Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[cagwinn]

My guess is that both swords-- the Lady of the Lake's Excalibur, and the Sword in the Stone-- may have been a singular sword with duel functions. The etymological viability of Caliburnus is no truer than "Exchalybur," the last easy enough to denote "from chalybis" (read as "superior steel") or "from the Chalybes." In view of the well-recorded ritual sword Tyrfing, the mythical sword Excalibur could be grounded in fact. And the cultural connection swings to the Alans, Taifali, and Tyrfingi Goths, all of whom are prime candidates for late Roman cavalrymen in Britain.

Geoffrey's Caliburnus certainly comes from Welsh Caledfwlch (Old Welsh ^Caletbulc "Hard/Battle Rending), which is either derived from, or cognate with, Irish Caladbolg (a famous sword mentioned in Irish literature centuries before Geoffrey was born). All other non-Celtic etymologies are spurious at best.

- Chris Gwinn