Sir Galahalt

Also known as: Galahalt · Role: lord of a castle · First appears: Book X, Chapter XX

In Book X, Chapter XX, Sir Galahalt, lord of a castle, received Sir Lamorak, Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan with great hospitality: “there they found a knight that hight Galahalt, that was lord of that castle, and there they had great cheer and were well eased.” In Chapter XL, King Arthur granted him leave to proclaim a joust in Surluse, where Sir Galahalt would govern Queen Guenever and joust for eight days with her knights against all challengers. He was joined by Sir Launcelot, whom he counted among the knights of the enterprise.

In Chapters XLI and XLII, Sir Galahalt welcomed Sir Palomides to the field but barred Sir Launcelot from jousting with him, and offered Palomides’s damosel to any knight who could defeat him. He struck Palomides backward and killed his horse, then gave him another horse and asked forgiveness; after Palomides had won, Sir Galahalt released the maiden to him. He also encountered Sir Dinadan, who escaped after their spears broke, and struck Sir Meliagaunce in the throat so hard that his neck might have broken. Semound the Valiant came with forty knights and beat the opposing company back.

Later, Sir Galahalt sat with Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot to judge Sir Lamorak and another knight, and Sir Dinadan made him laugh by likening him to a wolf that would eat flesh rather than fish. King Marsil held an island given by Sir Galahalt, while in Cornwall Sir Galahalt and King Bagdemagus held jousts against Sir Launcelot and then attacked the disguised Sir Tristram, who nevertheless won the tournament despite being badly bruised. Sir Galahalt was also nigh cousin to Sir Galihodin.