Accolon

Also known as: Accolon of Gaul / Sir Accolon · Family: Arthur's realm · Role: knight · First appears: Book II, Chapter XI

In Book II, Chapter XI, Accolon of Gaul was the knight loved by Morgan le Fay, who gave him an enchanted scabbard for Excalibur as part of her plan to have King Arthur slain. By Book IV, Chapter VIII, she secretly armed him with Arthur’s sword and commanded him to fight without mercy; Accolon accepted the plot and vowed to fulfill his promise. When Sir Ontzlake was wounded, Accolon took his scheduled battle in his place.

Accolon then fought King Arthur, whose sword could not match Excalibur and who suffered repeated wounds before his own sword broke. The Damosel of the Lake enchanted Excalibur from Accolon’s hand, allowing Arthur to recover it, strip away Accolon’s scabbard, and wound him severely. Afterward Accolon identified himself: “I am of the court of King Arthur, and my name is Accolon of Gaul.” He confessed that Morgan le Fay had sent him the sword to kill Arthur, and Arthur granted him mercy because Accolon had not known whom he fought.

Accolon publicly declared that the knight he had fought was Arthur, his liege lord, and expressed regret for the battle. His wounds were treated at the abbey, but he died there within four days from blood loss; afterward, Arthur sent his body to Morgan le Fay and told her that he had recovered Excalibur and its scabbard.