The legend and the facts behind King Arthur The story of Arthur, Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table has been handed on by medieval poets and mythical stories—but what if he did indeed reign as a great king in the early years of Britain's history? If so, who was he? And what do the historical documents tell us about him? This lively brief history re-examines the sources material and finds clear evidence that the Arthurian legends arise from the exploits of at least three men, originating in Wales, Scotland and Brittany.