ABSTRACT
When Arthur appears for the first time in a narrative that claims to be historic, it is as dux bellorum, a leader in war. Nennius designates him as such and supports this title with his well-known list of twelve battles from which this commander-in-chief emerged victorious. 1 When one turns from this pre-medieval document, which apparently dates from the ninth century, to the fifteenth-century version of the Arthurian story written by Thomas Malory, an account which both sums up and brings to a close the vast body of medieval works about King Arthur and his court, one finds again an Arthur who plays, among other roles, those of warrior and leader of warriors. During the centuries that separate these two authors, however, the character of Arthur underwent a profound change. The change occurred rather abruptly during the twelfth century and at the same time as the works concerning Arthur’s life, era, and companions evolved from pseudo-history to the obviously fictional genre of romance. Arthur at this point was shifted to the background and changed from a leading actor at the center of events to a supporting player, almost a decoration, while others moved forward to claim our attention. The old center recedes, and to an astonishing degree.
