Arthur of the Britons



Arthur of the Britons was a short-lived but fondly remembered British television show about the "historical" King Arthur. Produced by the HTV regional franchise, it consisted of two series, released between 1972 and 1973.

Set in the Dark Ages a century after the Roman withdrawal from Britain, Arthur is not a great king with an elaborate court; instead, he is the chieftain of a small Celtic tribe and works to unite the other tribes against the Saxon invaders. Helping him is Llud, his adoptive father; Kai, a Saxon orphan reared as Arthur's brother; Arthur's cousin, Mark of Cornwall; the Jute woman Rowena; and the Jute chief Yorath. Cerdig, chieftain of the Saxons, is Arthur's main nemesis.

The series contains examples of:

 * Brian Blessed: as Mark of Cornwall.
 * Compilation Movie: a surprisingly well-done 90 minute direct-to-video movie, King Arthur, the Young Warlord.
 * Dark Age Europe
 * Demythtification
 * Handicapped Badass: Llud the Silver-Handed
 * It Tastes Like Feet: One episode had Arthur attempting to unite two tribes. During a feast, he suggests the two tribes swap their bread. This almost leads to a riot as each side tries the other's bread and declares it to be 'frog spawn' or something similar.
 * King Arthur