In the United Kingdom there is a legend similar to that of Atlantis where a kingdom known as Lyonesse was flooded due to a punishment from God. But does this lost land really exist?
The Kingdom of Lyonesse was first described in 1485, by Sir Thomas Malory, in a collection of books telling the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
One of the stories told in this collection is about a forbidden love story between people from two warring kingdoms. One of the lovers is Tristan, who although known as a Knight of Cornwall, has his origins in the West, and would be the son of a Lyonian king.
Legend has it that Lyonesse was a rich and prosperous land, with many fertile plains, large and beautiful cities, and over 140 churches, located about 29 kilometers west of Land's End, on what is now the Sea.
The disappearance of the kingdom could have occurred in just one night, around the year 1100, due to punishment for a crime against God so bad that it justified the sea swallowing the entire territory, leaving no trace.
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Is the Kingdom of Leonis a myth or reality?
Some sailors still say that they hear the ringing of the bells of the many submerged churches as they pass in their boats through the area where the kingdom used to be. However, the references regarding Leonisi are not as special as the legend says, and above all they are very shallow for a place that has disappeared relatively recently.
The invading sea was taken away from her [Cornualha] An entire lioness country, plus several other not so small circle pieces. The distance between the extremity of the land and the Scilly Isles is about thirty miles [48,2 quilômetros]to this day it retains the name, in the promenade of Lithoso, and consistently bears an equal depth of forty or sixty fathoms. [88 ou 132 metros]…The roots of great trees are described in the surrounding sand.
Richard Caro, V Cornwall Surveyfrom 1602
But going beyond the legend, there is evidence that there was indeed dry land where Leonisi was supposed to exist, but that has nothing to do with the stories. In 2009, a submerged forest was discovered on Scilly, islands west of Cornwall that were once part of the kingdom's coast, sparking archaeological research by researchers from England and Wales.
The research revealed the presence of submerged stone walls at the site, due to rising sea levels, but this occurred between 2500 and 2000 BC, when the largest loss of land was observed, equivalent to two-thirds of the current area of the islands. The islands.
After 500 years, sea levels had slowed significantly, and by 1500 BC, the islands were roughly where they are today. Therefore, it is unlikely that the Kingdom of Leonis existed as described in the legend.
However, there is another hypothesis that proves that the existence of Leonis is correct, and that it is just errors in the topographic names. Leonice may actually be Luthian, in a mistranslation from English to French. Lothian actually exists and is located in the county of Edinburgh, Scotland, well north of Cornwall.
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Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.