King Anguish

Also known as: Anguish / King Anguish of Ireland / King of Ireland / the King of Ireland · Family: Scotland · Role: king · First appears: Book V, Chapter II

In Book V, Chapter II, King Anguish pledged King Arthur twenty thousand warriors at his own cost to strengthen Arthur’s quarrel and avenge Scotland against the Romans. In Book VIII, Chapter IV, when King Mark refused Cornwall’s seven years of overdue tribute, King Anguish sent his brother and servant Sir Marhaus to fight for Ireland’s claim: “I pray you go into Cornwall for my sake, and do battle for our truage that of right we ought to have.”

At his arrival in Ireland, King Anguish ordered Sir Tristram’s wounds searched and placed him in the care of his daughter La Beale Isoud, a noble surgeon. He cherished Sir Palamides, proclaimed a tournament for his cousin the Lady of the Launds, and later learned from Queen Isoud that Tristram had killed Sir Marhaus. King Anguish offered Tristram safe departure if he revealed his identity and admitted the killing, but after being summoned to King Arthur’s court and accused by Sir Blamore of treason, he accepted Tristram as his champion. Tristram fought for him, and King Anguish later made Tristram’s service known throughout Ireland; they were reconciled with Sir Blamore and Sir Bleoberis.

King Anguish then kept his promise by sending La Beale Isoud to Cornwall to marry King Mark. In Book XVIII, he at first joined King Arthur’s party, though King with the Hundred Knights knocked him down; later, at the great jousts, he took part against Arthur with King with the Hundred Knights, King of Northumberland, and Galahad.