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Statue of King Arthur, Hofkirche, Innsbruck, designed by Albrecht Dürer and cast by Peter Vischer the Elder, 1520s

Statue of King Arthur, Hofkirche, Innsbruck, designed by Albrecht Dürer and cast by Peter Vischer the Elder, 1520s

This picture is in the public domain

This statue is typical of many depictions of Arthur which portray him as a medieval knight. There is some doubt as to whether Arthur actually existed. If he did, it was in the late 5th century, almost a thousand years before this kind of armour was worn.

Sources of Information

History of Manchester, part 2, by Rev. John Whitaker (1775) digitised by Google Books

link to information about the wiggin tree and title for 'Arthur in Wigan by Rev. Whitaker'

Saturday 18th April, 2009

Reverend John Whitaker

Between 1771-1775 Rev. Whitaker wrote parts 1 and 2 of a four part history of Manchester. In part 2 he suggested that the legendary King Arthur fought four battles against the Saxon invaders on the banks of the River Douglas in and around Wigan.

Unfortunately Rev. Whitaker's historical skills were flawed and his conclusions, in respect of Arthur, were invalid - although they were reiterated by later local historians.

I have cut and pasted the relevant sections from Google Books Search's digitised version of Whitaker's work as a curiosity only.

Arthur-1

Arthur-2

Arthur-3

Arthur-4

Arthur-5

Arthur-6

Arthur in Wigan?

Rev. Whitaker (an unflattering analysis of his work)

History of Manchester, part 2, digitised by Google Books Search

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