The Characters of the Arthurian Legend

Although King Arthur is the central character his legends, the dozens of other supporting characters are what has turned legend into a vast, mythopoeic complex, where any theme can be played out. Arthur may have begun his mythological career as a powerful and dynamic war-leader and hero, but by the Middle Ages he had become a less interesting figure who sat in the background on his throne and allowed the world to manipulate him. His own wife left him, he became so boring (ie, Guinevere in medieval romance fell in love with Lancelot and brought down Camelot with her adultery).

In modern times, Camelot has become crowded with the dramas of those who were once bit players. Specific character pages attempt to document the origins of the various characters in the Arthurian legend, but the glossary below focuses on the placement of the character in the myth.

Arthur the king of Britain, ruler of Camelot
Aurelius Ambrosius one of Arthur's predecessors as King of Britain
Balan a knight of the Round Table
Bedivere a knight of the Round Table; very noble
Gawain a knight of the Round Table
Geraint a knight of the Round Table
Gorlois Duke of Cornwall; Igraine's first husband
GuinevApril 11, 2006 Arthur's wife
Igraine Arthur's mother; wife of Gorlois, then Uther Pendragon
Iseult a lady of the court, married to King Mark, lover of Tristan
Kay a knight of the Round Table; raised with Arthur as his foster brother; the steward of Camelot
Lancelot a knight of the Round Table; son of the Lady of the Lake; lover of Guinevere
Merlin the wizard; Arthur's mentor and teacher
Morgan Le Fay Arthur's half-sister, daughter of Gorlois and Igraine; mother of Mordred
Niniane the sorceress who destroys Merlin
Perceval a knight of the Round Table
Tristan a knight of the Round Table
Uther Arthur's father

 



 

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 This site's content created by Merrie Haskell,
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This page last updated on April 11, 2006