The Origins of Excalibur! King Arthur's Legendary Sword

King Arthur's sword Excalibur is world famous, but where did it come from, and how did it get its name? What does the word "Excalibur" even mean? You might be surprised to know it's gone by many names...
Join me in looking at some of the oldest sources that mention the mythical sword used by Gawain, Arthur, and Culhwch in the Mabinogion and the tales of the Knights of the Round Table!
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[@stump4522]

"If I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!"

[@Kuhmuhnistische_Partei]

"It cuts through steel like wood" "But swords are terrible at cutting wood." "Exactly"

[@morganrobinson8042]

"Look, it didn't chip or bend. That's still pretty good."

[@hotspurre]

Swords are bad at cutting wood, but they are literally incapable of cutting steel, so it's an... improvement I guess?

[@andyc750]

@@hotspurre not correct, a good hardened edge will cut softer steel/iron and a sword will indeed cut wood, just not designed to do that job so way more inefficient than an axe

[@marvalice3455]

​@@hotspurrethat's not true. Like cuts like. Swords are far better and cutting wood than they are at cutting steel, but steel cuts steel, wood cuts wood, and Even butter cuts butter

[@RandomAFP]

... Cuts through steel... So its a lightsaber. Arthur was a Jedi!

[@TheWelshViking]

Only a Sith deals in absolutes. Wait.

[@sekhmara8590]

But, at one point it was breathing jets of fire, so... bit of dark side going on, which is cool.

[@actual_jedi1810]

Totally here for this theory. And the sexy Welsh words. 🤣

[@andray310]

I would love if GoW gave this version to Atreus to help him find giants in their next game

[@amaliaseven7]

Best KZbin channel. Cozy vibe, friendly host, welsh words, history and mythology, sewing, artifacts, tea, and an absolute intolerance of bigotry. Literally what else do you need

[@MandyMalagon]

I don't usually follow people on youtube but I've thoroughly enjoyed this channel!

[@azteclady]

Nothing more relatable than, "I have a problem that I don't want to solve". Here's hoping the stress levels go down soon.

[@tdorn20000]

Watery tarts got me laughing. You'd be a fun guy to have a beer with. You'll have to bring your own coconut for your ride home tho.

[@MrKarlGP]

"Kingship is not imparted through some farcical aquatic ceremony" (sic)

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

"Moistened bint."

[@Steph_here]

You'd also like history tea time with Lindsay holidays video about arthuria legend (she talks about the watery tart)

[@BlueFella]

Yea someones not seen Monty Phython & the Holy Grail

[@tdorn20000]

@@BlueFella not for near 10 years.

[@igoriouspitchpuckington1594]

"THROW THAT BLADE AT ME WET LADY!"

[@MrMortull]

As an Englishman who spent most of his early childhood in Snowdonia, I deeply appreciate you demystifying Caledfwlch/Excalibur for me. I always did find it suspicious that the "undeniably" English figures of Arthur, his knights, Merlin and so on had so much Celtic flavour about them but to learn that it's the result of the FRENCH (of all people) being confused by and expanding upon Welsh/Irish/Brythonic stories... well, it makes a lot of sense. Horrifying, upsetting sense. Oh, unrelated note: I like your spectacle helm on the shelf back there. Lovely piece of armour.

[@marvalice3455]

Some day, the French will fail to make everything worse. It hasn't happened yet, but it has been prophesied

[@janetmackinnon3411]

As Terrry Pratchet pointed out, it would be interesting to know who put the sword into the stone/anvil... Sorry about your stress.

[@jayneterry8701]

Didn't Arthur's real father?

[@Greye13]

@@jayneterry8701 That's what I've heard/read, that it was Arthur's father Uther Pendragon, that drove the sword in to the stone when he was in a fit of rage, or something like that anyway.

[@jayneterry8701]

@@Greye13 because the wife cheated on him. I will say a lot of this comes from the movie Excalibur with Nigel Terry. No worries Jimmy will set us straight 😉🍁

[@Greye13]

@@jayneterry8701 Ah yes, I thought the whole thing sounded familiar, lol. Taking history in the movies, with an entire 'pinch' of salt, is becoming quite the norm for me these days. 😂And I agree, Jimmy is very good at setting us straight. Thanks Jayne.

[@morganrobinson8042]

I'm pretty sure that's a holdover from Sigmund in the Völsunga saga, where it was put into place by Odin. Merlin is probably the proposed replacement in the importation of the trope, fulfilling about the same narrative role of hermit-magician-guide.

[@historiansrevolt4333]

Come for the history, stay for the humor. Take care of yourself!

[@juia7336]

So when Chretien de Troyes makes up Arthurian legends wholecloth that's "a canonical part of the Arthurian corpus", but when I do it it's "not realistic" and "just writing Merlin fanfiction" huh? I see how it is Thanks for the video as always!

[@101Mant]

It needs to be popular and old then it gets accepted, even if its making up a Mary Sue characters like Galahad.

[@oliverglamorgan4498]

Aaaah you've hit the nail on the head! As I often like to say, even Malory was a fanfic writer! A very anglowashing one at that, too!

[@marmotarchivist]

Don’t worry, just give it a couple of hundred years and the future literary historians will praise the great additions to the Arthurian lore in the 21st century by Jui A.

[@thedamnyankee1]

Might have something to do with the Merlin/Arthur love scenes in your fan fic. ;)

[@marvalice3455]

Time is a filter. Your fan fiction will be cannon if it lasts five hundred years, but until than....

[@tdorn20000]

Side note. I was reading a book the other day that mentioned "a song about saucepans" sung by a Welsh character. It brought me a random bit of joy that I knew what song they were referencing.

[@gota7738]

Howl's Moving Castle?

[@tdorn20000]

@@gota7738 yes! One of my current favorites.

[@lucie4185]

Calcifer sings it in the film too doesn't he?

[@tdorn20000]

@@lucie4185 I don't remember Calcifer singing it. But I haven't seen the movie in several years

[@gota7738]

@@tdorn20000 It's amazing. The Ghibli film is beautiful but what I wouldn't give for a closer adaptation that captures it's fun, irreverent but very fairy-taley spirit. Also with the Welsh bits kept in.

[@lindsaydrewe8219]

I seem to remember Terry Pratchett saying that he wasn't that interested in who pulled the sword out,he wanted to meet the person who put it in the stone

[@chrisball3778]

Culhwch and Olwen also gives names for a whole bunch of Arthur's other stuff- his spear, shield, dagger and ship all have names. Arthur offers Culhwch his choice of them, or his wife (for some reason) but Cuhlwch just wants his help to win Olwen. The story has a LOT of lists in it, and a lot of tasks that have to be completed in a very particular order, as each one unlocks something needed to complete the next one. I've always thought that this was so that in the bardic days, bards could show off their skills by memorising it all and repeating it in the right order.

[@Luanna801]

F in chat for Arthur's spear Rhongomyniad, which actually shows up a fair bit but never caught on in pop culture like Excalibur. I blame the fact that Geoffrey of Monmouth and later writers shortened it from Rhongomyniad to Ron, which uh... sounds significantly less cool than any of the Caledfwlch/Caliburn/Excalibur variants.

[@CottageTales]

"it was thrust to him by a watery tart." Mate! Loving the Arthur Saga videos :) Also: Hope the stress lets up soon

[@LeArquebus]

In Norwegian history, the third king of Norway, Haakon Adalsteinfostre, or Haakon the good as he is known now, gets the sword «kvernbitt» or «Millstonebiter» from king Adalstein, (Æthelstan) of England. This sword is so Sharp and strong that he cleft a Millstone in two. He uses it in many battles as he fights both danes and the sons of the deposed king Eirik Bloodaxe and his allegded witchwife Gunnhild. After his death by a magic or poisoned arrow, the sword fades into history. It was not found in his grave, discovered just north of modern day Bergen.

[@pattheplanter]

I just looked it up and the most famous quernstone quarries in Norway are at Hyllestad. The rock is a garnet mica schist. While hard and excellent for grinding, the name schist comes from the ease with which the rock can be split along some cleavage planes. If you understand the rock you can probably split it without damage to your blade. Æthelstan rather than Æthelred, surely? Æthelstan meaning "noble stone".

[@LeArquebus]

@@pattheplanter you are right, got the kings wrong. Haakon was Æthelstans ward from early age, given to him as a prank by the Norways first king , Harald Fairhair. He grew up christian and became the first christian king of Norway, 100 years ahead of the rest of the country.

[@MrImastinker]

The portrayal of the sword as an older, Celtic looking blade always appealed to me more than the typical medieval longsword. I don’t know, it just adds to the mythic feel of it.

[@eazy8579]

Oh absolutely, or perhaps an old Roman Spatha, with a fancy Celtic hilt

[@TacDyne]

Yeah, realistically an anthropomorphic sword would have been the best depiction.

[@rachelmcfin]

I’m doing a project on the ladies of Arthurian legend and want to add to the Lady of the Lake’s story - she did go to Camelot to collect her favor later. She wanted the head of a knight for unclear and dubious reasons, but before she could get her favor granted, that knight spotted her and beheaded her on the spot for equally unclear and dubious reasons. So yeah, everyone’s favorite watery tart died like 2 chapters after she was introduced, and the other Lady of the Lake stories are actually about her successors!

[@euansmith3699]

"We've got an opening for a Lady-of-the-Lake." "What happened to the previous one?" "She... um... she got... er... headhunted."

[@Amy_the_Lizard]

Well, since they both wanted each other dead, it's probably safe to assume they had some negative shared history...

[@euansmith3699]

@@Amy_the_Lizard No doubt, when Disney buys up the Arthurian IP, they will each get a film explaining their backstories 🤭

[@TheSaneHatter]

That would have been Sir Balin le Savage: I read Malory when I was about 12.

[@SuperGoldenv]

Sword in the stone=ore to sword . Lady of the lake = quenching the sword to harden

[@TheWelshViking]

Heard this one too, sounds plausible as a metaphor, doesn't it?

[@velvetvioletta]

I remember seeing a documentary years and years ago that suggested that Excalibur might have been a bronze sword and 'drawn from the stone' in the sense of being made by pouring molten metal into a stone mould and then being taken out as a whole object. From what I recall the idea was that swords made that way were more likely to attract names and magical tales because the process seemed more mystical. I liked that idea and their demonstration of making a sword that way made it seem plausible to me at the time. I guess it doesn't really hold up though if the stories got added later.

[@pattheplanter]

The sword from the anvil broke but the sword from the lake did not. Basic smithing advice.

[@101Mant]

@@velvetvioletta why would someone make a bronze sword well into the iron age though? I guess it could be a flex as it was rarer and more expensive and fewer people would know how to work it, so maybe for a ceremonial sword?

[@velvetvioletta]

@@101Mant As far as I recall, the idea was that that element of the story was borrowed from an older story, or possibly part of an earlier version of the Arthur story, I don't remember exactly. In my defence this was a documentary I watched once probably twenty, twenty-five years ago, so I may be misremembering some important details.

[@mreriksson]

Okay, now I'm enamored by the idea of an anime about Welsh & Irish myths & heroes. I can't stop imagining the poor Japanese voice actors trying to pronounce all the Welsh words. 😄

[@lauriebrassard5943]

As a native French speaker, may I just say your pronunciation of French is very satisfying? Not that it wouldn't be fine if you didn't pronounce so well, but congratulations on your pronunciation because French is DIFFICULT. Anyways. Loved the video, as always. Thanks for sharing all of this with us, despite being super busy and stressed ❤️ You spark much joy in these very short, darker days 💕

[@cadileigh9948]

well if you're not carefull you'll be working through Arthurian legends for the remainder of your life. Arthurs Quoit, Seat, Cave etc not to mention the Afanc he pulled out of Llyn Barfog. Looking forward to you listing the entire troupe of heros from Culhwch ac Olwen plus the Oldest Animals and their skills.

[@TheWelshViking]

Omg the endless list of people amd skills and animals and yeesh!

[@anthonyhayes1267]

I understood some of those words

[@alexandreroberts8830]

I was about to comment about the THREE TO SIX pages of names listed as members of the quest in Culhwch ac Olwen! With a retinue that size, it's surprising they needed a sword at all! I'd have to dig out my old edition, but I seem to recall one of the listed characters' names translated to "Someone son of Someone"!

[@euansmith3699]

@@alexandreroberts8830 Maybe the sword was like a warrant to show everyone that our hero had the King's full backing? That's a pretty "magical" quality.

[@alexandreroberts8830]

@@euansmith3699 Maybe indeed!

[@InThisEssayIWill...]

Arthur: How do you like my sword baby? 'Baby': Hard Pass

[@keephurn1159]

4 writers in a room, trying to embellish the circulating stories about Arthur. 1st writer: What we have is Arthur, sub Roman Briton, pretty successful war chieftan. We need to punch his story up a bit. Arthur is now legendary, so his stuff should be to. Can't have him running around with ordinary equipment. Let's focus for now on his sword, it's his livelihood. Give me ideas. 2nd writer: I hear other legendary fighting chieftains give their swords the name Hard Cleft! 1st writer: That's a good start, but there are other Hard Clefts running around. Arthur's has to be different. 3rd writer: We could LATINIZE it! Anything in Latin is better! 4th writer: That's good, that's good, but let me do you one better - the Latinized name means 'Cuts Steel Like Wood'. 2nd writer: What? Like an entire tree? 4th writer: No, obviously not an entire tree, he's not fighting ents. Like, like... an ax through wood, right? Hard Cleft cuts steel like that. 2nd writer: But he's not chopping wood... 4th writer: I'm gonna chop you like wood... 1st writer: Okay, no bad ideas here. Let's build from that. Hard Cleft, Latinized name, means 'Like Steel Through Wood'. We need more. Ask yourself: How did he get it? It can't just have been forged like any common sword, it's gotta have some fancy appearance, as if gifted by God. 3rd writer: Maybe it fell from Heaven into an anvil and he had to pull it out, no one else could, proves he's a King. 2nd writer: That's rather precise falling. 3rd writer: Well, I mean, God dropped it, it'd be as precise as He likes. 2nd writer: Can't argue with that. 4th writer: I dunno, this all seems straightforward. I feel like the story needs a twist. Having God drop a sword in an anvil... 2nd writer: or stone! 3rd writer: Or an anvil in a stone! 4th writer: ... is good, but suppose that's not the actual Hard Cleft. Other writers: Oooooooo... 4th writer: What if, stay with me, that first sword is merely just a very good but normal sword that the audience thinks is Hard Cleft, and one that BREAKS! Then Arthur has to get the ACTUAL Hard Cleft from somebody else, I dunno, a lady in a lake. [furious silence as everyone ponders that] 3rd writer: Wouldn't she drown being in a lake? That's what happens to witches when we dunk them. 2nd writer: Wouldn't the sword rust in the water? 1st writer: How does Arthur find her when she's out in a lake? 4th writer: Look chaps, work with me here. Let's suppose this Lady was Otherworldly but in a good way, so no drowning. Also the sword is Otherworldly, so obviously it doesn't rust. 2nd writer & 3rd writers fist bump each other: Nice. 4th writer: And Arthur is led to her by someone. Didn't I read some tales about a seer named Merlin? Yeah, seers are weird, Merlin can make that connection for us. 1st writer: Fair. But can we give the sword some visual flair? 3rd writer: Maybe it could spit fire from the handguard? 4th writer: What, like a chimney flue? 3rd writer: No, more 'mythological', say the handguard turns into chimera and they spit fire? 4th writer: Sure, why not at this point? 2nd writer (trying not to be left out): Can the scabbard be special too? 1st writer: How so? 2nd writer: Maybe it ... protects you from bleeding while you have it on. 3rd writer: Do you have be holding Hard Cleft as well, or the sheath just does it on its own? 2nd writer: On its own. It's special unto itself. 1st writer: All right lads, I think we're losing focus here. These are all fine ideas for the sword, let's run with them and see what the locals do with this.

[@rokssolana]

There is a trope of a "mech (sword) kladenets" in Ukrainian and Russian legends and fairy tales. The word "kladenets" actually has a Slavic root and is related to the word "klast" (put) and "klad" (treasure), but it sounds so similar to the Welsh word that I wonder now if the trope actually came from the Arthurian legend, and the word was corrupted with a folk etymology attached to it.

[@beth12svist]

... being Czech, it took me a moment to realise that "mech" was "meč" and not "mech" and you were not talking about moss. :D That's interesting - also because if it's true it got so far and stayed in the folklore but skipped us in the process!

[@MrMortull]

Could it be there there has always been a "hero sword/axe/spear" since proto-european times, and each language or culture has misunderstood the names of these weapons to fit their own language?

[@rokssolana]

@@MrMortull Yeah, your version actually sounds more plausible than mine, particularly from the perspective of how languages developed in general (I have a linguistics education).

[@rokssolana]

@@beth12svist Some cities in medieval Ukraine (Rus) were ruled by Viking feudal lords (Variagi), which didn't happen in Czech lands, as far as I'm aware, so they could have been the ones that picked it up from Britain and spread it around. But I'm just speculating here.

[@beth12svist]

@@rokssolana Wild speculation, but it's true that not all the trading routes and stuff went through here - though a lot of them did. :D

[@xlilsnailx]

"like it's real tv." Sir, I learn more here than most "education" channels on my television. I enjoy the etymology as much as your snarky comment about the lady of the lake being a tart. If only every sword should have such a glorious and fascinating history... I look forward to your recount of Merlin and the Knights. Have a great week!

Sexy Welsh words FTW! More of them please! And if it comes with Arthur content, all the better.

[@sekhmara8590]

Thinking my favorite part of this Arthurian adventure is the tracing through history using language. Tasty tidbits of truth in the meaning of words. Absolutely loving it. Yes, more please... after adequate rest.

[@shawnagoddard4999]

A Merlin episode would be great! I'm enjoying this rabbit hole so much. Side note, when we started the soft mutations in my Welsh class everyone on Zoom suddenly looked collectivity terrified.

[@TheBaconWizard]

Rabbit holes are the best holes. Or.. wait.. no... I mean...

[@Bildgesmythe]

The magic is in the telling, as an old bard in a D&D game once said. You tell it magicaly Welsh Viking!

[@mercianthane2503]

Love this! But we need way more Arthur content here! You're not escaping our boi Arthur.

[@bdmaus4975]

You can not be a king unless the people believe and knights follow you because of your line of "blood." See Arthur had command nobility and iron strength endowed on him because of another tale from heaven "above."

[@mercianthane2503]

@@bdmaus4975 what

[@BenLlywelyn]

Plesur wir / A true pleasure to hear someone talk about this and not foul up the Welsh names.

[@DarkwaveMistress]

How I enjoy these videos! I would love it if you could talk a little more about the Welsh Arthurian tales. I think they are incredibly interesting and not well known enough.

[@anieth]

I'm playing this over and over to hear you say Mabinogion! Watery tart, indeed... I love the way the English used to go to great lengths to turn Celtic origin words into Hebrew (well, something Gothic would be preferred!) OMG what was the picture of Fergus? I screamed! Swords! I was too happy to do an entire graphic novel series without swords!!!

[@timmadison5410]

It's really fascinating how certain stories or fragments of stories persist over time and acquire or shed material as they go on. There's so much cultural whisper down the lane. Of course, there always seems to be someone who comes along at some point who just says, "Eh. NEEDS MORE WIZARDS!"

[@experimentallytheoretical3116]

I love that so much Official Authurian Legend stuff is basically medieval fanfiction and a multilingual/generational game of telephone. While also hating that it hogs the spotlight from the earlier versions. Please take care of yourself. New videos can always wait til things settle down :)

[@atelierthhun1165]

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Quest For Briton's Arthur. Could the maligned Lady of the Lake have more realistically inhabited a crannog ?

[@pentegarn1]

Finally!!! Someone talking about Arthur who mentions the Mabingoin....thank you!

[@polinaignatenkova3634]

The tea addiction is so damn relatable. There should be a club about it

[@CopenhagenDreaming]

"Is that a Hard Pass in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" There. That's the worst I could come up with. You're welcome.

[@snazzypazzy]

"throw that blade at me wet lady" I think I found my opening line for if I ever get back into dating. Anyway: very interesting video. I reconize those moments when you don't even remember what day it is. Take care of yourself!

[@pintsizeddork]

Culhwch: Hey Arthur, I need your help! Arthur: *Hands Culhwch his sword* It's a hard pass from me bro

[@charlessegale6493]

10:01: We're gonna have to do a Merlin episode. I think we just have to. Me, a new subscriber: YES!!! I'd like to see you tackle that subject with your knowledge and humor.

[@malcolmhunter3831]

One suggestion that I have come across is that the idea of the sword in the stone harks back to the time of bronze swords, which were cast in stone moulds, which must have seemed quite magical to most people, when such weapons were first introduced.

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

@Malcolm Hunter - could also explain the whole ‘cuts through steel like wood’ thing if it was a corruption of myths dating back to when bronze weapons were the norm if it was an early iron/steel sword which would’ve wreaked its bronze contemporaries in combat. That would also fit in with the ‘hard cleft’ actual origin of its name.

[@pattheplanter]

Except the first mention is of it stuck in an anvil on a rock, like the testing of swords by Sigurd except they did not get all the way through.

[@pattheplanter]

Bronze deforms and blunts easily but would not cleave so easily, I think. Non-steel iron would shatter if hit with a good steel sword. I think that is the more likely transition that gave rise to the -meme- name.

[@Ithirahad]

@@lordofuzkulak8308 "Early" iron will get pretty horribly savaged by good bronze; I don't recommend it. Steel though... sure, I guess.

[@JMagician.]

Let’s go more Arthurian legend!

[@Luanna801]

"We'll do a Merlin video, don't worry about it." YES! Looking forward to it.

[@alexcrompton1937]

Dropping soup out my mouth at the dialogue between Merlin, Arthur and the lady of the lake XD

[@crystallinecrow3365]

Yes please to future videos. I love it when you teach me about Arthurian legend and say sexy Welsh words. I mean. I love it when you teach me about basically anything I'm just saying 😂

[@TwoMikesProductions]

Not gonna lie, hard cleave as a name for a sword absolutely Fucks. Love it. MORT D ARTHUR? MORE LIKE MORE DA ARTHURian stuff please

[@sekhmara8590]

It's so hardcore, making Arthur even more of a badass warrior.

[@simoventuri]

WATERY TART!!! 🤣 did not expect that!!! Best line of the movie! I think I love you!

[@Angel_1394]

Having watched this channel grow and change has been amazing. Love these videos. Have honestly learned more about history and legends then I ever did in school. Cant wait for the next episode!

[@TheWelshViking]

Aw shucks! It's so nice to keep seeing you and reading such lovely positivity as well :)

[@maleahlock]

I learn so much more from your channel than any university course! Thank you for the video! I really like the addition of non passive women in the legends via morgan and fairies etc. They still aren't treated equally with the manly mens, but my minor interest in "Arthurian" "legends" can only abide its retelling after the introduction of watery tarts. It's all just fan fiction anyway 😊

[@phatlaluke]

Would love to see you go through Arthur's knights, i think there's a triad or two about them

[@meamela9820]

Yes, this is a series now, and we absolutely want a Merlin episode.

[@davidgarland7736]

I'm glad you mentioned the scabbard too, that was a favourite part of the legend to me and gets omitted in many tellings.

[@paulaunger3061]

Oooh yes! More Arthur and more sexy Welsh words! ;p Looking forward to the Merlin episode - read a book by Nicolai Tolstoy back the early 90s which seemed to be everything worth saying on the subject. It'll be interesting to see what's what 30 years later. Also, do you think it's possible that the story of Sigurd and Gram got mixed up with the Arthurian one about swords? Sigurd pulls Gram out of a stone, doesn't he? Being an exceptionally strong teenager at that point...

[@euansmith3699]

Welsh words are the sexiest; in the manner that women who smoke cigars and drink brandy for breakfast, have the sexiest voices... Especially if they are Cerys Matthews.

[@donaldjohnson1148]

@10:21- "Throw that blade at me Wet lady." I don't know why but that line absolutely killed me.

[@DawnOldham]

I never knew how this story morphed over time- thank you!

[@kfries1282]

"Throw that blade at me wet lady!" Headcannon that that's what Arthur actually says, and no one can convince me otherwise

[@lelaniadam]

All of the episodes pertaining to the King Arthurian-universe please. ;)

[@permiebird937]

Then is it the defect of the matter, that all these different Arthur stories are just fan fiction of the last generation's bards? 🤔 Looking forward to your Merlin video. Would love to see a lady of the lake, or strange women lying in ponds distributing swords, video too. I haven't done a deep dive on the whole legend, but she seems an under explored part of it.

[@mercianthane2503]

Yes, fanfiction. Basically Arthur is this warlord who leaded the kings of the britons against saxons in Mons Badonicus. Maybe that single battle, which ended in victory, elevated his status, and later on, bards just decided to create fantastical tales of this Arthur guy cuz he was so awesome.

[@euansmith3699]

Chrétien de Troyes, "Look, Mallory, you can 'ship Lancelot and Guennieve all you want, but you'll never convice me that their love was every anything but pure! Them getting it on is just your garbage head-canon! "

[@101Mant]

That's pretty much how all legends and myths happen, it's just with older stuff you can no longer trace it back to the original creator and often it was originally told rather than written down.

[@wendygore2709]

Hang in there mate. Take some time for yourself & just breathe. We love & Diolch for your extremely informative videos & if you're a little late posting, no worries. Keep up the great work & take care of your physical & mental health. We'll still be here for you👑🗡️🛡️

[@taracampbell2433]

"I have a problem that I don't want solved." Amen. Right there with you!

[@DanielledeVreede]

Sending you some warm hugs for these winterish times! Thank you again for taking the time to make us a video (on whatever day, they're pretty much all the same anyway). And please don't feel obliged to do so every week if you need more time for self care. We care more about your wellbeing than about our entertainment ❤ That said, I love the Arthurian video's 😁

[@dexaria]

I’m always keen for more Arthurian content!

[@savahnah]

Thankyou so much for covering this!!! Also I hope the situations causing you stress can ease soon! Sending you a metaphorical cup of tea ✨

[@Ashley_tipsyshades]

As a Hebrew speaker, it's hilarious to think someone thought anything remotely sounding like "caliber" etc sounds anything like the root for cutting (es/ex/ actually doesn't sound too far off from wood/tree etz though)

[@acecat2798]

It cuts through steel like wood! Wood like steel! Butter like a hot knife! Bread like a bread slicer! Onions like a cheese grater! It chops, it purees, it slices, it dices!

[@vestvood7333]

Have you ever read The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell? It's a trilogy of novels set in sixth century Britain and telling Arthur's story from the view of Derfel Gadarn. I like to re-read it every few years. But trigger warning: He's kept Morgana and some other later additions.

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

@vestvood - but he does have Lancelot as a villain (with good in-universe publicity) rather than a noblest of noble hero, so he’s not blindly adhering to the later additions at least.

[@TheWelshViking]

I actually haven't! I'm a Cornwell fan so I should pick it up

[@vestvood7333]

@@lordofuzkulak8308 Yes, very true.

[@vestvood7333]

@@TheWelshViking Oh, in that case, you probably can't go wrong. I'm a huge fan of his as well. In any case, great video as always. I really enjoy watching your content during my coffee breaks. There is just something about drinking from my own cup while watching you having your tea.

[@ksbrook1430]

Ah, the joys of everchanging language, legends, sagas, stories, and poetry.

[@aleisterlavey9716]

" ey buddy, can you lend me the one and only excalibur for a quest I might not survive?" "...sure."

[@HeraldHealer]

I'm not going to hard pass on any of the Arthur stories especially the older Welsh stories. In fact I'd love to hear you read the first story you mentoined.

[@lynnemcdonald465]

I did enjoy that! You know, if you run out of topics you could read us the phone book in Welsh.

[@JeanieD]

“We’ll do a Merlin video, don’t worry about it.” Whew! Can’t wait!

[@j3tztbassman123]

Week late, maybe I am; but a native Welsh interpretation of Arthurian lore would be great!!! Have you ever watched a smith forge a blade? That's pulling a sword from stone.

[@talscorner3696]

This is way better than regular TV!

[@cindykurneck]

LOL! You called the lady of the lake a Tart. LOL I do love your shows. Thank you

[@MrKarlGP]

Let's face it, "Hard Cleaver" is basically ancient branding... see also Exacto and "honed by stone" ;)

[@lajoyous1568]

It slices, it dices, it's the only blade you'll ever need 🙃 sorry for some reason "hard cleaver" had me thinking about kitchen gadget advertising

[@pattheplanter]

@@lajoyous1568 Chop-o-matic, all your enemies chopped to perfection without shedding a single tear.

[@stevefranklin9176]

Cheers Jimmy for another fascinating upload.

[@Ithirahad]

0:33 I should've expected that one, but nonetheless I'm dumb, I expected "Excalibur", and ultimately you calad-"fwled" me. Good on you sir.

[@garypage]

another brilliant vid...great to get an update on current thinking on the Mabinogion

[@maryellencook9528]

One has to love those Watery Tarts, though.

[@averyfineloafer]

Just commenting to vote for more Welsh words (nice to hear Ysbaddaden spoken / you told me to @ 2:29) and more Welsh Arthurian videos; Arthur is a Briton, dang it!

[@BrotherJing1]

It's interesting Culwch has been redated. It makes more sense of some elements like the fact he's riding around with an axe with a blade 'big as his forearm' or words to that effect and potentially that Arthurs court is in Cornwall as by then the Normans had been sold Tintagel as the site of his castle and had started building their fancy one there. Although the fact it pops up in a Welsh source like this potentially is interesting as it shows they wouldn't think it's weird that an 'English' county was where Arthurs kingdom was. Also you didn't mention that after listing about a hundred random things Arthur will lend big C he just kind of goes 'But not my knife, alright son? Just don't even try it' Feel like Arthur has cut some dudes in this story. Also. hurray Celtic Fringe!

[@matthewjayjack8143]

Yes to both more Arthur and more sexy, seductive Welsh words!

[@filmfan4]

Definitely need a Merlin video!

[@ArtyFartyBart]

Why, just this morning, while I was driving to work, I was wondering where the stress in Ysbaddaden falls. You're some kind of wizard, Jimmy.

[@tinnagigja3723]

0:33 Aagh! What a fun cut. Creepy. Nice.

[@khartog01]

"I have a problem that I don't want solved" I think many of us can relate to that.

[@ramenxz218]

This is really fun to watch :)

[@persiswynter6357]

Awesome video! I love Arthuriana. Keep them coming!

[@Handskemager]

The version I heard was the sword in the stone was named Clamont and broke in battle. Excalibur was gifted to him by the lady in the lake. Lots of versions i guess. Great video

[@callunas]

Gotta love how the 'canon' of Arthurian legend is like 90% just generations of fanfic upon fanfic of the original. Anachronistic, tropey, OC-filled fanfic. Gonna tell myself that my hours reading Merlin fic on AO3 is in the true spirit of the legend.

[@jovanweismiller7114]

I don't care about 'sexy Welsh words', but I definitely want more Arthur! I've read everything I can lay my hands on, fiction, archaeology, mythology, etc., dealing with the Arthurian legend.

[@KingAenti]

I'd be interesting to hear your thoughts about "the Green Knight"

[@Entiox]

It's ok Jimmy, I too suffer from a tea addiction. While watching this video I had a knock at the door, it was the mail carrier delivering 6 pounds of tea. Apparently the average American uses only about a half pound of tea per year, while I'll go through that much in about 2 weeks.

[@Greye13]

Yes! please, to all of it. More of Arthur, Merlin, sword in the stone, Vikings, rants, re-enactments, and so on, etc. I am enjoying all of it. Also, I love tea as well. ☕ So sorry for your stress. I do hope things get better for you. Take care and many blessings.

[@Dreoilin]

Great vid, well done! 👍

[@etainne2001]

" thrust to him by a watery tart" omg too funny. Are you suggesting that "D&D" campaigns have been going on for centuries? That Excalibur has a character sheet somewhere? Gotta love the whole fantasy epic tale genre. especially on long cold nights when you don't have a significant other to keep you occupied.

[@nicprokes3679]

either everyone was naming their weapon The Cool Sword, or it was a singular The Cool Sword That We Adventuring Bros Share* (*pass it on when you're done with it, okay?** (**don't you dare stick it in a rock!!!))