The stories of King Arthur were written and retold over many centuries, rather than being set in any specific historical time. So, when you read them, you may encounter a real mix of historical arms and armors, as well as place names and cultural details.
Still, research is one of my favorite things, so of course I have to at least try to place my stories in history. One of the big problems I struggle with is geography. What places and roads existed at any given time?
Of the medieval maps of England that I've found, this one in Latin by monk Matthew Paris (circa 1250 AD) is definitely the most useful. You can find an interactive and translated version of it here: Matthew Paris Annotated Map - Historia Cartarum
While it's difficult to tell how different places are geographically related to each other on this map, it gives a lot of insight into what Paris thought was important. So we get some major geographic features, lots of bishoprics, towns, and occasional notes that just make me grin.
"The Tame and the Isis make the Thames, just as the Jor and the Dan make the River Jordan." Sorry, what?
On South Wales. "A marshy, woody, hilly, and impassable region, suitable for shepherds. The inhabitants are agile, barbaric, and warlike."
On central Wales. "This region is also called Britain because of its inhabitants, who boast that they are descended from the Greeks." I found this particularly interesting because Edmund Spenser gives one of his heroes, Artegall the Savage Knight, ties to ancient Greece--although Artegall is supposed to be from Cornwall.
Looking toward Ireland. "This part between the north and the south looks out only towards a vast sea which is nothing but the dwelling place of monsters. However, an island exists there..."
And what's going on with Scotland? Why is the upper half barely connected to the lower half, and called "Scotland beyond the Sea"?
Do you have a favorite premodern map?
Comments
Post a Comment