King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a legend about how Arthur became king of Britain. Merlin helped Uther Pendragon take the throne and later helped ensure Arthur would become king by pulling a sword from a stone. Arthur assembled the Knights of the Round Table to defend the kingdom. Key knights included Merlin, who was Arthur's advisor and helped arrange his birth, and prophesied Arthur's death at the hands of Mordred. The knights upheld virtues of strength, courtesy, and defending the weak.