King of the Hundred Knights

Also known as: King with the Hundred Knights · Family: northern host · Role: king · First appears: Book I, Chapter XII

In Book I, Chapter XII, the King of the Hundred Knights joined Duke of Cambenet, King Brandegoris, King Clariance, King Lot, King Urience, King Idres, King Cradelmas, King Agwisance, King Nentres, and King Carados against King Arthur. The eleven kings assembled a vast host, besieged Bedegraine, and advanced toward King Arthur, swearing that “for weal nor woe, they should not leave other, till they had destroyed Arthur.”

In Book I, Chapter XVI, King Ban struck down the King of the Hundred Knights and felled King Morganore amid heavy slaughter. The King of the Hundred Knights then joined King Lot, King Nentres, King Carados, King Uriens, King Idres, King Brandegoris, King Cradelment, Duke of Cambenet, King Clariance, and King Agwisance in agreeing to hold formation, kill those who fled, and remain true to one another “neither for life nor for death.”

By Book IX, Chapter XXX, he had become a rival of King Carados, throwing him down in a joust. He rescued Sir Tristram from the knights bearing Cornwall’s shields and withdrew his own knights from attacking Sir Launcelot’s companions, saying, “evermore a good knight will favour another, and like will draw to like.” In Chapter XXXIII, he and King of Northgalis were put to the worse by Sir Launcelot and King Arthur.