Clarent
Clarent, pronounced (cluh-rent), is the mythical sword in the stone which Arthur pulled free to become King of Britain. It is central to Arthur's rise and later serves as a symbol of Arthur's right to rule, but it is also the instrument of Arthur's death at the hands of Mordred. Clarent's role as the sword in the stone overlaps with that of Excalibur. While it is absent from many versions, Clarent is distinct from Excalibur in works such as the Alliterative Morte Arthur.
[edit] The Sword in the Stone
The story of the Sword in the Stone is a story about Arthur's claim to the throne of Britain. According to legend, the sword was Uther's sword, the sword of the High King of Britain. After Uther's death there is no known heir and the barons fight amongst themselves to find out who is to be the next High King of Britain. Merlin, who was Uther's counselor, has the solution: he takes Uther's sword, and with his magic, he runs it into a rock. The man who is able to draw the sword from the stone will be the rightful heir. Many have tried: Lot, Uriens, Leodegrance and many more, but no one was able to draw the sword out from the stone.
Then came that faithful day when Sir Ector and his sons Kay and Arthur (not knowing he is not Ector's real son but fostered by him) come to the place where the sword is captured in the rock, and they come for a tournament. Arthur, being squire to Ector and Kay, has to get Kay a new sword for him, for his original one is broken. He passes the rock and draws the sword, which he brings to Kay as the replacement for the sword he has broken. Kay, upon seeing the sword, takes it to his father, declaring that he has pulled it out of the stone. Ector, being suspicious, forces Kay to tell the truth. Kay tells Ector about how Arthur gave him the sword, and confusion ensues. Then Merlin makes his entrance and declares that Arthur is Uther's son. To prove this he places the sword back in the stone and dares anyone to draw it. Again no one succeeds, but Arthur easily pulls it out. And so he became High King of Britain at a very young age. Excalibur , his next sword, is the sword Arthur receives from the Lady of the Lake. She known as a mythical figure - an ancient Welsh goddess of water, and sometimes she's referred to as a high priestess of Avalon. In any case, she is a woman with great power. Her giving the sword of magic (presumebly made by an elven smith) is showing her acceptance as Arthur as protector of Britain. The sword and scabbard are enchanted: the scabbard prevents the owner from being mortally wounded and the sword is supposed to be unbreakable. Names for Excalibur - The emythology of the name is some what confusing for it is also said that the Welsh name for Excalibur was Caladvwlch, equating linguistically with Irish Caladbolg, the name of a sword borne by heroes in Irish legend, derived from CALAD (hard) and BOLG (lightning). It goes with a story in which the sword is struck by lighting just as the (elven) smith takes it out of the water after its final heating. Caladbolg is also known as the sword of the Welsh legend Cuchullain (see 'Morrigan' and 'Celtic literature' in the celtic section). Caliburn is also supposed to be the old Welsh name for the sword, which was later transformed to 'Excalibur' by French poets like Chretien de Troyes. It is supposed to mean 'Cuts steel'. There are two different names and different meanings to one and the same sword, or are there?
