Arthur of the Britons

This series strips away the elaborate medieval view of Camelot, and presents Arthur as the chief of a small Celt tribe in Dark-Ages Britain, a century or two after the withdrawal of Rome. Arthur struggles to weave the scattered tribes of Celts, Jutes, etc. into a union that can effectively oppose the Saxon invaders who are arriving in Britain in growing numbers. He is aided by his adoptive father, Llud, and his foster brother, Kai, who is himself a Saxon foundling.

Action & AdventureDrama

Seasons

1. Arthur is Dead

Air Date: 1972-12-06

In a ploy aimed at bringing together an assortment of Romano-British chieftains, Arthur fakes his own death, with unexpected results.

2. The Gift of Life

Air Date: 1972-12-13

Arthur finds two Saxon children, abandoned after an attack on a British village.

3. The Challenge

Air Date: 1972-12-20

Arthur's cousins Gawain and Garet cause a lot of trouble for him.

4. The Penitent Invader

Air Date: 1972-12-27

Arthur has a plan to use his Christian faith against Pictish invaders.

5. People of the Plough

Air Date: 1973-01-03

When Kai, Arthur's lieutenant, falls for a Saxon girl, he thinks carefully about the implications.

6. The Duel

Air Date: 1973-01-10

One of Mark's men is killed in a skirmish - Mark believes Llud is to blame for the death and insists on a trial by combat.

7. The Pupil

Air Date: 1973-01-17

The youthful Corin, in the hope of proving himself as a warrior, launches a foolhardy attack on Arthur.

8. Rolf the Preacher

Air Date: 1973-01-24

Rolf of the Picts has converted to Christianity, but he remains a threat to Arthur.

9. Enemies and Lovers

Air Date: 1973-01-31

Morcant suspects Arthur and Kai are after the hand of Goda, the daughter of King Athel - and Morcant wants her for himself. So he has Arthur and Kai arrested and claims they have acted as spies for the Saxons.

10. The Slave

Air Date: 1973-02-07

Arthur fights to free some enslaved villagers - and one in particular.

11. The Wood People

Air Date: 1973-02-14

Saxon fighters kidnap two children and threaten to kill them unless Arthur surrenders himself in the children's place. But Arthur finds an ingenious solution to his dilemma.

12. The Prize

Air Date: 1973-02-21

Arthur and Mark join forces to mount a raid on a Saxon treasure hoard.

1. The Swordsman

Air Date: 1973-09-12

Mordred tricks Arthur into a fight with Karn, who proves to be a more deadly swordsman than Arthur foresaw.

2. Rowena

Air Date: 1973-09-19

Arthur and Kai need better horses, and Yorath the Jute has what they want. The two young warriors agree to give payment in kind, by escorting Yorath's daughter Rowena to her wedding with a distant chieftain.

3. The Prisoner

Air Date: 1973-09-26

Roland, a childhood friend of Kai's, arrives on Arthur's territory, and Kai's loyalty to Arthur and the Britons is seen to be tested - as Roland is another Saxon.

4. Some Saxon Women

Air Date: 1973-10-03

Yorath the Jute trades with a travelling merchant, exchanging a barrel of good wine for five Saxon wenches - with unforeseen consequences.

5. Go Warily

Air Date: 1973-10-10

Arthur has problems with a pair of identical twins of very different characters.Meanwhile, Llud is troubled by dreams of a gigantic enemy warrior.

6. The Marriage Feast

Air Date: 1973-10-17

Arthur is in love with Rowena, but she is promised to his cousin Mark of Cornwall. Arthur must find a way to stop the wedding from going ahead.

7. In Common Cause

Air Date: 1973-10-24

Arthur considers sharing resources with his Saxon enemies when their livestock suffers from a plague.

8. Six Measures of Silver

Air Date: 1973-10-31

Arthur sets out to punish Kurk, a troublesome Saxon thief, when Kurk sells stolen cattle to Rowena of the Jutes.

9. Daughter of the King

Air Date: 1973-11-07

Arthur is having a lot of trouble with the murderous King Bavick. To get some leverage in controlling the King's wicked ways, Arthur kidnaps Bavick's daughter - but his plan does not turn out quite as he intended.

10. The Games

Air Date: 1973-11-14

The annual inter-tribal games are a chance for warriors to show what they can do in the field, but as they approach Arthur learns that Herrick and Barth are plotting to disrupt the games for their own ends.

11. The Treaty

Air Date: 1973-11-21

A treaty with Cerdig appears to be bringing about Arthur's dream of peace among the tribes, but suspicion arises anew when one of Cerdig's men wants to host a friendly gathering.

12. The Girl from Rome

Air Date: 1973-11-28

When a haughty Roman princess seeks refuge from her father in Arthur's camp, he could be in for big trouble with a new enemy.

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

6.0/10

Release Date

1972-12-06

Episodes

24 (2 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast