Sir Meliagrance

Also known as: Meliagrance / Traitor knight · Family: Meliagrance's household · Role: knight · First appears: Book XIX, Chapter I

In Book XIX, Chapter I, Sir Meliagrance is identified as the son of King Bagdemagus and holds a castle near Westminster granted by King Arthur. He has loved Queen Guenever for many years, and gathers twenty armed men and a hundred archers to attack her and the knights accompanying her, including Sir Kay, Sir Agravaine, Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramore, Sir Dodinas, Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy, Sir Ladinas of the Forest Savage, Sir Persant, Sir Ironside, and Sir Pelleas. In Chapter II he seizes the queen at an advantage, saying, “I have loved you many a year, and never or now could I get you at such an advantage as I do now, and therefore I will take you as I find you.”

When Queen Guenever agrees to go with him if he spares and protects her wounded knights, Sir Meliagrance confines the whole fellowship and leads them toward his castle. In Chapter III he places thirty archers in ambush for Sir Launcelot, ordering them to kill his horse, and Sir Launcelot reaches the castle on foot, calling him a false traitor. Sir Meliagrance then submits himself and his possessions to the queen, who makes peace and takes control of the settlement, while Sir Launcelot accepts the accord despite the shameful and cowardly treatment he has received.

In Chapters VI and VII, Sir Meliagrance finds blood and accuses Queen Guenever of treason against King Arthur, offering his glove and accepting Sir Launcelot’s challenge to battle. He later traps Sir Launcelot in a deep cave and leaves him there, but in Chapter IX Queen Guenever is brought to a fire before Sir Launcelot reveals Sir Meliagrance’s treason. After Sir Launcelot defeats him, Sir Meliagrance yields, but Sir Launcelot kills him with a sword stroke that splits his head; King Arthur then permits his burial.