Discussion
of Camelon's Arthurian Connection
By
David Nash Ford
C A M E L O N
The
Scottish Camelot
Scotland
has its own claimant to the title of King Arthur. It
also has its own Camelot.
Tradition:
In 1695, Gibson recorded that the old Roman Fort of
Colania at Camelon, on the outskirts of Falkirk, was:
"A
little ancient city, where the common people believe
there was formerly a road for ships. They call it
Camelot. It may be gathered from history that this was
the Palace of the Picts."
About a hundred years
previously, George Buchanan had recorded of the same
place that "some of our writers falsely imagine
(it) to have been Camulodunum". In 1522, Hector
Boece had associated Colania with King Cruthneus
Camelon of the Picts.
The
Theory: In his book,
"Arturius - A Quest for Camelot," David
F. Carroll sets out his ideas that suggest
that the great King Arthur of legend was the
historical late 6th century Prince Artuir, eldest son
of King Aidan of Dalriada. Carroll believes that
Artuir ruled the oppressed Kingdom of Manau Gododdin
during his father's Dalriadan reign. He died at the
Battle of the Miathi in 582, which Carroll equates
with Camlann
and places in the same kingdom. What more natural than
for this Prince to make his capital at the old Roman
Fort of Colania (which Carroll refers to as Ad Vallum)
in the centre of Manau Gododdin, a place called
Camelot in the past and still called Camelon today?
Carroll agrees that Chrétien
De Troyes' Camelot was in origin Camulodunum,
but that the French poet had taken the name from the
mistaken Scottish belief that this was the Latin name
for the fort at Camelon. This was probably due to
confusion between Colania and the Colonia of
Camulodunum (Colchester). It may even have been an
assumed connection on Chrétien's part.
Possible
Interpretations & Criticism:
The main problem with Carroll's ideas is the
identification of Arthur himself. Artuir of Dalriada
was probably born at least twenty years after the
supposed death of the traditional Arthur of legend;
though dating any event or lifespan in the Dark Ages
is problematic at best. The appeal of the Camelot
identification is that it places an historical Arthur
in the region where a place traditionally known as
Camelot exists. Unfortunately, Artuir's connection
with Manau Gododdin is itself uncertain. Carroll's own
acknowledgement that Chrétien may have used the name
through a complete misunderstanding does, however,
have distinct possibilities.
Picture of the North
Camp of Ad Vallum © David F. Carroll
Link to: David
F.Carroll's Own Web Site
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