It is the oldest Arthus Court preserved in the world. Its name has originated from the legendary king of Celts, Arthur, living in Great Britain in the VI century.
It is the oldest Arthus Court preserved in the world. Its name has originated from the legendary king of Celts, Arthur, living in Great Britain in the 6th century. Initially, the knights’ meetings at the round table took place outdoors. They were often held in conquered countries with the intention of celebrating the victory of England. The Arthur’s tournaments were developed during the reign of king Edward III that constructed a bricked Arthus Court in Windsor in 1344 (transferring the Arthus Court name onto a building). Similar courts were constructed in XIV century in, among others, port cities on the southern coasts of the Baltic Sea that belonged to the so called Hanseatic Union of Towns. They were usually built in the representational parts of the city. Apart from Gdansk, Arthus Courts were also constructed in Torun, Elblag, Chelmno, Braniewo, Kaliningrad, Stralsund and Riga. None of them has been preserved in its original form until today.