Describe what England was like before Arthur became king.

Before Arthur is crowned king, England's rulership is in some disarray. King Uther, Arthur's father, has difficulty forming alliances with the rulers of other kingdoms because he used deception to seduce the wife of Duke Gorlois (Ingrain, Arthur's mother). Uther's actions continually put him in the position of defending his kingdom from invasions and usurpation of his crown. When Arthur is born, he is taken from Uther and Igraine to be raised by Merlin (who...

Before Arthur is crowned king, England's rulership is in some disarray. King Uther, Arthur's father, has difficulty forming alliances with the rulers of other kingdoms because he used deception to seduce the wife of Duke Gorlois (Ingrain, Arthur's mother). Uther's actions continually put him in the position of defending his kingdom from invasions and usurpation of his crown. When Arthur is born, he is taken from Uther and Igraine to be raised by Merlin (who made Uther swear an oath that if he helped him seduce Igraine, their child would have to go with Merlin) and by Sir Ector, a knight who serves Uther. A few years later Uther dies and there is no heir apparent, because Arthur's birth has been kept secret. There is disagreement as to how a new leader will be chosen. This historical era was rich with mythology and magic, and the novel's depiction of England is of a land steeped in mysticism, hence the prominence of Merlin the necromancer as a character in the story. Merlin arranges with the Archbishop to bring all of the hopefuls wishing to be kind together and they find a sword stuck in a stone, and the message carved into the stone says that whoever frees the sword shall be King. It has been ordained that Arthur will be king; but many knights and lords try to free the sword. Young Arthur removes it by mistake one day, thinking is a sword belonging to his brother, the knight Sir Kay, whom Arthur serves as a squire. There is controversy, but ultimately Arthur is accepted as the king, and peace and abundance flourish for a number of years.

In some versions of the story, Arthur also manages to unite the Christian and pagan factions of his kingdom, allowing the pagan practices and beliefs of the peasants to continue undisturbed even as the Church rises to power and prominence during Arthur's reign.