List of Arthurian characters

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The Arthurian legend featured many characters, including the Knights of the Round table and members of his family. Their names often differed from version to version and from language to language. The following is a list of them with descriptions. (Note: The '†' symbol indicates a Knight of the Round Table.)

King Arthur Characters
Name Other names Earliest appearance Works featured in Description
Accolon Le Morte D'Arthur, c. 1470 Morgan le Fay's lover
Aglovale† Agloval, Sir Aglovale de Galis King Pellinore's eldest son
Agravain† Agravaine Second son of King Lot and Morgause
Amr Amhar, Amir, Anir Historia Brittonum, c. AD 820 Geraint and Enid Son of King Arthur
King Arthur† Arthur Pendragon Y Gododdin, c. 7th century Many King of the Britons
Aurelius Ambrosius Ambrosius Aurelianus Gildas' De Excidio Britanniae c. AD 540s Historia Brittonum c. AD 820
Ban Lancelot-Grail, early 13th century Lancelot's father
Balan Sir Balan le Savage Post-Vulgate Cycle, 1230s Post-Vulgate, Le Morte D'Arthur Brother to Balin
Balin Sir Balin le Savage, Knight with Two Swords Post-Vulgate Cycle, 1230s Post-Vulgate, Le Morte D'Arthur Brother to Balan
Bedivere† (Welsh: Bedwyr)(French: Bédoier) Bedevere Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century Returns Excalibur to The Lady of the Lake, brother to Sir Lucan
Black Knight King Arthur's grandson through Tom a'Lincoln, usually an antagonist figure
Blanchefleur Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail, c. 1181 Percival's wife, niece to Gornemant
Bors the elder (French: Bohort) Lancelot-Grail, early 13th century Brother to King Ban, and an ally of Arthur's
Bors the younger† Son of Bors the Elder, Father of Elyan the White
Brangaine Brangaene, Brangwane, Brangien Tristan poems by Béroul and Thomas of Britain, 12th century Tristan poems of Béroul, Thomas, Eilhart von Oberge, Gottfried von Strassburg, Prose Tristan, Post-Vulgate Cycle, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur Handmaid to Iseult
Breunor le Noir† Brunor, La Cote Male Taile ("The Badly-shaped Coat")
Brutus of Britain (Brut, Brute, Welsh: Bryttys) Historia Brittonum, c. AD 820 First King of Britain, a Trojan
Cador† (Latin: Cadorius) Historia Regum Britanniae, The Dream of Rhonabwy Raised Guinevere as his ward, father to Constantine III of Britain, Described in some works as Arthur's cousin
Caelia The Faerie Queene, Gloriana Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, 1590; Richard Johnson's Tom a Lincoln part 1, 1599 Tom a'Lincoln's lover, mother to the Faerie Knight
Calogrenant† Colgrevance Chrétien de Troyes' Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, 1170s Le Morte d'Arthur Cousin to Sir Ywain
Caradoc† (Welsh Caradog Freichfras, meaning Caradoc Strong (or Stout) Arm)) (French: Carados Briefbras) Perceval, the Story of the Grail, the Mabinogion At first rebelled against Arthur when he first became king, but later supported him
Cerdic of Wessex Anglo Saxon Chronicle, 9th century First King of Wessex, an ancestor of Arthur's
Claudas Perlesvaus, Lancelot-Grail, Post-Vulgate Cycle, Le Morte d'Arthur A Frankish King antagonistic to Arthur, has two sons, Dorin and Claudin
Claudin Lancelot-Grail, Le Morte d'Arthur Virtuous son of the Frankish villain Claudas, eventually becomes one of 12 knights to achieve the Holy Grail
Constans son of Constantine Based on the historical figure Constans Historia Regum Britanniae Son ofConstantine II of Britain, older brother to Uther Pendragon
Constantine II of Britain Based on the historical figure Constantine Historia Regum Britanniae Arthur's Grandfather, father to Uther Pendragon, Constans, and Ambrosius Aurelianus
Constantine III of Britain Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 Historia Regum Britanniae, Le Morte d'Arthur Arthur's cousin and successor to his throne, Cador's son
Culhwch Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century Friend of Arthur's in early Welsh legend
Cynric of Wessex Anglo Saxon Chronicle, 9th century Second King of Wessex, son of Cerdic
Dagonet† Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King Arthur's court jester
Daniel von Blumenthal† Daniel von Blumenthal, 1220 A Knight of the Round Table found in an early German offshoot of Arthurian legend
Dinadan† Prose Tristan, 1230s Son of Sir Brunor the Senior
Dindrane (Italian: Agrestizia)(Welsh: Danbrann) Also Dindraine or Heliabel depending on the sources) Sister (sometimes half-sister) of Percival, plays a large part in many Holy grail stories
Ector† (sometimes Hector, Antor, or Ectorius) Lancelot-Grail, early 13th century The Once and Future King, Le Morte d'Arthur Raises Arthur according to Merlin's command, Father to Sir Kay
Elaine of Astolat Elaine the White, Elaine the Fair, The Lady of Shalott Le Morte d'Arthur, 1470 The Lady of Shalott Daughter of Bernard of Astolat, classic Arthurian figure of unrequited love
Elaine of Carbonek Amite, Helaine or Helizabel; "The Grail Maiden" Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail c. 1181, or Perceval le Gallois 1978 Daughter of the Fisher King, mother of Galahad by Lancelot
Elaine the Peerless Niece of the Lord of the Fens and wife of Persides the Red of the Castle of Gazevilte, sometimes confused with Elaine of Carbonek
Elaine of Garlot Daughter of Gorlois and Igraine, sister to Morgan le Fay and Morgause and a half-sister to King Arthur, wife to King Nentres
Elaine of Benoic Wife of King Ban and mother to Lancelot, Evaine's sister
Eliwlod Welsh Triads Nephew to Arthur, son of Madoc, Uther Pendragon's brother
Elyan the White† (French: Helyan le Blanc) Son of Sir Bors and Claire, King Brandegoris' daughter, helps Lancelot rescue Guinevere and goes into exile with him
Enide Enid Chrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170 Idylls of the King, Geraint and Enid Erec's wife
Erec† Unclear; first literary appearance as Erec in Chrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170 See Geraint and Enid Son of King Lac and a Knight of the Round Table
Esclabor† Father of Palamedes, Safir, and Segwarides
Esclados Chrétien de Troyes' Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, 1170s Defended a magical fountain in the Forest of Broceliande, married to Laudine
Faerie Knight, The Richard Johnson's Tom a Lincoln part 1, 1599 Bastard son of Tom a'Lincoln and Caelia, the Faerie Queen, half brother to the Black Knight
Feirefiz† Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, early 13th century Half-brother to Percival and King Arthur's nephew
Fisher King, The The Wounded King, Pelles, Pelias Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail, c. 1181 Guardian of the Holy Grail
Gaheris† Le Morte d'Arthur Son of King Lot and Morgause, brother to Gawain, Agravaine, and Gareth, and half-brother to Mordred,
Galahad† Lancelot-Grail, early 13th century Lancelot-Grail, Post-Vulgate Cycle, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur Bastard son of Sir Lancelot and Elaine of Carbonek
Galehalt or Galehault† Galehault, Galehaut Lancelot-Grail, early 13th century
Gareth† Beaumains Le Morte d'Arthur, Idylls of the King Also a son of Lot and Morgause, in love with Lyonesse
Gawain† (Latin: Walwanus, Welsh: Gwalchmai, Irish: Balbhuaidh) Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and many others Another son of Lot and Morgause, father of Gingalain
Geraint† Geraint and Enid Enid's lover
Gingalain† (Guinglain, Gingalin, Gliglois, Wigalois, etc.) also Le Bel Inconnu, or The Fair Unknown Le Bel Inconnu Gawain's and Blanchemal's son
Gorlois (Old Welsh: Gwrlais) Historia Regum Britanniae Igraine's first husband before she married Uther Pendragon
Gornemant Chrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170 Chrétien's Perceval, the Story of the Grail Percival's mentor
Green Knight† Bercilak, Bertilak, Bernlak, Bredbeddle Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 1300s The Greene Knight, King Arthur and King Cornwall An knight enchanted by Morgan le Fay in order to test Gawain
Griflet† Girflet, Jaufre Jaufré The son of Do (or Don), cousin to Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere
Gringolet (Welsh: gwyn calet ("white-hardy"), or ceincaled ("handsome-hardy")) Chrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Gawain's horse
Guinevak Gwenhwyvach, Guinevak Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century Welsh Triads, Thomas Love Peacock's Misfortunes of Elphin Guinevere's sister
Guinevere (Welsh: Gwenhwyfar, 'The White Fay' or 'White Ghost')(Latin: Guanhumara) Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century Many Wife to King Arthur, famous for her affair with Lancelot
Hector de Maris† Quest du Saint Graal Vulgate Cycle Half-brother of Lancelot, son of King Ban and the Lady de Maris, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel are his cousins
Hengest Hengist Bede's The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, AD 721 Historia Regum Britanniae An Anglo-Saxon King killed by Uther Pendragon, Horsa's brother
Hoel† (Welsh: Howel, Hywel) The Dream of Rhonabwy, Geraint and Enid Son of King Budic of Britanny, father to St. Tudwal
Horsa Bede's The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, AD 721 Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Brother to Hengest
Igraine (Latin: Igerna)(Welsh: Eigyr) (French Igerne) Also Ygrayne and Arnive. Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 Vulgate Merlin Mother to King Arthur through an affair with Uther Pendragon
Iseult of Ireland Isolde, Yseult, Isode, Isoude, Isotta Tristan and Iseult Wife of Mark of Cornwall and adulterous lover of Sir Tristan
Iseult (Queen of Ireland) Isolde, Yseult, Isode, Isoude, Isotta Tristan and Iseult Iseult of Ireland's mother.
Iseult of the White Hands Isolde, Yseult, Isode, Isoude, Isotta Tristan and Iseult Daughter of Hoel of Brittany, sister of Sir Kahedin, and wife of Tristan
Joseph of Arimathea Biblical figure; first connection with Arthur is in Robert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie, 12th century First keeper of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend
Josephus of Arimathea Josephe, Josephes Lancelot-Grail cycle Son of Joseph of Arimathea
Kay† (Welsh: Cai, Latin: Caius) Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century Many Foster brother to Arthur, Sir Ector's son
Kahedin Kahadin, Kahedrin, Kehenis, Kehidius; possibly the Welsh character Kae Hir Prose Tristan Brother to Iseult, son of King Hoel, had an affair with Brangaine
Lady of the Lake Nimue, Viviane, Niniane, Nyneve, etc. Unclear; a water fay is first mentioned as Lancelot's foster mother in Chrétien de Troyes' Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, 1170s Many There are several related characters called the Lady of the Lake. Their actions include giving Arthur his sword Excalibur, raising Lancelot and his cousins as foster children, enchanting Merlin, and taking the dying king to Avalon.
Lamorak† Prose Tristan, c. 1235 Lancelot-Grail Cycle Son of King Pellinore, brother to Tor, Aglovale, Percival, Dindrane
Lancelot† Lancelot du Lac, Lancelot of the Lake, Launcelot Chrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170 Chrétien's Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, Lancelot-Grail, many others Son to King Ban and Elaine, most famous for his affair with Queen Guinevere, Arthur's wife, most prominent Knight of the Round Table
Lanval† Marie de France's Lanval, late 12th century Sir Landevale, Sir Launfal, Sir Lambewell A knight of King Arthur's court who falls in love with a fairy
Laudine Lady of the Fountain Chrétien de Troyes' Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, 1170s Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain, Iwein Sir Ywain's wife
Leodegrance† Leondegrance Guinevere's father, King of Cameliard in what is now southwest England
Lionel† Lancelot-Grail, early 13th century Son of King Bors of Gaunnes (or Gaul), brother of Bors the Younger
Lohengrin Loherangrin, Lorengel Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, early 13th century Parzival, German romance Lohengrin, Lorengel, Richard Wagner's Lohengrin A knight of the Holy Grail
Lot Loth Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 Le Morte d'Arthur King of Lothian, father to Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris, Gareth, and Mordred
Lucan† Sir Lucan the Butler Le Morte d'Arthur Servant to King Arthur, Bedivere's brother, Griflet's cousin
Lucius Lucius Tiberius, Lucius Hiberius Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 Alliterative Morte Arthure, Le Morte d'Arthur, A fictional Roman Emperor and antagonist to Arthur
Lunete (Welsh: Luned) (French: Lunete, Lunet) Chrétien de Troyes' Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, 1170s Handmaiden and advisor to Laudine
Lynette Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, c. 1470 Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King Seeks aid from Arthur to rescue her sister Lyonesse; Arthur sends an incognito Gareth, who she berates until he proves his worth
Lyonesse Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, c. 1470 Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King Entrapped sister of Lynette; rescued by Gareth, whom she eventually marries
Mabon ap Modron Culhwch and Olwen, 11th century Welsh Triads Son of Modron, kidnapped at birth, rescued by Culhwch
Maleagant† Malagant, Meleagant, perhaps Melwas Unclear, a similar character named "Melwas" appears in the 12th century Life of Gildas Lancelot-Grail, Post-Vulgate Cycle, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur Abductor of Guinevere
Mark of Cornwall (Latin: Marcus Cunomorus)(Cornish: Margh)(Welsh: March) Possibly based on a historical figure from the 6th century Post-Vulgate Cycle, Prose Tristan, Le Morte d'Arthur, Romance of Palamedes Tristan's uncle, husband to Iseult
Meirchion Tristan and Iseult Father to Mark of Cornwall
Melehan Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 (unnamed) Elder son of Mordred
Meliodas Meliadus Prose Tristan; Tristan's father was named Rivalen in earlier versions Le Morte d'Arthur Father to Tristan
Melou Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 (unnamed) Younger son of Mordred
Merlin (Welsh: Myrddin) First mention of his familiar character is Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136, but derived from earlier Welsh tales Many Wizard, guide to King Arthur
Modron Mentioned as the mother of Mabon ap Modron in Culhwch and Olwen and the Welsh Triads Welsh Triads Mother of Mabon; in another folktale, she is the mother of Owain (Ywain) and Morvydd by Urien
Mordred† Modred (Welsh: Medrawd, Latin: Medraut) Annales Cambriae, c. 970 Many In some literature, Arthur's illegitimate son through Morgause, kills and is killed by Arthur
Morgan le Fay Morgaine, Morgain, Morgana Unclear; first mention as Morgan in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini, c. 1150 Many Sister and sometime antagonist of Arthur
Morgause Anna Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 Arthur's half-sister, wife to King Lot, mother to Gawain, Agravaine, Gaheris, Gareth, and Mordred
Morholt† Tristan poems of Béroul and Thomas of Britain, 12th century Tristan poems of Béroul, Thomas, Eilhart von Oberge, Gottfried von Strassburg, Prose Tristan, Post-Vulgate Cycle, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur
Morien† Moriaen Dutch romance Morien, 13th century Half-Moorish son of Aglovale
Morvydd Welsh Triads, Culhwch and Olwen Owain's twin sister
Nimue see Lady of the Lake
Oberon Auberon, King of Shadows and Fairies
Olwen Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century Daughter of Ysbaddaden, beloved of Culhwch
Orgeluse Haughty Maiden of Logres Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail, c. 1181
Owain† (see Ywain) Historical figure Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain Son of Urien
Palamedes† Palamede, Palomides Prose Tristan, 1230s T.H. White's The Once and Future King Saracen Knight of the Round Table
Pellam King Pellam of Listeneise, Pellehan see Fisher King
Pelleas† Post-Vulgate Cycle, 1230s Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King A Knight of the Round table in love with Ettarre
Pelles see Fisher King
Pellinore† Lancelot-Grail, Post-Vulgate Cycle, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, T. H. White's The Once and Future King King of Listenoise and friend to Arthur
Percival† (Welsh: Peredur) Perceval, Parzifal As Percival, Chrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170 Chrétien's Perceval, the Story of the Grail, Lancelot-Grail, many Achiever of the Holy Grail; King Pellinore's son in some tales
Questing Beast Beast Glatisant (Barking Beast) Perlesvaus, c. 1210 Gerbert's Continuation of Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail, Post Vulgate Suite du Merlin, Prose Tristan, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur A strange beast quested after by many knights associated with Arthur
Red Knight Chrétien's Perceval, the Story of the Grail, c. 1181 Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur Appears in many tales, usually as an antagonist
Rience Ritho, Ryence, Ryons, and Rion Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 Lancelot-Grail, Post Vulgate Cycle, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur King defeated by Arthur
Safir† Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, Prose Tristan Son to Esclabor, brother of Segwarides and Palamedes
Sagramore† Lancelot-Grail, Post-Vulgate Cycle, Prose Tristan, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur Ubiquitous Knight of the Round Table; various stories and origins are given for him
Segwarides† Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, Prose Tristan Son of Esclabor, brother of Safir and Palamedes
Taliesin Historical figure The Welsh Triads, Story of Taliesin, Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King Bard to king Arthur, oldest known Welsh poet
Tom a'Lincoln The Red Rose Knight At least in Richard Johnson's Tom a Lincoln part 1, 1599; possibly mentioned in Robert Greene's Farewell to Folly, 1591 Illegitimate son of King Arthur through Angelica
Tor† Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur Son of King Ars, adopted by Pellinore
Tristan† (Latin/Brythonic: Drustanus; Welsh: Drystan; Portuguese: Tristão; Spanish: Tristán; also known as Tristran, Tristram, etc.) Tristan and Iseult Son of Blancheflor and Rivalen, Iseult's lover
Urien† Historical figure Welsh Triads Father of Ywain (Owain mab Urien), husband of Morgan le Fay
Uther Pendragon (French: Uter Pendragon; Welsh: Wthyr Bendragon, Uthr Bendragon, Uthyr Pendraeg) Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 Welsh Triads Arthur's father
Vortigern (Latin: Urtigernus), Guorthigirn, Vortiger, Vortigen, Gwrtheyrn Probably a historical figure; first mentioned in Bede's The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, AD 721 King of Britain whose decisions assisted the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain
Vortimer Historia Brittonum, c. AD 820 Son of Vortigern
Ysbaddaden Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century A giant and antagonist in the story Culhwch and Olwen
Ywain† (Welsh: Owain) Yvain, Ewain or Uwain Based on the historical figure Owain mab Urien Historia Brittonum, Yvain, the Knight of the Lion Urien's son, Morvydd's brother
Ywain the Bastard† Ywain the Adventurous Urien's illegitimate son through a seneschal, accidentally killed by Gawain

[edit] See also

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