The Roman War and Arthur’s Empire

Le Morte d'Arthur

This flow traces the escalation from a tribute demand through invasion and battle to Arthur’s imperial coronation and return.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Rome Demands Tribute Rome Demands Tribute from "Le Morte d'Arthur". An Imperial Claim The ambassadors arrive Roman envoys demand Britain’s tribute and invoke Roman conquest.

Rome Demands Tribute from "Le Morte d'Arthur". An Imperial Claim The ambassadors arrive Roman envoys demand Britain’s tribute and invoke Roman conquest.

An Imperial Claim The ambassadors arrive Roman envoys demand Britain’s tribute and invoke Roman conquest. Arthur receives them with courtesy but rejects the demand as unjust. The dispute expands Arthur answers that Britain may claim the empire through its own royal ancestry. His response transforms a fiscal demand into a contest over sovereignty.

An Army Gathers An Army Gathers from "Le Morte d'Arthur". Britain Mobilizes Allies promise forces Kings and lords pledge men to Arthur, who appoints governors for the kingdom while he is overseas.

An Army Gathers from "Le Morte d'Arthur". Britain Mobilizes Allies promise forces Kings and lords pledge men to Arthur, who appoints governors for the kingdom while he is overseas.

Britain Mobilizes Allies promise forces Kings and lords pledge men to Arthur, who appoints governors for the kingdom while he is overseas. Guenever remains under their care. A crossing begins Arthur assembles ships and crosses from Sandwich. The campaign becomes a test of whether the coalition he built can sustain war far beyond Britain.

The Giant’s Challenge The Giant’s Challenge from "Le Morte d'Arthur". A Local Wrong Interrupts the Campaign A plea from Brittany A farmer tells Arthur that a giant has murdered children and abducted a duchess.

The Giant’s Challenge from "Le Morte d'Arthur". A Local Wrong Interrupts the Campaign A plea from Brittany A farmer tells Arthur that a giant has murdered children and abducted a duchess.

A Local Wrong Interrupts the Campaign A plea from Brittany A farmer tells Arthur that a giant has murdered children and abducted a duchess. Arthur abandons anonymity and rides to confront the tyrant himself. The giant falls Arthur kills the giant, and the people thank him. The episode shows his campaign as both conquest and an assertion of protective kingship.

The Emperor Falls The Emperor Falls from "Le Morte d'Arthur". The Roman Army Is Defeated Early skirmishes Arthur’s knights meet Roman forces through ambushes and field battles.

The Emperor Falls from "Le Morte d'Arthur". The Roman Army Is Defeated Early skirmishes Arthur’s knights meet Roman forces through ambushes and field battles.

The Roman Army Is Defeated Early skirmishes Arthur’s knights meet Roman forces through ambushes and field battles. Sir Launcelot and Gawaine distinguish themselves, while both sides suffer heavy losses. Arthur kills Lucius In the decisive battle Arthur reaches the emperor and kills him with Excalibur. The Roman army breaks, ending the conflict on the battlefield.

The Imperial Return The Imperial Return from "Le Morte d'Arthur". Conquest Becomes Rule Cities submit Arthur takes towns and castles in Italy and receives the submission of Roman senators.

The Imperial Return from "Le Morte d'Arthur". Conquest Becomes Rule Cities submit Arthur takes towns and castles in Italy and receives the submission of Roman senators.

Conquest Becomes Rule Cities submit Arthur takes towns and castles in Italy and receives the submission of Roman senators. He is crowned emperor in Rome and distributes lands among his followers. Victory has limits His commanders eventually ask to return home. Arthur agrees, recognizing that further conquest would risk tempting fortune after a successful campaign.

After Arthur has consolidated his rule in Britain

At the parliament held at York before the campaign

After the army lands in Flanders, before meeting Lucius

During the main battle in France, after Gawaine’s embassy

After the fall of Rome and the submission of Italian cities