Talk:Night of the Long Knives (Arthurian)

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[edit] Name

It seems to me that the (original) is problematic. Normally we would identify by date, but there is no agreed-upon date for what may not even have been a true event. Original is just a tad POV given that someone else might think the Nazi event was the original. I don't have a better solution right now, though. --Dhartung | Talk 18:01, 4 May 2005 (UTC)

I did put that, since many people think that the Nazi event is the original. --JK

If "Original" is taken in the sense of "source" or "originating point", then there is no problem. Many real-world words and phrases have mythical origins and it is quite unimportant as to whether the myths occured or not, in the sense that it doesn't alter the fact that later usage is based on the earlier usage and could not have occured without the earlier usage, regardless of whether the earlier events had been real. In this case, it seems likely that the naming of the Nazi event is a product of a family of legends involving massacres and betrayal during the Dark Ages at social gatherings and situations of high trust.

I would also note that although Geoffrey of Monmouth is about as reliable as a supermarket tabloid, even the tabloids have managed to stumble on real stories. Furthermore, the Romans themselves had been originally asked into Britain to help settle a dispute between warring tribes, prior to seizing control. That such events might have occured another go around is entirely possible. (It's also possible the legends originated with the Romans, refer to some other, similar, experience at some other time, or were entirely made up on the spot by Geoffrey and similarities with real people, living or dead, were purely coincidental.) JD

The event seems likely enough, but I felt that "Arthurian" was a better qualifier. The origin of the term is emphasized in the articles on the various versions. Robert A.West (Talk) 12:36, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

The addendum on the Treachery of the Blue Books is fair enough, but the last sentence is factually incorrect (although supported with a reference). It isn't needed in the context of this article, and would be better placed in the Blue Books article, where balancing opinions can be added. . . .LinguisticDemographer 16:35, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

"The Night of the Long Knives is the name Geoffrey of Monmouth gave to the (possibly apocryphal) treacherous killing of native British chieftains...". Where does Geoffrey call it that? Though Geoffrey does describe the incident I can't find that he gives it any name whatever. If it comes to that, I don't remember any ancient telling of this story that calls it "The Night of Long Knives". I suggest the page be retitled "Treachery of the Long Knives". Antiquary 21:08, 30 November 2007 (UTC)