The Excalibur Group, Realtors, Inc.

The Excalibur Group Realtors, Inc. officially opened its doors on May 15th, 1993. The company began with three owner-agents and quickly grew to a staff of over twenty agents and brokers coming from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. The Company specializes in Western Loudoun County real estate with an emphasis in Lenah Run, Stone Ridge, and South Riding.

The Company also specializes in residential real estate sales as well as residential rentals, commercial sales and rentals and property management. It serves the Northern Virginia area and is affiliated with various relocation services, where prospective out-of-town buyers and sellers can be placed with exceptional Realtors and Brokers throughout the country.

EXCALIBUR: A Divine Legacy

In ancient 6th- century Britain, the very name inspired both fear and reverence: in the enemies of the Good King Arthur, and his many loyal subjects and knights - for this was no ordinary weapon. Endowed with supernatural powers, the sword was believed by many to have been formed by the very Hand of God Himself. Indeed, its mysterious and most sudden appearance into the tales and legends of English folklore would suggest no less.

According to Bulfinch*, EXCALIBUR (whose name means "out of the solid rock" - undoubtedly a biblical reference to Christ) first appeared on this wise. When Arthur was but a youth of 15, his father, the mighty King Uther, passed away. Since the concept of a royal regency had not yet evolved into the law and custom of the Britons, the nobility, desiring to avoid factions and rebellion, took it upon themselves to endorse the young king by majority vote. Although Arthur eventually won election, the vote was so close and the competition so strong, that the Right Bishop Brice, a godly and holy man, felt it necessary to invoke some confirmation from the Most High that Arthor’s election was truly according to God’s will. So, at a solemn Christmas mass a few days later, he led the nobility in a prayer for divine validation of the Arthurian kingship. The answer came almost immediately, for no sooner had the mass ended than a large stone miraculously appeared at the door of the church as if blocking entrance to all but the most righteous and stouthearted, and embedded firmly in the stone was a magnificent sword - the likes of which had never been seen by man. On its handle-guard was engraved the following inscription:

"I am night Escalibore (Excaibur)

Unto a king fair tresore (Treasure)."

Bishop Brice, obviously awed by this grand happening, blessed it, gave thanks to God for His unmistakable answer to their prayer, and at once proposed a new law: that whoever was capable of extracting the sword from the stone would be recognized throughout the land as the lawful and divinely chosen King of the Britons. All agreed.

Many and strong were the champions who relentlessly strove with all of their strength to accomplish the feat - but the mighty EXCALIBUR refused to budge. It remained as such until Easter, then Pentecost.

Meanwhile, in a rebel uprising not far from Camelot, Arthur, who was then serving as squire to his knight and foster brother, Sir Kay, was sent home from the foray to replenish the sword broken in battle by the knight. Finding none, he went searching around the countryside only to pass the church in due course. Seeing a most excellent sword embedded in the rock, he withdrew it with great ease and delivered it to his master, who recognized it immediately as EXCALIBUR. Having triumphed in the battle, Sir Kay returned to Camelot to claim what he hoped the sword would confer upon him - the crown. However, when at the request of the nobility who doubted his claim, he replaced the sword into the stone, he was completely unable to withdraw it. Only the young Arthur was up to the task. Amidst shouts of exaltation, Arthur was pronounced King of the Britons and, in years to come, won many glorious battles, including his famous victory at Mount Badon, where he routed a mighty army with his loyal knights and formidable EXCALIBUR.

*REFERENCE. Bulfinch, Thomas. Bulfinch’s Mythology, Random House, New York, NY. Article written by John Donahue, Principal Broker, The Excalibur Group, Realtors, Inc.