King Uriens

Also known as: King Uriens of Gore / Sir Uriens / Uriens · Family: Gore · Role: king · First appears: Book I, Chapter II

King Uriens of Gore married Morgan le Fay in Book I, Chapter II, and was the father of Sir Ewain le Blanchemain. At King Arthur’s Pentecost feast at Carlion, Uriens came with four hundred knights alongside several other kings; when they rejected Arthur’s gifts and declared their hostility, Uriens joined the siege of Arthur’s stronghold. The kings later agreed, through Merlin, that Arthur could meet them safely.

By Book I, Chapter XVI, Uriens had joined King Lot, King Nentres, King of the Hundred Knights, King Carados, King Idres, King Brandegoris, King Cradelment, Duke of Cambenet, King Clariance, and King Agwisance in pledging that they would not fail one another. Bagdemegus was his cousin, and he was also the father of Sir Ewaine and Uwaine les Avoutres. In Book IV, he rode with King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul while pursuing a hart, and afterward awoke in Camelot in Morgan le Fay’s arms despite having been two days’ journey away.

Later, Morgan le Fay sent Sir Accolon of Gaul a sword to use against King Arthur, with the intention that Uriens would eventually be overthrown. She also tried to kill Uriens while he slept, but Sir Uwaine caught her hand and stopped her. In Book VII, Sir Gareth defeated Uriens after defeating King Agwisance and King Carados; in Book XVIII, King of Ireland struck him down in the opening jousts.