Queen Guenever

Also known as: Dame Guenever / Guenever / dame Guenever / fair lady / madam / the Queen Guenever · Family: Cameliard · Role: king's daughter · First appears: Book I, Chapter XVIII

As the king’s daughter of Cameliard, Guenever first came to King Arthur’s notice when he saw her and loved her. At Cameliard, Merlin carried Arthur’s marriage request to Leodegrance, who welcomed it and delivered his daughter to Merlin; Guenever was then married to Arthur at Camelot and crowned with great solemnity. She rode with King Arthur and his fellowship, survived the destruction of his host at North Wales, and was later entrusted with the realm to Sir Baudwin and Sir Constantine.

In the years that followed, Guenever’s bond with Sir Launcelot became central to her relationships at court. He was foretold to love her, and she came to hold him in greater favour than other knights; rumors spread of their love, while Morgan le Fay worked against Guenever and Launcelot. Guenever judged and pardoned others, corresponded with La Beale Isoud, and received the devotion of Sir Meliagaunce and other suitors. When Elaine’s enchantment led Launcelot to her bed, Guenever first rebuked and banished him, then held him excused after hearing the truth, later commissioning knights to search for him when he went mad. After the Sangreal quest, Launcelot returned to her, and their secret meetings resumed; Guenever discharged him from court, though their relationship continued.

Guenever was publicly accused by Sir Mador de la Porte of responsibility for Sir Patrise’s death, but Sir Bors and the disguised Sir Launcelot defended her, and Nimue’s revelation of Sir Pinel’s poisoning proved her innocent. She later faced Sir Meliagrance, who seized her with armed men and accused her of treason; after Launcelot’s intervention, the accusation was exposed as false. When Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred discovered Guenever and Launcelot together, King Arthur ordered her execution, but Launcelot rescued her and kept her at Joyous Gard; under the peace commanded by the Pope, she was to be restored to Arthur, with past offenses not spoken of.

After King Arthur placed England and Guenever under Sir Mordred’s governance, Mordred seized her and arranged to marry her. Guenever outwardly agreed while preparing the Tower of London, then refused to surrender, saying “that she had liefer slay herself than to be married with him.” After Arthur’s death, she withdrew to Almesbury, became a nun and then Abbess, and told Sir Launcelot that “Through this man and me hath all this war been wrought” because of their love. She commanded him to leave her and seek spiritual redemption; they refused further intimacy, and Guenever died at Almesbury. Sir Launcelot brought her body to Glastonbury and oversaw her burial beside King Arthur.