Morholt

Also known as: the Morholt · Family: Ireland · Role: giant knight · First appears: Chapter 2 · Part 1

Morholt, the giant knight of Ireland, came to Tintagel carrying the summons of King of Ireland, his lord, for Cornwall’s overdue tribute and the threatened taking of three hundred youths and maidens. He stood opposed to King Mark as an enemy, declaring, “King Mark, hear for the last time the summons of the King of Ireland, my lord.” He was also elder kin to Iseult, his niece, and the sister of King of Ireland was his queen.

On the day assigned, Tristan accepted Morholt’s challenge to defend Cornwall, and Morholt took up his gage. At St. Samson’s, Morholt and Tristan fought with only one to leave alive: “One of us only will go hence alive. One boat will serve.” Tristan defeated him, ending Cornwall’s demanded tribute, though a splinter of his broken sword remained in Morholt’s head. At Whitehaven, Morholt lay dead until Iseult removed the foreign steel from his skull; afterward, Tristan languished from the poisoned barb Morholt had thrust into him, and it was called a marvel that he had beaten Morholt.

Relationship record

Life events

The King of Ireland demands Cornwall’s overdue tribute and threatens three hundred youths and maidens.(Chapter 2 · Part 1 · 📍 Tintagel)
- With: King Mark King of Ireland
- “Now that year this King had sent to Tintagel, to carry his summons, a giant knight; the Morholt, whose sister he had wed, and whom no man had yet been able to overcome: so King Mark had summoned all the barons of his land to Council, by letters sealed.”
Tristan accepts Morholt’s combat challenge to defend Cornwall.(Chapter 2 · Part 1 · 📍 Tintagel)
- With: Tristan King Mark
- “Then Tristan knelt at the feet of King Mark and said: ‘Lord King, by your leave I will do battle.’ And in vain would King Mark have turned him from his purpose, thinking, how could even valour save so young a knight? But he threw down his gage to the Morholt, and the Morholt took up the gage.”
Tristan defeats Morholt and ends Cornwall’s demanded tribute.(Chapter 2 · Part 1 · 📍 St. Samson’s)
- With: Tristan
- “No man saw the sharp combat; but thrice the salt sea-breeze had wafted or seemed to waft a cry of fury to the land, when at last towards the hour of noon the purple sail showed far off; the Irish boat appeared from the island shore, and there rose a clamour of ‘the Morholt!’ When suddenly, as the boat grew larger on the sight and topped a wave, they saw that Tristan stood on the prow holding a sword in his hand. He leapt ashore, and as the mothers kissed the steel upon his feet he cried to the Morholt’s men: ‘My lords of Ireland, the Morholt fought well. See here, my sword is broken and a splinter of it stands fast in his head. Take you that steel, my lords; it is the tribute of Cornwall.’”
Morholt dies, and Iseult removes the foreign sword splinter from his skull.(Chapter 2 · Part 1 · 📍 Whitehaven)
- With: Iseult
- “But now their magic was vain, for he lay dead and the splinter of the foreign brand yet stood in his skull till Iseult plucked it out and shut it in a chest.”
Tristan’s wound proves poisoned, and his condition deteriorates toward death.(Chapter 2 · Part 1 · 📍 Tintagel)
- With: Tristan
- “But over in Tintagel Tristan languished, for there trickled a poisonous blood from his wound. The doctors found that the Morholt had thrust into him a poisoned barb, and as their potions and their theriac could never heal him they left him in God’s hands.”

Chapter 2 · Part 1

liege: King of Ireland “King Mark, hear for the last time the summons of the King of Ireland, my lord.”
enemies with King Mark “King Mark, hear for the last time the summons of the King of Ireland, my lord.”
enemies with Tristan “One of us only will go hence alive. One boat will serve.”
younger kin: Iseult “For when ever he came back into Whitehaven the Morholt had been wont to take joy in the sight of his clan upon the shore, of the Queen his sister, and of his niece Iseult the Fair.”

Chapter 3 · Part 1

with Tristan (interaction) “It was marvel enough that he beat the Morholt”
enemies with Tristan “It was marvel enough that he beat the Morholt”

Chapter 3 · Part 2

younger kin: Iseult (Morholt is Iseult’s uncle.) “Why should he that killed the Morholt seek me also, his niece?”
enemies with Tristan “Nor repent the healing: were not these wounds had in fair fight? Did I kill the Morholt by treason? Had he not defied me and was I not held to the defence of my body?”

Chapter 5 · Part 1

enemies with Tristan “Indeed I have placed my trust in Tristan. And rightly, for on the day when the Morholt offered combat to you all, you hung your heads and were dumb, and you trembled before him; but Tristan dared him for the honour of this land, and took mortal wounds.”

Chapter 14 · Part 2

enemies with Tristan “Queen Iseult, do you mind the day, when, poisoned by the Morholt’s spear, I took my harp to sea and fell upon your shore?”

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Extracted from the original text of The Romance of Tristan and Iseult. Made with Rho MD.