Terry Jones does the voice for Sir Bedivere in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975).
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Around 400 AD, a great warrior was born. He grew up to become a great knight and serve as a marshal to the great King Arthur. Some say he was one handed, but could draw blood faster than any other three knights put together. His name was Sir Bedivere. He is one of the most ancient warriors associated with King Arthur and is thought to actually be a real person. People, who believe Arthur was a real king, also believe that Sir Bedivere was a true person because of how long he was in the story and also because he was by Arthurs side the whole story all the way until Arthur’s death. Bedivere serves a huge part towards the end of the story in returning Arthur's sword, Excaliber, back to the lady of the lake. Arthur is wounded in the battle of Camlan against Sir Mordred, who has taken Arthur’s spot of king, and as Arthur is on his deathbed gives Bedivere his huge responsibility. |
Bedivere biggest part of the story is when King Arthur is dying and Bedivere is given the responsibility to return Arthur’s sword Excaliber back to the lady of the lake. Arthur on the way back home to his kingdom earlier in the story came upon the lady of the lake. He and Merlin got the sword and Arthur used the sword as his throughout his lifetime. In different versions of the story the sword is not taken that way and Bedivere does not throw the sword back into the lake. The way Arthur gets his sword in other versions is when he was young and accidently pulled it from the rock for his brother. In many versions though, the sword is received by the lady of the lake, and Bedivere throws it back after Arthur is wounded in the battle of Camlan. But when Arthur instructs Bedivere to take the sword and throw it in to the lake it takes Bedivere three times to throw in to the lake. It took him three times because the sword has so much power to it. It is King Arthur’s sword Excaliber. To be in that situation most have been very difficult. I think the equivalent to that would be if you were right in front of the president of the United States, watching him die and he told you that he wanted you to take the Declaration of Independence and burn it. It would be hard to do because you wouldn’t want to do it because you wouldn’t want something so significant to be gone forever. Bedivere was put in a very difficult situation.
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Also, Bedivere plays a huge role in Welsh culture. His name Bedivere is spelt differently in many different languages. Bedwyr in Welsh, Bédoier, also spelt Bedevere in French. Bedivere appears in many early Welsh texts. His father was named Bedrawd, and he had two children named Amhren a boy and Eneuawg a girl, both members of Arthur's court and his son Amhren was a great knight just like his father and grandfather. Bedivere appears in welsh texts in the winning of cities and the victor in battles. A city that he took over with Arthur was later named after him. Bedivere in one story was selected by Arthur with 5 other Knights to help a man name Culhwch win the hand of a women named Olwen. In order for Culhwch to win her he had to complete a list of tasks that her father set up. With the help of Arthur’s hand selected best knights, Culhwch completed all the tasks and got Olwen. Some believe that the reason Bedivere was so skilled in fighting was because he secretly was a friend with a knight who was known for using dark magic. But the main argument supporting that he didn’t use dark magic, is that it was never written in text that he did.
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Bedivere apears a ton in the start of Welsh culture and King arthur, and his legend still lives to the modern day. RFA Sir Bedivere (L3004) was a landing ship of the round table class in Britian. She saw service in the Falkland Islands ,the Persian Gulf and Sierra Leone. When Britian had no use for the ship it was decommisioned and sold to Brazil. In 2009 she was commissioned into the Brazilian Navy, and renamed NDCC Almirante Saboia (G-25). The ship has numerous battles on its resume. It took over islands near South America and was part of Britians Royal class. The ship was the last of the many ships that fought in the Falkland Islands, and was the last Royal class ship to be decommissioned.
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