The last king of Cumberland, King Dunmail, was said to be killed in 945AD by the Saxon king, Edmund I.
According to the legend, some of the surviving Cumbrians collected rocks to pile on the fallen King's body, forming a cairn that still exists to this day and is fittingly titled "Dunmail Raise".
Dunmail's warriors fled with the crown of Cumberland, climbing through the fells and throwing it into the Grisedale Tarn.
Many people speculate King Dunmail to be the origin of the King Arthur myth, or at least elements of it!
lyrics
In the middle of my thoughts, in the corner of my mind,
Lives a lone voice, that I cannot hide,
saint dressed in white, the devil that you know,
He lives in side of me, everybody knows him,
King Dunmail,
Raise your crown of stone,
King Dunmail,
Carry the warrior home,
Now on this battle of the Northern Throne,
We must join forces for the elder foe,
Betrayed by the Celtic king of old,
Slain in battle by the just mans sword,
And now my kinsman before they die,
Lay down the stones on the Dunmail rise,
Climb from the mountain and lay down their arms,
Throwing the crown in the grisdale tarn,
King Dunmail,
Raise your crown of stone,
King Dunmail,
Carry the warrior home,
Now we’re back as the spears climb higher,
To the brave soul who we all admire,
Carriy the crown of the Saxon gold,
Lay it on high on the Dunmail stones.
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