Excalibur
Excalibur is King Arthur’s famous sword, a sign of his extraordinary kingship. In the most common version, he receives it from the Lady of the Lake. Its return to the water at the end of his reign helps mark the passing of Arthur’s world.
Key stories of Excalibur
The gift from the lake
In the most common version, a mysterious hand holds the sword above the water, and the Lady of the Lake arranges for Arthur to receive it.
In Le Morte Darthur, Merlin takes Arthur to a lake where an arm holds up a sword. Arthur rows out to take both the sword and its scabbard.
In Le Morte Darthur by Thomas Malory
The protective scabbard
Excalibur’s scabbard has a power of its own: it protects its wearer from losing blood. Losing that protection leaves Arthur vulnerable despite his wonderful sword.
In Le Morte Darthur, Merlin tells Arthur that the scabbard is worth more than the sword. Morgan le Fay later steals the scabbard and throws it into a lake.
In Le Morte Darthur by Thomas Malory
The sword returned
After his final battle, the wounded Arthur orders Bedivere to throw Excalibur into the water. A mysterious arm catches it, bringing the sword’s story to a close.
In Idylls of the King, Bedivere twice fails to carry out Arthur’s command because he cannot bear to lose the splendid sword. When he finally throws it, an arm rises from the water and catches it.
In Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
How to recognise Excalibur in stories
- Look for a splendid sword linked with Arthur’s right to rule.
- Watch for a lake, an outstretched arm, or a protective scabbard.
- Notice whether the sword’s return signals the end of Arthur’s reign.
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Is Excalibur the sword in the stone?
Not always: some tellings identify them, while others treat them as different swords. In Le Morte Darthur, Arthur proves his right to rule by drawing a sword from an anvil on a stone, but later receives Excalibur from the lake after his earlier sword breaks.
Why must Excalibur be thrown back into the lake?
Returning Excalibur ends Arthur’s possession of a sword that came from a mysterious power beyond his court. In Le Morte Darthur, the wounded Arthur insists that Bedivere carry out this final task. The hand that catches it confirms that the sword has been received.
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