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What emerges quite clearly in the novels of the round table, is the fact
that, at the beginning, this gentleman, Galvano, whose name resembles
very closely Galgano, plays an important role in the tale of the round
table, as he is known as the "first Knight". Then there is a gradual
phenomenon of the name fading away over the years, due to the evolution
of the tales of the round table, and the name of Galvano becomes less
important, as if the novels about the round table no longer have need of
this Tuscan knight.
What is certain, is that in the representations of the Knights of the
Round Table, the Sword Excalibur often appears in the hands of Galvano
and the mysteries of Montesiepi do not end here. When Galgano dies, the
round chapel is built, which according to many scholars constitues a
real book in stone. Whomever is able to i nterpret it, will then know
the secret of the Holy Grail. Galgano dies in 1181 and in record time
the Church proclaims him a Saint. In fact, only four years later, Pope
Lucius III acts with the swift canonization process of the Knight. Yet
San Galgano was not a very venerated Saint during those years, in as
much as, his message was inspired as an act of peace. Planting a sword
in the stone to pray, was the opposite of what the church needed during
the bellicose era of the Crusades. In the literature of that era it is
possible that San Galgano becomes King Arthur and that his legendary
sword was used instead to defy the infidels.
A few years ago, a confirmation: the University of Pavia certified that
the sword is actually from the 12th century. The Enigma of San Galgano,
however, is likely to remain a mystery. The truth lies indeed
impenetrable among the records regarding his canonization, kept in
custody in the safe of the Consistory of Siena. A truth sealed for
eternity? What seems certain is that the myth of King Arthur has
completely stolen the true story of the Tuscan Saint and, perhaps,
the real sword in the stone is here, in Italy.