The question of how King Arthur died has fascinated people for centuries. There are many different versions of his death, but there is no way to know for sure what really happened because there is no historical record of it at all.
King Arthur was the legendary king of Britain in medieval and early modern literature, who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. The details of Arthur’s story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians. The sparse historical background of Arthur is gleaned from various sources, including the Annales Cambriae, the Historia Brittonum, and the writings of Gildas.
The legendary King Arthur may have died in battle, or he may have been wounded and later died of his injuries. Either way, it is said that the king was mortally wounded in the Battle of Camlann. In this epic confrontation between good and evil, Arthur was set upon a boat and floated downriver to the isle of Avalon. In some versions of this story, he is taken by his knights, who travel with him in disguise. In others, he is taken by his wife Guinevere, or one of his loyal followers, who continue to care for him until he dies. Still, other versions say that Arthur was taken by Morgan le Fay or by Merlin, who both possess healing powers.
