Are King Arthur and Ambrosius Aurelianus the Same Person?

King Arthur is a legendary figure, the central character of the Arthurian legends. He is often depicted as a noble king of Britain who led the defense against Saxon invaders, established the Knights of the Round Table, and sought the Holy Grail. While his historical existence is debated, he is often viewed as a mythological or semi-historical figure. Although he is sometimes linked with Ambrosius Aurelianus in the context of Arthurian legend and early British history, the two are not considered the same person.

The Historical Ambrosius Aurelianus

Ambrosius Aurelianus is a historical figure believed to be a Romano-British leader during the 5th century. He is mentioned by the historian Gildas, and it is thought that he played a significant role in resisting Saxon invasions. Some later writers have drawn parallels between him and Arthur, suggesting that Arthur's character may have been inspired by or conflated with Ambrosius.

Ambrosius Aurelianus is described as leading the Brythonic army that defeated the invading Saxons at the Battle of Badon, around 516 AD. This battle is mentioned by the Welsh monk Gildas and is supported by the Welsh historical figure Emrys Gwledig. Subsequently, the Saxon advance into Celtic lands was slowed for about 50 years. This timeline matches with the much later written legend of Arthur, where the Saxons shallower push back is a significant element.

Legends and Historical Figures

King Arthur does not appear in any historical sources for several hundred more years. Welsh legends and epic poetry like Y Gododdin and the Mabinogion seem to try to retrofit the character to the history. During this period, the work of Welsh monk figures and writers like Geoffrey of Monmouth and Cretien de Troyes helped to bring together a whole series of legends and new ideas to create the legend of King Arthur that we know today.

While Emrys, or Ambrosius Aurelianus, could fit as a King Arthur figure, it is important to note that he was not a king, was not married to a Guinevere, did not pull a sword from a stone, nor did he have knowledge of air speeds and weight carrying capacities of African Swallows. These are elements that are specific to the well-known King Arthur legend, distinct from the historical Ambrosius Aurelianus.

In summary, while Ambrosius Aurelianus may have influenced the legends surrounding King Arthur, the two are not the same person in the realms of both history and myth. The historical figure Ambrosius Aurelianus is a genuine historical personality, while the legendary King Arthur is a character that evolved over centuries of storytelling and reinterpretation.