Lancelot

Also known as: Lancelot of the Lake / Lord Lancelot / Sir Lancelot / our Lancelot / the chief of knights / the great knight · Family: Camelot · Role: warrior · First appears: The Coming of Arthur 3

Lancelot was taken from his mother’s arms by the Lady of the Lake. In The Coming of Arthur, Arthur entrusted him with bringing Guinevere to him, and Lancelot returned with her in May; Arthur loved and honoured him, and the two saved each other’s lives in battle. He was Arthur’s knight, friend, and chief warrior, while Gareth became his friend and pupil: Lancelot taught him how to meet a stronger opponent with skill, and later lent him his shield and charger. Lynette first sought Lancelot as her champion, then hated him before learning that he had come to help Gareth; Lancelot defeated Gareth, hailed him as a knight and prince, and defended Arthur and himself against Gareth’s brothers.

By the time of Balin and Balan, Balin studied courtesy, manhood, and knighthood by observing Lancelot. Lancelot’s devotion to Guinevere was known at court, and Vivien claimed to have witnessed the pair embrace at Caerleon; Mark likewise heard that Lancelot worshipped no unmarried woman but the Queen. During the diamond jousts, Lancelot had won eight yearly diamonds for Guinevere, disguised himself at her urging, and went to Astolat, where Elaine fell in love with him. He wore her red sleeve at the tournament, fought through a wound to win, and recovered under her care, but refused both her offer of marriage and her request to remain with him. Lavaine served as his guide and friend, while Torre opposed him; Lancelot later forgave Guinevere for her jealousy after she rejected his gift.

Lancelot swore with Galahad, Bors, Percivale, Gawain, and the other knights to seek the Holy Grail for a year and a day, but confessed that his sin made his quest vain. He reached Carbonek and saw the veiled Grail, though Arthur declared that Bors, Lancelot, and Percivale had seen it according to their capacities; Bors, his cousin, also found that Lancelot’s former madness had returned. Lancelot defeated Pelleas but spared him, telling him, “Rise, weakling; I am Lancelot; say thy say.”

Later Arthur appointed Lancelot to preside over a tournament, while Tristram remained his rival. Modred hated him and tried to expose him, but Lancelot hurled him down. After Guinevere told him to leave, they parted forever, and Arthur fought him; though Gawain was killed in the war, Lancelot spared Arthur, the king who had made him knight.