Knights of the Round Table
The
Principal Knights
The
Principal Knights
|
...then the king established all his knights, and to them that there were of lands not rich, he gave them lands,and charged them never to do outrageousity nor murder, and always to flee treason; also by no mean to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asketh mercy, upon pain of forfeiture of their worship and lordship of King Arthur evermore; and to do the ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen succour, upon pain of death. Also, that no man take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law, nor for no world's goods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Round Table, both old and young. And every year they were sworn at the high feast of Pentecost. Morte d'Arthur, Malory 1460 |
Sir
Kay-- One of Arthur's earliest companions, and his faithful
Seneschal, a rough, cynical but dauntlessy loyal figure. Was squire
to Sir Kay while living with Sir Ector.
Sir Lancelot du Lac--Lancelot of the Lake, was the son of King Ban
of Benwick and Queen Elaine. He was the greatest fighter of
all and hero of many romances. Lancelot was raised by the Lady of the Lake
and his undying love for Queen Guinevere eventually destroyed the fellowship
of the Round Table. He was one of the knights in quest of the Holy
Grail, but owing to his pride, was unable to see the Grail. Some of Lancelot's
other adventures included the rescue of Queen Guinevere when abducted by
Meleagant
and the rescue of the Queen when she was sentenced to be burned to death
for the discovery of her adultry with Lancelot. Sir Lancelot was
loved by Elaine
of Astolat, but she dies because her love was not returned. Elaine
the daughter of King Pelles, tricked Lancelot into sleeping with her and
from that, Galahad was born. Lancelot was probably the most
famous knight of the legend of King Arthur.
Sir
Bedivere--Arthur's trusty supporter and constant companion from
the onset of his reign. He was the only knight to survive the battle of
Camlann, where Arthur met his demise. Before dying, Arthur asked Bedivere
to return the sword Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake. As
he threw the sword into the lake, a hand and arm came out of the
water, caught the sword by the hilt and then disappeared beneath the water.
Sir Bors--A leading figure in the quest for the Holy Grail.
Sir Bors was the only knight to survive the quest and return to the court
of King Arthur.
Sir
Gawain--Nephew to King Arthur and mighty warrior. Sir Gawain
was eventually killed in battle by Sir Mordred, his half-brother.
One of the best known stories of Sir Gawain is the story of Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight.
Gawain
Sir
Galahad--The son of Lancelot du Lac and Elaine, Galahad was
the perfect knight for his courtesy, strength and purity. Upon
his arrival at King Arthur's court, he sat in the Siege Perilous, the seat
at the Round Table that was reserved for the Grail Knight. Being
the chosen knight, he was the one that caused the knights to set
out on the quest for the Holy Grail. Galahad was conceived when Elaine
tricked Lancelot into sleeping with her, making Lancelot believe he was
sleeping with Guinevere.
Galahad
Sir Percival--An earlier version of the Galahad figure, Sir Percival
was the youngest and purest of Arthur's knights and stood as a symbol for
holy righteousness. Sir Percival was the one who was the hero of
the Grail Quest.
Percival
Sir Tristan--Nephew or son of King
Mark of Cornwall, and lover of one Isolde while husband of another--his
story has evolved into one of the great classic romances of all time. Isolde
came to marry King Mark, but after drinking a love potion, fell madly in
love with Tristan.
When she heard of Tristan's death, she died of a broken heart. Although
she married King Mark, she never loved him. Tristan married another
Isolde, of White Hands, but never stopped loving the original Isolde.
Tristan and Isolde drink the love potion
Sir
Mordred--As Sir Galahad was associated with good, Sir Mordred was
associated with evil. According to some stories, the illegitimate son of
Arthur and his half-sister Morgan le Fay, Mordred
eventually destroyed Arthur's reign in civil war, and the fellowship of
the Round Table went down in ruin at the battle of Camlann.
Mordred and Arthur at Camlann
Links
Round Table--Article from the Philosopical Research Society
Middle Ages--Great online resource unit for teachers and students with knights, castles, heraldry, and more.
Camelot
and Arthurian Legend-- Legend of the Knights of the Round Table and
Avalon