The sword in the stone - where it all began for the boy who would become King Arthur.

Born at Tintagel to King Uther Pendragon and the lady Igraine but sent away to serve as a helper in another castle, the boy who would grow up to become King Arthur was raised unaware of his parents' status. He was a natural leader, a good fighter, and was always scrupulously fair, yet modest and unassuming.

One day, a mysterious magician named Merlin announced that in the woods lay a stone with a sword thrust deep into its center. He promised that whichever man could draw the sword from the stone would be crowned the next king of Britain.

Men came from all over the land to try their luck with the sword in the stone. Everyone from the knights to the blacksmiths, from lords to peasant children, tried to extricate the sword.

None could.

Finally, young Arthur was persuaded to try. Feeling foolish, he approached the stone, shaking his head -- for why should he be able to pull out the sword, when the strongest of men had failed?

But to his surprise and amazement (and to everyone else's, certainly), as he grasped the pommel of the sword, he pulled it smoothly from the stone.

This young unknown boy was to be the next king!

Merlin came forward and congratulated the stunned Arthur, and that is where the story of King Arthur all began -- with a sword in a stone.



See also Galahad for a different use of the Sword in the Stone - it is a motif or archetype that shows up in many legends.

See also Excalibur -- not to be confused with the sword in the stone!