| Legends are important to many of the world's | | | | find the Holy Grail, which could save Camelot. |
| people and to society in general. Legends give us | | | | They never bring the Grail back to Camelot, and |
| powerful and benevolent figures to look up to and | | | | they apparently all die or go mad...but the Knights |
| deviously intelligent malevolent figures to condemn | | | | Templar continued their Quest for the Holy Grail. |
| (or to secretly admire). The trouble with legends, | | | | Were the Knights of the Round Table and the |
| however, are the details. Since many of our | | | | Knights Templar the same group of knights? If |
| oldest legends--the really good ones--have been | | | | so, this is one of the major places that legend lost |
| verbally passed down over centuries, the details | | | | the details.By taking a look at physical evidence in |
| and juicy bits get lost in the cacophony of bards. | | | | addition to historical evidence, we can get a |
| The Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the | | | | better idea of the situation. During his life, Uther |
| Round Table, or as I like to say, The Legend of | | | | Pendragon possessed a sword that was famous |
| Excalibur and the Knights Templar.As the legend | | | | in battle. The main design on the pommel was a |
| goes, King Arthur is the son of Uther Pendragon | | | | stylized cross. Not the Christian Cross, but a cross |
| and Igraine. He was taken from his father by | | | | of equal lengths like a plus sign. This design can |
| Merlin who raised him along with Kay. Uther dies | | | | also be found on King Arthur's sword Excalibur |
| and the kingdom was without a king. So, a | | | | and the Templar Knights Sword. Lancelot's dagger |
| tournament was held and Arthur, acting as Kay's | | | | also carries this design, though it is much more |
| squire, forgets Kay's sword. He runs to retrieve it, | | | | discreetly shown. Is it a coincidence that this |
| but comes across The Sword in the Stone | | | | design continues to show up on various swords, |
| instead. Not knowing the legend behind the sword, | | | | shields, and helmets throughout medieval history? |
| Arthur grabs it and runs back to Kay. Kay notices | | | | Is there a possibility that the Knights of the |
| that it is not his sword, but the famed Excalibur | | | | Round Table fostered the Knights Templar whose |
| Sword. After much ado, Arthur is made | | | | legend continues on for hundreds of years?Michael |
| King.After awhile, Arthur runs into some trouble | | | | Granger is proficient in Medieval history. He has |
| with his kingdom, and decides to form the Knights | | | | written articles and books on the subject. If you |
| of the Round Table to help fight off the Saxons. | | | | want to see the swords discussed in this article, |
| They succeed but the kingdom falls into disarray, | | | | please visit A Squared Armory to see these |
| with demoralized citizens and quarrelling knights. | | | | replica swords. |
| So, Merlin tells Arthur to send the Knights out to | | | | |