No, he says without hesitation. He is still seeking a judicial review over a government decision allowing ancient human remains from Stonehenge to be kept in a museum: Im fighting to get them back, hesays. After reading a book on King Arthur by the occultist Gareth Knight, he leapt to the conclusion that he was the reincarnation of the mythical king and changed his name by deed poll. 'The Trials of Arthur' 2012 revised edition by Arthur Pendragon and CJ Stone. The most important connection, says Pendragon, is the mutual commitment to defending freedom at all costs. King Arthur and Stonehenge images on Flickr, The Stonehenge News Blog When the media are looking for a soundbite from the rapidly growing pagan community in the UK, they invariably call Arthur and as a result the perception of many of the public is that he is the King of all the Druids. The Wheel of the Year revolves beyond death and towards new light and new life. Identifying as a greaser, he formed a biker club known as the Gravediggers, moving in counter-cultural circles at free festivals around Britain. "It's very different to the city, much more peaceful.". Arthur was invited to the Saatchi Gallery to open the exhibition. DRUID King Arthur Pendragon is said to be the reincarnation of the warlord who defended Britain. Early German literature's motif of Uther's descent from fairies, believed to have relied on some now lost Celtic material, may have been meant to explain Arthur's connection with Avalon. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images Gavin Haynes Wed 11 Jan 2017 12.29 EST Last modified on Tue 13 Mar 2018. He is a fairly ambiguous individual throughout the literature, but is described as a strong king and a defender of his people. Lewes BN7 1DX In this poetical image, Arthur is symbolized by the Sun. The sword that he carries Excalibur, naturally is one of the originals made for the film of the same name. [8], In August 2011, Pendragon filed a High Court appeal calling for the cremated remains of more than forty bodies to be immediately reburied. Photo by Michael Illas. A must-see exhibition featuring stunning treasures from the British Neolithic. He claimed that the exclusion zone around Stonehenge was restricting his freedom of thought, conscience, religion and freedom of expression, in contravention of Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Article by guest blogger and local Stonehenge historian Simon Banton, Loyal Arthurian Warband website: http://www.warband.org.uk A veteran of numerous legal challenges & direct actions, he's been arrested many times in the course of his Kingly duties. He has been one for 32 years now - exactly half his life - ever since the momentous day in 1986 when John Rothwell, a former army squaddie and leader of the Gravediggers biker gang walked into a. Pendragon Castle, Cumbria, 2014. In the great British tradition of eccentrics, Arthur stands out proudly he is the grit in the oyster, a thorn in the side of bureaucracy and passionate about the causes he champions. In 2000, it points out, 10,000 people attended the solstice. A log or a big piece of wood is burned in the central fireplace. Arthur is one of some 4,000 people who identify themselves as druids in the U.K., according to government figures. Sure enough, the next day the Sun began to move higher into the sky, showing that it had been reborn. Often wildly masked young men run up and down the streets and kidnap people who dont hide or run away in time, or give them mock beatings with willow sticks. "Having weighed up all the arguments put forward, Ministers found the case made by Professor Parker Pearson to be more persuasive than that put forward by those who opposed the application and have amended the licence as he requested.". ", High court refuses judicial review of decision to remove 5,000-year-old 'royal' remains from Stonehenge for analysis, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. He becomes king and orders the construction of two gold dragons, one of which he uses as his standard. In it, he claimed to be one of those Druids "whose motivations are fundamentally political and radical". When Druids cast a magic circle about them, they often sense the sacred space created in this way as a grail or vessel in which they can open themselves to receive and radiate inspiration and blessings. He made reference to the dispute during his ceremony last week, a jarringly administrative passage in an otherwise rousing homily. 297mm x 420mm, Single Sided, Classic Silk 250gsm. He is mentioned in the circa-10th-century Arthurian poem "Pa gur yv y porthaur?" Arthur was recognized as the rightful king when he was the only contender to succeed in withdrawing a sword embedded in stone. His findings will be formally published in the Antiquity Journal next year. Arthur was the illegitimate child of Igraine, the wife of Gorlois of Cornwall, and the king of Britain, Uther Pendragon. You can unsubscribe at any time from here or direct from your Paypal (or Substack for the paid Newsletter). A handful of police officers in fluorescent jackets patrol the perimeter. "The Colloquy of Arthur and the Eagle," a modern manuscript from the 16th century but believed to have originated from the 13th century, mentions another son of Uther named Madoc, the father of Arthur's nephew Eliwlod. UK: +44 (0)1273470888, Winter Solstice ~ Alban Arthan Solo Ritual, Observing the Winter Solstice online: Meditations & Explorations, The Peace After the Storm ~ The Cailleach of Winter. He has been one for 32 years now exactly half his life ever since the momentous day in 1986 when John Rothwell, a former army squaddie and leader of the Gravediggers biker gang walked into a solicitors office in Farnborough and emerged as Arthur Uther Pendragon. Ansha,Die Weisheit der Kelten, W. Ludwig Verlag, 2000 Their union was masterminded by Merlin, and after the child was born he ensured that Arthur was raised in secret until the time came for him to claim the throne. Carew's brief account of Arthur's birth also mentions a sister, Amy, also born to Uther and Igraine.[17]. Pendragon is scathing about more compliant druids, those who avoid the parking charge by celebrating solstices at Stonehenge before or after the day itself. So it's exactly the same.". Alban Arthan, the Winter Solstice, takes place every year on the 21st or 22nd of December (Northern Hemisphere). an encounter with a book of Arthurian legend, from his council flat in Farnborough, Hampshire. I bang Druids heads together and fight English Heritage., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. It has later been moved towards the winter solstice, partly because the early church was unable to stop the winter solstice celebrations and wanted to give them at least a Christian gloss, partly also because it seemed fit to place the birth of the light into the time of greatest darkness. Pendragon has petitioned the court to revoke all fees, citing articles nine, 10, 11 and 14 of the European convention on human rights. [11] The latter includes a reference to Arthur, so the marginal addition of "dragon" to Uther's name is probably justified. After the decision English Heritage, which manages the site, said the scientists wanted to keep the remains until 2015 so full analysis could be carried out. [5] Pendragon defied the order. Along the Alps there are so called Percht runnings, enactments of the misdeeds of malevolent spirits. Mazadn becomes father of two sons, Lazaliez and Brickus. UK It has been said that the birth of Christ, which is not dated in the Bible, was originally celebrated in spring. The title Pendragon was borrowed into Middle English from Welsh, where it originally indicated a literal dragon of great power or size but was eventually used figuratively to mean "a great leader; the highest commander". King Arthur was a British Army soldier and a member of biker gang. You dont have to address him as King Arthur, but the man himself has no doubt that he is a reincarnation of the warlord who is said to have defended Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. Arthur Uther Pendragon (born John Timothy Rothwell, 5 April 1954) is a British eco-campaigner, Neo-Druid leader, media personality, and self-declared reincarnation of King Arthur, a name by which he is also known.Pendragon was the "battle chieftain" of the Council of British Druid Orders.. Born to a working-class family, Pendragon served in the British Army's Royal Hampshire Regiment before . The Queen of Orkney, today best known as Morgause / mrez / and also known as Morgawse and other spellings and names, is a character in Arthurian legend in which she is the mother of Gawain and Mordred, both key players in the story of King Arthur and his downfall. The appeal was rejected. All money donated via this website goes directly to Arthur. Other monuments aligned to the winter solstice are to be found in Knowth and Loughcrew (also in the Boyne Valley, Ireland), Maes Howe (Orkney, Scotland), and the so called Seven-Mile-Cursus in Dorset, England. In the folk customs and traditions of Bavaria, the time around Christmas sees some of the most important and festive celebrations of the year. Now he is a pagan priest, a sword-bearer and a. And he said he has no plans to yield this battle any time soon. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Uther is best known from Geoffrey's Historia Regum Britanniae (1136) where he is the youngest son of King of Britannia, Constantine. The deities of Alban Arthan are the Dagda and Brighid. We welcome your input. He defeats Hengist's son Octa at Verulamium (St Albans), despite the Saxons calling him the "Half-Dead King". 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Uther wins the battle and takes the epithet "Pendragon", and returns to find that Aurelius has been poisoned by an assassin. Despite the pre-dawn calm, Arthur seems to relish his adversarial relationship with the authorities. English Heritage agreed to implement open access at the solstice in 2000. Arthurian & Grail Lore The Arthurian Legend Somewhere in Britain, high in the mountains, the body of King Arthur, clothed in armour and wearing his crown, lies in a state of suspended animation in a hidden cave. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "penzance | Origin and meaning of penzance by Online Etymology Dictionary", "dragon | Origin and meaning of dragon by Online Etymology Dictionary", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uther_Pendragon&oldid=1153043772, This page was last edited on 3 May 2023, at 21:32. Sometimes consecrated water is sprinkled in the rooms. You are swearing to stand together.. 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