Brastias

Also known as: Sir Brastias · Family: Cornwall · Role: knight · First appears: Book I, Chapter II

Sir Brastias is a knight of Cornwall. In Book I, Chapter II, he is held up as the model for Ulfius, and at St. Albans he fought beside him as Uther Pendragon’s forces defeated the Northern host. After Uther Pendragon’s day, Brastias was placed among the trusted knights kept around King Arthur day and night, alongside Sir Baudwin, Sir Kay, and Ulfius, and was later made warden of the northern territories beyond Trent.

Brastias served King Arthur as both companion and envoy. He went with King Arthur, Sir Baudwin, and Sir Kay as one of the men of greatest worship about him, then travelled with Ulfius to invite King Ban and King Bors to aid Arthur’s wars; the two kings welcomed them and promised them good cheer. “Ulfius and Brastias were made the messengers.”

In battle, Brastias fought beside Sir Ector and Ulfius. He struck Duke Eustace of Cambenet from his horse, helped Sir Griflet by killing a knight and providing him with a horse, and joined the encounter that forced Duke Eustace, King Cradelment, King Clariance, King Carados, and King with the Hundred Knights from the ground. Later, at Bedegraine, he and Ulfius recognized the disguised Merlin for King Arthur, telling him, “it is Merlin that so speaketh unto you.”