327. Stop Trying To Find The Real King Arthur with Amy Jeffs | Gloucester History Festival Special

Was King Arthur real? or are we looking at history all wrong?If you think finding a 6th-century tomb solves the Arthurian legend, think again. Medievalist, artist, and author Dr. Amy Jeffs (author of Arthur: A New Life) joins host Paul Bavill to dismantle the obsession with "smoking gun" popular history. From giant-descended queens to shape-shifting wizards, the true power of King Arthur lies not in a single dead warlord, but in centuries of evolving folklore, political propaganda, and captivating mystery.In this episode, we explore:The Gloucester Cathedral Apprentice Bracket Myth: How medieval art history misreads grief vs. miracles.The Real Roots of Arthur: 9th-century Breton charters, early Welsh poetry, and monster-slaying heroes.Brute Chronicles & Propaganda: How medieval kings twisted myth to justify foreign conquests.The Dark Origin of the Round Table: Food fights, brutal executions, and baronial politics.Forgotten Women of Arthurian Legend: Morgan le Fay, Guinevere's lineage, and Merlin’s sister.Stop reducing complex legends to simple answers—embrace the magic of historical mystery!Guest Info & Book Links:Buy the Book: Order Arthur: A New Life via the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781529431681Website: https://www.amyjeffshistoria.com/Instagram: @amyjeffs_authorLive Event: See Dr. Amy Jeffs live at the Gloucester History Festival (12th–20th September). Book tickets now at https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk.Recommended Episodes:Episode 322: Emily Hauser rages that there is no canonical version of The Odyssey.Episode 276: Nick Jubber rages that vampires are not Transylvanian.Follow & Support History Rage:Website: https://www.historyrage.comPatreon: Join for £3/month for ad-free listening, or £5/month for live streams, early releases, and the History Rage mug at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage.Apple Podcasts: Subscribe directly on Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes.Social Media: Follow @HistoryRage on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.