“Forgotten Treasures: Dissected Manuscript Reveals Shocking Secrets of Merlin and King Arthur’s Darkest Tales!”
University of CambridgeMultispectral imaging revealed 16th-century annotations on the bottom left side of the manuscript.
Astonishingly, researchers realized that the fragment was an Old French tale involving King Arthur, the legendary English ruler who ascended to the throne after pulling the sword Excalibur from a stone — an act that could only be done by the rightful king of England.
Since the 12th century, the legend of King Arthur has been one of Europe’s most famous tales. And with this most recent finding, the story has taken on a new life.
How The Suite Vulgate du Merlin Expands The Mythology Of Arthur And His Knights
Public DomainKing Arthur, by Charles Ernest Butler (1903).
The story of King Arthur dates as far back as the 5th century, when Welsh poets and storytellers began speaking of a legendary king of the Britons who fought valiantly against Saxon invaders.
In the 12th century, historian Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his History of the Kings of Britain, popularizing the tale of Arthur and adding iconic details like Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table, and Sir Lancelot.
Various additions to the story would appear over the centuries, adding new court drama, romance, and tales of bravery.
This most recently discovered manuscript, written between 1275 and 1315, was once part of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin, a sequel to the legend of King Arthur written in Old French. The story, including tales of Sir Lancelot and the Holy Grail, was a bestseller in its time.
“The Suite Vulgate du Merlin tells us about Arthur’s early reign, his relationship with the knights of the Round Table and his heroic fight with the Saxons,” Dr. Fabry-Tehranchi explained to the BBC. “It really shows Arthur in a positive light. He’s this young hero who marries Guinevere, invents the Round Table and has a good relationship with Merlin, his advisor.”
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