Arthur was King of Camelot in the 8th century in a parallel universe. Together with his knights and Merlin, Arthur battled the forces of Mordred and Morgaine, but was killed at the Battle of Camlann. Merlin, believed to be a future incarnation of the Doctor, placed Arthur's body and Excalibur in a dimension-crossing spaceship and hid it at the bottom of Lake Vortigern, near Carbury, in rural England. Legends sprang up that Arthur had survived the battle, albeit badly wounded, and would reawaken at the time of England's greatest need.