Expert: Malcolm Speechley - 7/22/2008

Question
Hello how are you?
 My Question is on the battle of Batten hill. I would like to know if Bath England is the actually site of the battle? Also if you believe that King Author was really a Roman centurion in the 600's. In addition what was the out come. I appreciate it very much. I thank you for your time.

Cassius

Answer
Hi Cassius.

As a legendary dark age figure there is very little known about Arthur for certain. He may or may not have been a King or he may only have been a warrior or or mercenary.

Having said that it is probably true that a warrior known as Arthur led troops in a number of battles the most famous of which was Badon Hill (not batten hill). This is believed to have occurred in around 496AD. The D in Badon Hill was  probably pronounced with the 'th' sound making the prounounciation 'Bathon' Hill. Since this sounds very much like Bath it is highly likely that Bath was indeed the site of this battle.

While Arthur certainly existed some of the deeds attributed to him are unhistorical. Many of these deeds were carried out by other People but were than credited to Arthur in order to Bolster his heroic image. One of these people whose actions were attributed to Arthur was a Roman General called Magnus Maximus who was based in Britain and who, for a while at the end of the 4th century, ruled the Western Roman Empire. Maximus was a big hero in Britain, hence his partial identification with Arthur. He was as I have indicated, However, of a far higher rank than a centurion.


Hope you find this helpful.

Malcolm.