The rocky peninsula of Tintagel on the North Cornish coast was the site of Arthur's conception and birth.

"IT befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all England, and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against him long time.  And the duke was called the Duke of Tintagil.  And so by means King Uther sent for this duke, charging him to bring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a passing wise, and her name was called Igraine.

"..The king liked and loved this lady well, ..and desired to have lain by her.  But she was a passing good woman, and would not assent unto the king.  And then she told the duke her husband, and said, I suppose that we were sent for that I should be dishonoured; wherefore, husband, I counsel you, that we depart from hence suddenly, that we may ride all night unto our own castle.  And in like wise as she said so they departed,.. All so soon as King Uther knew of their departing so suddenly, he was wonderly wroth...

"..duke had this warning....his wife Dame Igraine he put in the castle of Tintagil...Then in all haste came Uther with a great host, and laid a siege about the castle...and there was great war made on both parties, and much people slain.  Then for pure anger and for great love of fair Igraine the king Uther fell sick.  So came to the king Uther Sir Ulfius, a noble knight, and asked the king why he was sick.  I shall tell thee, said the king, I am sick for anger and for love of fair Igraine, that I may not be whole.  Well, my lord, said Sir Ulfius, I shall seek Merlin, and he shall do you remedy, that your heart shall be pleased.  So Ulfius departed, and by adventure he met Merlin in a beggar's array, and there Merlin asked Ulfius whom he sought.  And he said he had little ado to tell him.  Well, said Merlin, I know whom thou seekest, for thou seekest Merlin; therefore seek no farther, for I am he; and if King Uther will well reward me, and be sworn unto me to fulfil my desire, that shall be his honour and profit more than mine; for I shall cause him to have all his desire.  All this will I undertake, said Ulfius, that there shall be nothing reasonable but thou shalt have thy desire.  Well, said Merlin, he shall have his intent and desire.  And therefore, said Merlin, ride on your way, for I will not be long behind...

"...And then Merlin was bound to come to the king...Sir, said Merlin, this is my desire: the first night that ye shall lie by Igraine ye shall get a child on her, and when that is born, that it shall be delivered to me for to nourish there as I will have it...Now make you ready, said Merlin, this night ye shall lie with Igraine in the castle of Tintagil; and ye shall be like the duke her husband...But the duke of Tintagil espied how the king rode from the siege..and..that night he issued out of the castle at a postern for to have distressed the king's host.  And so..the duke himself was slain or ever the king came at the castle of Tintagil....after the death of the duke, King Uther lay with Igraine...and begat on her that night Arthur...when the lady was delivered....the child was delivered unto Merlin

Sir Thomas Malory in Le Morte D'Arthur, Book 1 Chapter 1 onward

That, briefly, is the story of Arthur and Tintagel but what of the historical background?

Arthurian Gallery               Merlin's Cave, Tintagel, Cornwall Large Poster               All Galleries

There is no doubt that Tintagel, like Lundy, was the site of an early Celtic-Christian monastic settlement.

The glass fragments  found during excavations by members of Glasgow University Department of Archaeology at Tintagel in the summer of 1998 provide, for the first time, evidence of a direct link between South west Britain and Southern Spain in the sixth century. 

Taken together with the many fragments of amphorae, characteristic Mediterranean pottery, of this period found at Tintagel there can be no doubt that sea trade between Dumnonia (the ancient kingdom of Devon and Cornwall) and the Mediterranean World continued long after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

So many pieces of sixth c. Mediterranean pottery have been found at Tintagel that they are termed 'Tintagel Ware.' 

This pottery has also been found  at other sites testifying to the existence of an extensive and organised trading network at this time.

"no doubt that Tintagel was indeed central to the economic activity of western Britain."  Chris Morris ( Professor of Archaeology at the University of Glasgow)

Tintagel in the 5thC; 

Pottery archaeology tells us it was an important centre for long established trade routes with the Mediterranean cultures. Indeed so many pieces of sixth c. Mediterranean pottery have been found there that they are termed 'Tintagel Ware.'  

Building archaeology depicts an early Christian celtic monastic establishment. 

"Pottery was brought from Alexandria & Carthage to these areas(Wales & S.W.) in the period between 450 & 520.The earliest dateable monastery in the British Isles was established at Tintagel between 470 & 500. 'Where platters and amphorae could travel so too could pilgrims too and from the Holy Land, occasional refugees, books and ideas."-'Charles Thomas,'Brit.& Ire.in early Christ Times 400-800AD.'

These trade routes were widely used long before 500 AD.  Links were established between the silver miners of the Severn Estuary and Carthage as early as 450 BC. 

Tintagel ware' pottery has also been found at other sites testifying to the existence of an extensive and organised internal trading network at this time. Sites like St. Michael's Mount, Glastonbury Tor, Cadbury castle, Chun, Dinas Powys, Gwithian, Lundy.

The Mediterranean trade routes were widely used long before 500 AD.  Links were established between the silver miners of the south west and Carthage as early as 450 BC. 

revised Jan 2009