60 acast.com The Matter of Britain Podcast: history and legend of King Arthur and his knights https://www.matterofbritainpodcast.com en Zach Hudson King Arthur, Arthurian,Medieval,Middle Ages,Literature,History,Round Table,Holy Grail,Britain,Legend,Camelot,Chivalry,Medieval Literature,Medieval Romances,British Literature Zach Hudson This podcast explores the legends of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table from their origins to the modern day. We'll discuss Welsh legends, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Chrétien de Troyes, the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles, Malory's Morte d'Arthur, the Victorian revival and modern adaptations, as well as many lesser-known works.


https://www.matterofbritainpodcast.com

https://www.patreon.com/thematterofbritainpodcast


Music is from "Hevene Quene" by Ensemble Belladonna, courtesy of Raumklang music. Available at Spotify, Apple Music and asinamusic.com.

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]]> This podcast explores the legends of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table from their origins to the modern day. We'll discuss Welsh legends, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Chrétien de Troyes, the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles, Malory's Morte d'Arthur, the Victorian revival and modern adaptations, as well as many lesser-known works.


https://www.matterofbritainpodcast.com

https://www.patreon.com/thematterofbritainpodcast


Music is from "Hevene Quene" by Ensemble Belladonna, courtesy of Raumklang music. Available at Spotify, Apple Music and asinamusic.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false Zach Hudson z.t.hudson@gmail.com 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 the-matter-of-britain-podcast serial https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22/1756877126249-eafe3d29-e36a-4149-9270-a528e1194478.jpeg https://www.matterofbritainpodcast.com The Matter of Britain Podcast: history and legend of King Arthur and his knights Yvain, or the Knight with the Lion Yvain, or the Knight with the Lion Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:01:32 GMT 1:01:30 6942663c5e2a1916ecb35756 false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 6942663c5e2a1916ecb35756 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 10 The fourth of Chretien de Troyes' romances, Yvain, or the Knight with the Lion, continues the exploration how to balance love and adventure, as Yvain tries to win his way back into his wife's favor after coming home late. Like, a whole year late.

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]]> The fourth of Chretien de Troyes' romances, Yvain, or the Knight with the Lion, continues the exploration how to balance love and adventure, as Yvain tries to win his way back into his wife's favor after coming home late. Like, a whole year late.

http://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com

http://www.patreon/com/thematterofbritainpodcast

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]]> Lancelot, or the Knight of the Cart Lancelot, or the Knight of the Cart Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:00 GMT 1:08:09 692a40225cace2e2a5f5a780 false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 692a40225cace2e2a5f5a780 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 9 Alongside Perceval, Chretien's story of Lancelot was the most influential of his romances on later Arthurian lore. This narrative introduces Lancelot and the adulterous relationship with Queen Guinevere that will eventually undo Arthur's kingdom. The story itself, however, is simply a knightly adventure of romance, enchantment, and impractical bridge design.

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]]> Alongside Perceval, Chretien's story of Lancelot was the most influential of his romances on later Arthurian lore. This narrative introduces Lancelot and the adulterous relationship with Queen Guinevere that will eventually undo Arthur's kingdom. The story itself, however, is simply a knightly adventure of romance, enchantment, and impractical bridge design.

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]]> Marie de France Marie de France Sun, 09 Nov 2025 19:41:38 GMT 41:44 6910ee71f273d64d0baccff2 false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 6910ee71f273d64d0baccff2 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 8 Marie de France was one of the most popular writers of Breton lais in the 12th century, and some of these mention King Arthur or Arthurian characters. Like romances, Marie's lais are written in rhyming octosyllabic meter, but they are shorter, more like short stories than novels. This episode looks at the lais of "Lanval", "Chevrefoil", "La Fresne", "Equitan", "Guigemar", "Eliduc" and "Yonec", and considers what they say about love and relationships.

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]]> Marie de France was one of the most popular writers of Breton lais in the 12th century, and some of these mention King Arthur or Arthurian characters. Like romances, Marie's lais are written in rhyming octosyllabic meter, but they are shorter, more like short stories than novels. This episode looks at the lais of "Lanval", "Chevrefoil", "La Fresne", "Equitan", "Guigemar", "Eliduc" and "Yonec", and considers what they say about love and relationships.

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]]> Cligès Cligès Tue, 04 Nov 2025 01:11:03 GMT 1:13:20 690952a6471525d352d2d9aa false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 690952a6471525d352d2d9aa 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 7 Chrétien de Troyes' romance Cligès follows two stories: the story of the Greek knight Alexander and his love Soredamors, and then the story of their son Cligès, who falls in love with his uncle the Emperor's wife. With more internal monologue than just about any other romance, Cligès acts as a kind of discourse on love.

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]]> Chrétien de Troyes' romance Cligès follows two stories: the story of the Greek knight Alexander and his love Soredamors, and then the story of their son Cligès, who falls in love with his uncle the Emperor's wife. With more internal monologue than just about any other romance, Cligès acts as a kind of discourse on love.

http://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com

http://www.patreon/com/thematterofbritainpodcast

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]]> Geraint and Enid Geraint and Enid Sun, 26 Oct 2025 19:06:21 GMT 36:42 69275dbce85b4ee0f93156a4 false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 69275dbce85b4ee0f93156a4 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 6 Geraint and Enid is a Welsh version of Erec and Enide. This episode takes a look at how the story changed between the two versions.

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]]> Geraint and Enid is a Welsh version of Erec and Enide. This episode takes a look at how the story changed between the two versions.

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]]> Erec and Enide Erec and Enide Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:11:28 GMT 1:04:23 68dcd420d5c8a1f9b3412e6c false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 68dcd420d5c8a1f9b3412e6c 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 5 Erec and Enide is the first of Chrétien de Troyes' romances, and we see the focus shift away from Arthur himself to the brave deeds and relationship drama of his knights and their ladies.

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]]> Erec and Enide is the first of Chrétien de Troyes' romances, and we see the focus shift away from Arthur himself to the brave deeds and relationship drama of his knights and their ladies.

http://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com

http://www.patreon/com/thematterofbritainpodcast

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]]> Wace and Layamon Wace and Layamon Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:13:46 GMT 54:29 68cf9b5f203f72ea57c423a3 false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 68cf9b5f203f72ea57c423a3 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 4 This episode looks at the Roman de Brut by Norman poet Wace and the English poem Brut by Layamon. Both follow from Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae. We also take a look at Gerald of Wales, and his account of the discovery of the Arthur and Guinevere's tomb at Glastonbury Abbey.

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]]> This episode looks at the Roman de Brut by Norman poet Wace and the English poem Brut by Layamon. Both follow from Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae. We also take a look at Gerald of Wales, and his account of the discovery of the Arthur and Guinevere's tomb at Glastonbury Abbey.

http://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com

http://www.patreon/com/thematterofbritainpodcast

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]]> Historia Regum Britanniae Historia Regum Britanniae Mon, 15 Sep 2025 01:27:16 GMT 50:50 68c2229faca3521c76276759 false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 68c2229faca3521c76276759 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 3 This episode looks at the Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 1136 text on the history of the kings of Britain, the first work to describe Arthur’s life in detail. We also take a quick look at Caradoc’s The Life of Gildas.

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]]> This episode looks at the Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 1136 text on the history of the kings of Britain, the first work to describe Arthur’s life in detail. We also take a quick look at Caradoc’s The Life of Gildas.

http://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com

http://www.patreon/com/thematterofbritainpodcast

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]]> Culhwch and Olwen Culhwch and Olwen Mon, 08 Sep 2025 23:13:15 GMT 27:08 68b93b96d6e2cdaa269638da false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 68b93b96d6e2cdaa269638da 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 2 The story of Culhwch and Olwen comes from the Welsh tradition, and it a great example of the kinds of legends and folktales that grew up around Arthur as a Celtic culture hero.


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]]> The story of Culhwch and Olwen comes from the Welsh tradition, and it a great example of the kinds of legends and folktales that grew up around Arthur as a Celtic culture hero.


https://www.matterofbritainpodcast.com

https://www.patreon.com/thematterofbritainpodcast

http://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com

http://www.patreon/com/thematterofbritainpodcast

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]]> Origins Origins Wed, 03 Sep 2025 02:09:30 GMT 34:40 68b7a35ad6e2cdaa262aa6b1 false https://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com 68b7a35ad6e2cdaa262aa6b1 6864a9b8d9fe1412186f3c22 full 1 1 This episode examines the earliest mentions of Arthur, Merlin, Guenevere and other figures. We discuss Gildas's De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, Nennius's Historia Brittonum, the Annales Cambriae, the Welsh Triads and "Pa Gŵr yw y Porthor?"


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http://www.patreon.com/thematterofbritainpodcast



http://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com

http://www.patreon/com/thematterofbritainpodcast

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]]> This episode examines the earliest mentions of Arthur, Merlin, Guenevere and other figures. We discuss Gildas's De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, Nennius's Historia Brittonum, the Annales Cambriae, the Welsh Triads and "Pa Gŵr yw y Porthor?"


http://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com

http://www.patreon.com/thematterofbritainpodcast



http://www.matterofbritianpodcast.com

http://www.patreon/com/thematterofbritainpodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>