Pelleas

Also known as: Sir Pelleas / Sir Pelleas of the isles · Family: Arthur's court · Role: knight · First appears: Pelleas and Ettarre 1

At Caerleon, Arthur made Pelleas a knight and favored him in the tournament so he might win Ettarre’s love. She promised to love him if he won her the circlet, and Pelleas swore to love one woman only. At the field by the shore of Usk, he won the sword, circlet, and honor of the tournament, but Ettarre took the circlet from his lance and crowned herself.

After Pelleas defeated her knights, Ettarre had him bound, brought inside, and later expelled. A week afterward she ordered another attack, and when he overcame the knights again, she had him bound once more. Gawain freed him, recognized him as one whom Arthur had made a knight, and pledged to aid him. Pelleas lent Gawain his horse and arms for the deception in which Gawain claimed to have slain him and entered Ettarre’s castle.

On the third night, Pelleas found Gawain and Ettarre together in her pavilion. He laid his sword across their throats but spared them, then left Ettarre and rode away. Later, her fancy turned to Pelleas as the one true knight and only lover, while she longed for him in vain. In combat, Lancelot defeated Pelleas but spared his life.