King Arthur: An Admirable King

King Arthur was a great and well respected and king whom people looked up to and admired, not only for his leadership qualities, but his success and perseverance in protecting his kingdom. In the fifth and sixth century, the people of Britain lacked those admirable qualities in a king, so they clung to a story of a king that was commendable and doted on. The strife that the people of Britain were surrounded by between the Roman legions leaving and the invasion of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes while having such a terrible King in charge had a big effect on why King Arthur was such an admirable king. Growing up in the fifth and sixth century is what prompted the way of life, background, and reasons as to why King Arthur was such a benevolent

Without a leader, Britain felt desperate for a harmonious king. King Arthur first appears as “a heroic British general and a Christian warrior, during the tumultuous late fifth century, when Anglo-Saxon tribes were attacking Britain.” (Wood) During these times, King Arthur, in the eyes of his people, was seen as a symbol of hope and change. The legitimacy of him being a commander can be found from, “a list that belongs in an old tradition of battle-list poems in Welsh poetry.” (Wood) The devastation of the attack from the Anglo-Saxon tribes is what prompted King Arthur’s altruism towards the people of Britain and gave the assurance of a devoted

The laws of the fifth and sixth century were strictly formulated to set boundaries among the people, grow the church, and instruct the rules and regulations of the church and punishments. “Laws reflect the growing influence of the church, enforce religious practices such as infant baptism, and marriage being fiercely regulated to forbid unions between distant relatives or those connected through god-parents.” (“Law.”) Because the laws of Britain were strict and very forceful, the people desired a less strict, but still moral guideline. The Code of Chivalry was a different type of system for the people to follow while still managing to keep peace and harmony between the Britains. “The Code of Chivalry was a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of Chivalrous conduct - qualities idealized by the Medieval knights such as bravery, courtesy, honor and great gallantry toward women. The Code of Chivalry also incorporated the notion of courtly love, and was an important part of the society and lives of people who lived during the Medieval times.” (“Code of Chivalry”) King Arthur obeyed and practiced the Code of Chivalry which played a big part in why the people of Britain would adhere to a story of a King that was practicing an admirable moral