Sir Lamorak

Also known as: Knight with the Red Shield / Lamorak / Lamorak de Galis / Sir Lamorak de Galis / the Knight with the Red Shield · Family: Arthur's court · Role: knight · First appears: Book VII, Chapter IX

In Book VII, Sir Lamorak is named among King Arthur’s nephews and as one of the two brothers of Sir Percivale, alongside Sir Tor and other sons of King Pellinore. He is presented as a knight of Arthur’s court and as a measure of martial strength, while crossing weapons with Sir Turquine and Sir Ironside. In Book VIII, he defeats thirty knights in succession, but Sir Tristram unhorses him and refuses to continue the fight on foot, prompting Lamorak to vow, “I shall quit you, an ever I see my time.”

After his ship is wrecked at the Isle of Servage and his squire drowns, fishers rescue Lamorak. He declares his loyalty to King Arthur, resolves to avenge his cousin Sir Nanowne le Petite, and reveals his identity to Sir Tristram as the son of King Pellinore. The two abandon their malice to oppose Nabon le Noire, granting the country afterward to Sir Segwarides. Lamorak then rescues Sir Frol of the Out Isles, rides with him, and later kills him in a joust; after a fierce battle, he and Belliance le Orgulus forgive one another and swear never to fight again. He also reconciles with Sir Launcelot and later with Sir Tristram, with whom he swears never to fight again.

Through Books IX and X, Lamorak repeatedly defeats knights in jousts and battles, including Sir Meliagaunce, King Mark, Sir Palomides, Sir Gawaine and twenty others, and thirty knights in a field battle. He defeats the defenders of a castle, ends its old custom, and receives the prize for his deeds; Sir Launcelot is named above him, while Sir Palomides follows him. Lamorak fights and reconciles with Sir Palomides, declaring that each will love the other above all knights except his own brother. He suffers for the love of La Beale Isoud, praises Queen Morgawse of Orkney, and is loved by Sir Launcelot; but he remains opposed to Sir Gawaine and his brothers because they killed King Pellinore and dishonoured Queen Morgawse of Orkney. He refuses to trust them and leaves Sir Launcelot, though he promises to serve King Arthur.

At his departure, Sir Gawaine, Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, and Sir Mordred ambush Lamorak, kill his horse, and fight him on foot for more than three hours before Sir Mordred gives him the death wound. His brothers Sir Aglovale, Sir Percivale, and Sir Dornard mourn him, while Sir Pinel later seeks revenge against Sir Gawaine for his death. The later accounts state that “they slew Sir Lamorak all only by treason,” and Sir Gawaine admits, “wit thou well I slew him.”