The Impact of King Arthur and the Code of Chivalry Today, many young children when asked who their favorite hero is will tell you many of the superheroes seen on television. Before Superman, Batman and even Spiderman there was the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. The heroic knights and the stories of their kings gave Western society a great literature still known today. King Arthur, Guinevere and Sir Lancelot didn't really exist, but the stories of valiant knights in shining armor, elegant women in medieval castles and heroic searches for the Holy Grail have played an important role in the development and creation of the courageous superheroes that is become over time. King Arthur, along with the theme of chivalry, have had a great impact not only on Western civilization, but on all of society throughout the centuries. King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table have existed for thousands of years but are only legends. The first reference to King Arthur is found in the Historia Brittonum written by Nennius, a Welsh monk around 830 AD. The fascinating legends however did not arrive until 1133 AD in the work Historia Regum Britaniae written by a Welsh cleric, Geoffrey of Monmouth. His work was actually intended to be a historical document, but over time many other writers added fictional tales. The Round Table was added in 1155 AD by the French poet Maistre Wace. Also between the years 1160 and 1180 another Frenchman, Chrétien de Troyes, added the themes of chivalry and courtly love. Then the search for the Holy Grail was developed by Robert de Boron of Burgundy. ("How the Legend Developed") The greatest contribution to the Arthurian legend is attributed to Sir Thomas Malory. It brought together all the different… stories of King Arthur and the codes of chivalry that still have an impact on society. While the first choice of hero would not be King Arthur, the legends and tales along with the code of chivalry have shaped many of today's modern heroes. The codes are still present and used in practices. King Arthur along with the theme of chivalry have had a great impact not only on Western culture, but on all of society throughout the ages and it is evident in life today. Works Cited Arthurian Legend. Patrick Taylor, 2010. Web. 10 March 2010. .King Arthur - The Legend. Network. 10 March 2010. .Knights' Code of Chivalry. Network. 10 March 2010. .Medieval chivalric code. Castles. Network. March 10. 2010. .