King Lot

Also known as: King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney / King Lot of Orkney / King Lot of the Isle of Orkney / Lot · Family: Lothian and Orkney · Role: king · First appears: Book I, Chapter II

King Lot married Margawse, mother of Sir Gawaine, and ruled Lothian and Orkney. At King Arthur’s feast at Carlion, he came with five hundred knights among the kings who rejected Arthur’s gifts, besieged him, and prepared to attack. Lot mocked Merlin’s words, joined the assault, and knocked King Arthur down after Arthur’s horse was slain, but Arthur’s drawn Excalibur drove the opposing forces back.

Lot joined Duke of Cambenet, King Brandegoris, King Clariance, King of the Hundred Knights, King Urience, King Idres, King Cradelmas, King Agwisance, King Nentres, and King Carados in swearing not to leave one another until they had destroyed King Arthur. At Bedegraine he helped lead their great host, fought alongside the allied kings, and was aided by King of the Hundred Knights, who gave him Sir Kay’s horse after Sir Kay had wounded him. King Arthur later wounded Lot in the shoulder and drove him from the field; when King Ban turned the battle against the northern forces, Lot wept at the deaths of the knights and agreed with the other kings to hold together and slay those who fled.

In Book II, Merlin delayed Lot with a prophecy until Nero and his army were destroyed, after which King Arthur’s knights, aided by Balan and Knight with the Two Swords, defeated Lot’s host. King Pellinore struck him through the helmet and head, killing him, and twelve kings on Lot’s side were slain. King Arthur had Lot’s tomb made richly beside his own, while Sir Gawaine, Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, and Sir Gareth were identified as Lot’s sons with Margawse; Sir Gawaine later vowed revenge on King Pellinore, though Balin was named as Lot’s slayer.