King Pelles

Also known as: Pelles · Family: Pelles's court · Role: king · First appears: Book XI, Chapter I

In Book XI, King Pelles, “the good and noble knight,” greeted Sir Launcelot and identified himself as cousin to Joseph of Armathie. With Sir Launcelot, he witnessed the Holy Sangreal and called it “the richest thing that any man hath living.” Seeking to have Sir Launcelot lie with his daughter Elaine, he acted through Dame Brisen, who deceived Sir Launcelot with Queen Guenever’s ring and arranged Elaine’s presence at the Castle of Case. Elaine later revealed that she carried Sir Galahad, and King Pelles and Elaine warmly received Sir Bors at Corbin.

In Book XII, King Pelles knighted his nephew Castor at the feast of Candlemas. After Sir Launcelot was healed through the virtue of the holy vessel, Pelles granted him residence at the Castle of Bliant with Elaine and a noble household. The birth of Galahad was reported at Camelot, and in Book XIII Queen Guenever and a hermit identified him as Sir Launcelot’s son by King Pelles’ daughter. Sir Launcelot also agreed to follow Pelles’s messenger, while Balin’s stroke left Pelles wounded and not yet whole.

By Book XVII, King Pelles had been pierced through both thighs and was permanently maimed. At Carbonek, he told Sir Launcelot that Elaine had died, then held him for four days before his departure. Later, Pelles recognized Sir Percivale and Sir Bors as those who had fulfilled the Sangreal quest, and remained among the guests at the holy table with his son Eliazar when the others were ordered to leave.