the same as Riothamus. Fleuriot has also attributed to Ambrosius/Riothamus a cross-Channel thalassocracy largely on the basis of comments in Saints’ Lives about the existence of an Brittonic joint-kingdom linking the SW of Britain and Northern Brittany. Map of Brittany Riothamus Certainly there is evidence of a British ‘general’ leading Celtic British troops in Europe. The question is how they got there. Around 470AD the Gallic (pre-French) aristocrat Sidonius corresponded with Riothamus who was apparently already well-known in Gaul. He praises Riothamus but complains that Riothamus The Britanni (Britons) with him were ‘ a crowd of noisy, armed, disorderly men’. He also complains that these ‘mercenaries’ were enticing slaves (or maybe servants) away from the neighbouring estates. Sidonius locates these British troops to the north of the river Loire. Riothamus Léon Fleuriot makes the important point that the earliest sources talk more about Ambrosius than about Arthur which is very surprising in view of the predominant place taken by Arthur in later narrative materials. Fleuriot claimes (1980s) that Ambrosius and Riothamus are one and the same person. Here are Fleuriot’s ideas in greater detail: Riothamus: Fleuriot’s theory Ambrosius and Riothamus are clearly contemporaries. Riothamus appears in history in 469-470AD. Ambrosius’ period of greatest activity is c 460-480AD. The Celtic and Continental Churches seem to hold both in esteem. This is not the case with respect to the other kings (Gildas especially). Riothamus Gildas praises Ambrosius (‘the last of the Romans’) by saying that he provided 44 years of relative peace against the Saxon invader, after the Battle of Badon. Another remarkable fact (Fleuriot) is that Ambrosius is the only British chieftain who can be described as reigning as well south of the Channel amongst the Bretons and the Franks who had settled there. Riothamus Ambrosius must have been a very formidable opponent since in Nennius (HB), it says of Vortigern: he was under pressure..from fear of the Picts and the Scots..and from dread of Ambrosius. In an early translation of Historia Britonnum into Irish, the same section adds (…from dread of Ambrosius), king of the Franks and Bretons. Riothamus The evidence for Ambrosius’ connection with Brittany does not only rely on this text (Fleuriot) but also on a Welsh text from the so-called Triads of the Island of Britain. In this Triad which is a mixture of history and legend, Ambrosius is described as being exiled to Brittany with his ‘brother’ Uthr Pendragon (Arthur’s father in later tradition) who later take revenge against Vortigern who had taken control of Britain. Riothamus Nennius describes Ambrosius as ‘king amongst all the kings of the British people’. Thus he is a kind of ‘high-king’. The name Riothamus has exactly this meaning. It comes from a more Brythonic form *Rigotamus. During the period we are discussing, this name would have the status of a title rather than just a name. Riothamus Although it is credible to think of Ambrosius as king on both sides of the Channel (the west), it is more challenging to imagine him as king of the Franks. In fact the only time that the Bretons overran the Franks was in the short period 465-481 AD. (in northern ‘France’.) Riothamus Fleuriot attempts to summarize the career of Ambrosius in this way: Born c 410-20 Vortigern invites the Saxons c 430-440 Ambrosius opposes Vortigern and may at one point have had to take refuge in Brittany. Ambrosius defeats Vortigern and assumes the leadership for the resistence against the Saxons. During the period 460-469 Ambrosius succeeds in forcing the Saxons to retreat eastwards. Riothamus In 469, the western Emperor Anthemius, requests the aide of the Britons to help him in his campaign against the Visigoths. Ambrosius Aurelianus ‘Riothamus’, crosses with an army and lands in Bourges where he enters into combat with the Visigoths. Riothamus is defeated. ?Riothamus returns to Britain. He may have been the victor at the battle of Badon (c 480-500). Riothamus Fleuriot’s theory makes Ambrosius Aurelianus and Riothamus into one historical character. A counter-argument might argue that possibly some of the material about Arthur was borrowed extensively from the figure of Ambrosius ‘Riothamus’.(rather than claim Rio.=Arthur) This is especially true regarding the later traditons about Arthur where he is described as having led military expeditions to Europe. Riothamus Was Arthur then the inheritor of Ambrosius ‘Riothamus’ as a kind of overall military commander? (Probable) (Remembering that a few scholars have made claims for Riothamus as a title used by Arthur himself). The identification Riothamus=Arthur is often supported by Arthurian enthusiasts (in search of something more solid), but only a few scholars. The name Arthur Linguistically the form Arthur derives from an earlier form Artorius. This latter name exists in a list relating to the 6th Legion in Armorica (Brittany) in the 2nd century AD. This person’s full name was Lucius Artorius Castus (from Dalmatia). In this case the name is of certainly of Latin origin, but may have a Celtic antecedent. The name Arthur Wthin regard to the existence of such a name in Britain in the 5th century, there is nothing here to surprise us. The adoption of Latin names in this period amongst Celtic British families was quite common: Edern (Aeternus), Padrig (Patricius), However, if the name is Latin, we would expect the form of the name in texts in Latin (ie Nennius, Annales Cambriae) to use the Latin form (Artorius) in all its possible inflected forms (Artorii, Artorium etc). The name Arthur Surprisingly, the name when it occurs in the earliest Latin material is always Arthur. It is as if the author(s) considered Arthur as a native name, thus a Brythonic (British) name. (Markale). This does not however preclude it from being a derivate from Latin. Nevertheless…. The name Arthur The form of the name can be easily compared with Brythonic (or early Welsh elements). Arth- (as well as Math-) mean ‘Bear’. Several Welsh names contain the two elements. Arthen, Math, Mathonwy. In Gaulish the element Matto- (bear) also exists. Using animal designations as names are very common in Celtic male names: The name Arthur A fascinating discovery made quite recently in Tintagel in Cornwall (extreme SW Britain) has the name Arthnou carved on a small stone. The name suggests that of Arthur or a form of it. Importantly Arthur will be seen as being in origin at least connected with SW Britain. The ‘Arthnou Stone’ Pater/coliavificit/Artognou/col/ficit Charles Thomas: Arthnou, father of a descendant of Coll, had this made. The slate also has a small cross. The name Arthur: other Celtic names designating animals Bleiddyn, Cynan, Cynwal, Cynlas, Twrch Cú Chulainn, Conall,Echu, Tascio, Taximagulus, Moccus, Moritascus,Cunomaros, Catuvolcus,Donnotaurus, Arthur, ubi es?/ py le wyt? Geoffrey Ashe has researched considerably into the whole area of early Arthurian materials, and has attempted to develop exciting ideas about who exactly the historical Arthur is. He has especially tried to outline the possible military career of ‘Arthur’. Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) From Caesar to Arthur. Ashe gives a conjectural attempt to outline the main points in the life of the ‘historical’ Arthur. Based on the various references in the earliest dark Age texts. Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) Born approximately 475 in South Western Britain. Not necessarily of high-birth. From a superficially Romanized family of Celtic Britons (Dumnonii). Bilingual (Brythonic and Latin). His family involved in a kind of provincial post-Roman administration. Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) At the age of about 20, Arthur leaves home and forms a group of horsemen (cavalry) who under the pretext of maintaining law and order proceed to pillage the region (which already had a number of such people some of saxon origin). Arthur and his followers live an adventurious life. He no doubt attracted all kinds of young men to his troop, and may be compared in some ways to the medieval Irish fianna (Fionn Mac Cumhail). Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) During this period he may have included in his band two lieutenants, one called Bedwyr and another called Caius (Kai). From the Dumnonian region (SW Britain), his reputation must have spread to other western areas, Somerset and Wales. This would have been the period when Ambrosius Aurelianus was reaching the end of his military career. Possibly AA had his headquarters in Caerleon in SE Wales (the HQ of British resistance). Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) The capital of Britannia Secunda. (not eastern Britain). No doubt he was the target of considerable envy and jealousy. Arthur may have ensured that he had a superior cavalry (horses from the continent, Brittany??). What he may have sought to do was to create a cavalry force that could be moved conveniently from part of Britain to the other (especially to the frontier zones). Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) He creates alliances with a variety of British chieftains. He has the advantage of being a focus of unity in Celtic Britain at a time when conflit within Britain was common. (eg the previous conflict between Vortigern and Ambrosius Aurelianus). No doubt several chieftains made use of Arthur and his cavalry against the Saxons but possibly also in disputes between British chieftains. Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) During this period Ambrosius Aurelianus retires or dies. Arthur appears now as the only person able to ensure a certain element of order and authority amongst the British chieftains. He makes use of the former hillforts and the Roman roads. By now his cavalry troop seems like a personal army. Arthur may have imposed a personal oath of allegiance from his soldiers. Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) He becomes a dux bellorum rather than favouring and serving any one ‘teyrn’ (tribal chieftain). It is likely that his first serious campaign took place at the beginning of the 6th century (c 510). Possibly some of the battles mentioned by Nennius, refer to internal British contentions. (The Battle of the City of Legions). One such battle may have concerned the brother of Gildas, Hueil who was killed in a battle against ‘Arthur’ in the north of Britain. Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) The most important battle led by Arthur would have been the Battle of Badon (mons Badonicus) c 517AD. The British victory in this battle certainly stemmed the Saxon intrusion into western Britain. This victory led to a period of ‘peace’. Internal conflit would certainly have continued to undermine this peace in British lands. Is this the period of contention between Arthur and Medraud? Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe) This may also have been a period when ‘Arthur’ gave military help to those in Gaul against the Franks). At this point we can see that Ashe does not concur with Fleuriot in seeing Riothamus (who fought on the continent) as being the same as Ambrosius, but rather as another name for Arthur). Arthur’s biography (according to Geoffrey Ashe Certainly some kind of confrontation took place between Arthur and ?Medraud. This is the battle of Camlan -frequently mentioned in later Welsh narrative tradition). With both dead, (it seems to have been a battle between Britons), then a lack of unity helped the Saxons to take advantage of the situation Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature Gododdin. (formerly the Votadini tribein southern Scotland; headquarters in Edinburgh). The Gododdin of Aneirin is a long elegy written in V Old Welsh and represents one of the earliest pieces of Welsh literature (c early 7th century). The text relates the circumstances leading to battle fought between the ‘Gododdin’ and members of other Brythonic tribes against the Deira, a Germanic tribe Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature This Germanic tribe had started to settle along the northern coastline of NE Britain. The battle of Catraeth (Catterick)- further south is not otherwise recorded but since it led to the defeat of the British force (mainly of the Gododdin), it should be seen as a strategically impoirtant battle to control north Celtic Britain. The battle was fought around the year 605. Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature Although this was nearly 100 hundred years after the time of ‘Arthur’, the poem does have a short reference to him. The interest lies in the fact that the reference concerns Arthur as a warrior. Translated this is the section: Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature More than three hundred of the finest were slain. He struck down at both the middle and the extremities The most generous man was splendid before the host. From the herd, he used to distribute horses in winter. Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature (Gorddur) used to bring black crows down in front of the wall of the fortified town -though he was not Arthur- Amongst men mightly in feats In front of the barrier of alder wood-Gorddur. (translation J.T.Koch) Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature Several scholars have caste doubt on the reference saying that it could be an interpolation from a later date. (there are two manuscript versions of the G.) J.T.Koch (author of the most up-to-date version of the Gododdin), does not see any serious reason to reject out of hand this possibly early reference. Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature J.T.Koch argues (if the Arthur reference is to be rejected) that: The poets of dark-age Britain had invented a fictional military superhero and placed his career within the era of living memory (c 500) or The battle list synchronism of HB and the Badon and Camlann entries of AC (516 and 537AD) reflect a radical and untraditional chronology for Arthur, devised between c638-829. Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature The eulogy (praise) of Gereint son of Erbin from the The Black Book of Carmarthen (Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin). Written in 13th century. Another copy exists in the Red Book of Hergest. Probably has its origins in the 9th or 10th century in SW Britain. Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature In this early poem, Gereint’s followers are described as ‘brave men from the land of Devon’ and Arthur is said to have been present at the battle at which Gereint was killed, in Langport in Somerset (Llongborth). This poem apparently represents a fragment of an early prose-verse narrative of the Llywarch hen type. (Bromwich). This poem certainly emphasized the South-West associations of Arthur (later also found in medieval welsh literature). Next class… The beginnings of the Arthurian legend in Celtic writings. The ‘villain’ Arthur in Welsh Saints’ Lives The emergence of Arthur in early Welsh literature. The recreation of Arthur. Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature The Elegy of Cynddylan A ninth-century Powys story-teller (cyfarwydd) composed a prose-verse narrative concerning Cynddylan’s hopeless defence of the Shropshire borderland against the English of Mercia, his death in battle, and the destruction of his fort in Pengwern. The Elegy to Cynddylan is probably older than the above verse-narratives Memories of the historical Arthur in early Welsh literature The text has come down in a much later form. The poem is written in a verse-form and with the vocabulary similar to that of the Gododdin, while its spelling provides evidence that it has been taken from an original contemporary with the Black Book of Carmarthen. In this elegy we also find an allusion to Arthur (as a paragon of heroism).