King Arthur

Also known as: Arthur / Sir Arthur / Sir Arthur, king / his son Arthur / king / king Arthur / my Lord Arthur / my lord Arthur / my lord Arthur’s / the King / the noble King Arthur · Family: Pendragon · Role: child of Uther and Igraine · First appears: Book I, Chapter II

Arthur was begotten by Uther Pendragon and Igraine at Tintagil after Uther assumed the likeness of Igraine’s deceased husband. When Arthur was born, Merlin delivered him to Sir Ector for rearing, and he was christened Arthur. Uther later confirmed him as his son and successor, and Sir Ector revealed that he had raised Arthur under Uther’s command. At London on New Year’s Day, Arthur drew the sword from the stone, and after drawing it again before the barons at Christmas, Candlemas, Easter, and Pentecost, he was acclaimed, knighted, crowned, and sworn to rule with justice: “We will have Arthur unto our king.”

After his coronation, Arthur restored lands to their owners and appointed Sir Kay, Sir Baudwin, Ulfius, and Brastias to offices around his realm. At Carlion, King Lot, King Uriens, King Nentres, the king of Scotland, King with the Hundred Knights, and the king of Carados rejected his gifts and besieged him, but Arthur defeated them with the help and counsel of Merlin. He then sought the aid of King Ban and King Bors, fought the eleven kings who had sworn to destroy him, rescued Leodegrance from King Rience, and married Queen Guenever. He also fathered Borre with Lionors and Mordred with King Lot’s wife, later learning that she was his maternal sister.

Arthur established the Round Table, knighted and rewarded many of its members, and maintained both friendship and conflict among them. He supported Sir Gawaine, Sir Tor, Sir Griflet, Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, Sir Gareth, and others, while contending with Morgan le Fay, King Pellinore, and rival kings and knights. He refused tribute to Rome, defeated Emperor Lucius, was crowned emperor by the pope, and extended his lands from Rome into France. Later, the Sangreal appeared at his court and fed the fellowship of the Round Table, after which many of its knights departed on the quest and more than half were eventually slain.