Arthur Uther Pendragon

Arthur Uther Pendragon (born John Timothy Rothwell, April 5, 1954) is a British eco-campaigner, neo-druid leader, media personality, and self-declared reincarnation of King Arthur, a name by which he is also known.

Biography

A former soldier, mercenary, and biker, he has described receiving a spiritual revelation at Stonehenge in 1976, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-463607/As-dawn-broke-longest-day-year-24-000-witches-pagans-druids-descend-Stonehenge.html As dawn broke on the longest day of the year, 24,000 witches, pagans and druids descend on Stonehenge | Mail Online ] ] informing him that he was King Arthur reborn. Changing his name to Arthur Uther Pendragon, he became what he calls a "renunciate" - refusing to live on state benefits, he travels from place to place, relying on the hospitality of friends and well-wishers. As founder and leader of the Loyal Arthurian Warband, he has been involved in numerous campaigns, demonstrations, and environmental protest camps, and has been arrested and imprisoned many times. He was also involved with the campaign for public access to Stonehenge during the 1990s. He says his role is "to unite the Celts and fight for truth, honour and justice." [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4634551.html Britons, behold your king | Article from The Independent - London | HighBeam Research ] ]

A well-known and leading figure within the British Neopagan movement, he is a regular attender at Pagan conferences and camps all over the country, where he often gives talks. Among his various offices within Druidry, he is Honoured Pendragon of the Glastonbury Order of Druids, Official Swordbearer of the Secular Order of Druids, Member of the Council of British Druid Orders, and Swordbearer to the Cotswold Order of Druids.

He is a self-proclaimed English eccentric who says that helps him in his political work. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4721018.html King Arthur fights holy war | Article from The Independent - London | HighBeam Research ] ] In the General Election of May 2005, Arthur ran as an indpendent candidate in Winchester, achieving 581 votes. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/633.stm BBC NEWS | Election 2005 | Results | Winchester ] ] As of July 2008, Arthur Pendragon is conducting a picket of Stonehenge to complain about its alleged mismanagment by English Heritage. [ [http://warbandforum.ipbfree.com/index.php?showtopic=1970 Board Message ] ]

References

Biography

*cite book | author=Chris J. Stone | title=The Trials of Arthur: The Life and Times of a Modern-day King | publisher=Thorsons | year=2003 | id=ISBN 0007121148

External links

* [http://arthurpendragon.ukonline.co.uk/ Arthur Pendragon's original website]
* [http://www.warband.org LAW Loyal Arthurian Warband] - Arthur's current home
* [http://www.warband.org/about_arthur.html LAW - Arthur's biography]
* [http://www.cjstone.co.uk/page_1202064737906.html C J Stone on Arthur Pendragon]
* [http://www.slate.com/id/2117174/entry/2117848/ Slate - The British Election: King Arthur versus the Tory Cybersquatter] details Arthur's 2005 Winchester campaign
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itx2ZuG2Ulk You Tube - Interview with Arthur Pendragon]