Le Morte Darthur Characters
This shall become a list of all characters in the Caxton Morte D’Arthur. A division is (provisorically) made between MAIN Characters (on top) and minor characters (further below), each within ordered alphabetically (use common sense: (King) Arthur under A, Duke of Tyntagil under T, etc.. Since there are often lots of variants of spellings, alternatives should be given in brackets behind the name. Generally, a spelling with i has been chosen as main spelling, e's at the end were omitted, i.e. the "standard" name follows a somewhat modernised spelling.
(Important) Appearances should be abbreviated in the Book.Chapter format (e.g. I.1)
Current distinctions are made between kings, knights and others. Special groupings are listed in the end. Crosslinking is currently missing. Suggestion for genealogy: List only the closest relations (i.e.: Gawain: Son of Lot of Lothien and Morgause). Note proper reference as above. Do not list further relations that can be easily deduced, i.e. Gawain being nephew to Arthur due to Morgause being Arthur's half-sister (on the mother's side); UNLESS it is especially important at one point. These suggestions are free to debate. Feel also free to move characters around...especially from unimportant to important. Importance is to be seen not in the whole book but also for high importance in smaller parts.
Characters added for Books: 1 (complete);
Contents
- 1 Main Characters
- 2 Minor Characters
- 2.1 Kings
- 2.1.1 Anguisshauns of Ireland (Anwysshauns)
- 2.1.2 Brandeforis of Strangore
- 2.1.3 Carados
- 2.1.4 Duke of Candebenet
- 2.1.5 Clarihaus of Northumberland
- 2.1.6 Cradilmans (Cradilmente, Cradilmasse)
- 2.1.7 Idres of Conrwall
- 2.1.8 Lodegreaunce of Camylarde
- 2.1.9 Morganore (Morganoure)
- 2.1.10 Nentres of Garlot
- 2.2 Knights
- 2.2.1 Annecians
- 2.2.2 Barcias (Barsias, Brascias, Brastias)
- 2.2.3 Bawdewyn of Britain
- 2.2.4 Bloyas de Flaundres
- 2.2.5 Borre
- 2.2.6 Bryaunte
- 2.2.7 Clarinaus de la Forest Savage
- 2.2.8 Egglamore (Egglame)
- 2.2.9 Ewayns le Blaunche Mayn
- 2.2.10 Gracian
- 2.2.11 Gryfflet (Gryflett, Gryflette)
- 2.2.12 Gwenhaus
- 2.2.13 Gwynas
- 2.2.14 Gwyniarte de Bloy
- 2.2.15 Jordans
- 2.2.16 Ladynas
- 2.2.17 Lardans
- 2.2.18 Lucas the Butler
- 2.2.19 Lyonses (Lionse)
- 2.2.20 Marys de la Roche
- 2.2.21 Naram
- 2.2.22 Palomydes
- 2.2.23 Placidas
- 2.2.24 Pharyaunce (Pheriaunce)
- 2.2.25 Duke of Tyntagil
- 2.2.26 Ulfyus (Vlfyus)
- 2.2.27 Uwain (Uwayne)
- 2.3 Others
- 2.4 Groupings
- 2.1 Kings
Main Characters
Main Characters take a prominent role in at least one part of the book. Generally, replacing their name would screw up the narrative and/or relation at whole. They are notable for certain feats or deeds (often in other Romaunces of their own) or their genealogical relations. Omitting them or changing their name would create confusion/irritation.
Kings
Arthur
Son of Uther Pendragon and Igraine. Declines allegiance to Rome twice (I.23, V.1) and consequently becomes Roman Emperor, conquering the empire (V). Lets slay all children born on May Day due to a prophecy of Merlin (I.27)
Bans of Benwic
Ally to Arthur by advice of Merlin (I.10ff.); at war with King Claudas.
Bors of Gaule
Ally to Arthur by advice of Merlin (I.10ff.); at war with King Claudas.
King Claudas
At war with Bans of Benwic and Bors of Gaule (I.10).
The King with the Hundred Knights
Wages war against Arthur (I.8ff). Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Lot of Lothien and Orkney (Lott)
Husband to Morgause (I.2), father to Gawain (I.2), Gaheris, Aggrevain and Gareth (I.19). Wages war against Arthur (I.8ff). Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Pellinore of the Isles (Pellynore)
Hunts the Questing Beast (Beast Glatisant) (I.19). Fights and defeats Arthur who is saved only by Merlin. Prophecied to be father of Parcival and Lamorake of Wales; also prophecied to tell Arthur Mordred's name and thus herald the end of his realm (I.23f)
Royns of North Wales (Ryens, Ryons)
Wages war against Lodegreaunce (I.17), enemy to Arthur. Eventually overcomes the 11 kings and challenges Arthur to accept him as overlord - Arthur declines (I.26) and Royns musters a great host (I.27)
Uriens of Gore (Uryens)
Husband to Morgan le Fey. Father to Ewayns le Blanche Mayn (I.2). Wages war against Arthur (I.8ff); Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12); Father of Sir Uwain (I.12)
Uther Pendragon
Father to Artus, married to Igraine after begetting Arthur on her without her knowledge. Is assisted by Merlin. Goes into battle a last time before he dies of illness (I.1-I.5).
Knights
Aggrevain
Son of Morgause and King Lot of Lothien (I.19).
Ector
Foster-father of Arthur, selected by Merlin; father of Kay (I.3). Asks for his son to be made seneschall (I.6).
Gaheris
Son of Morgause and King Lot of Lothien (I.19).
Gareth
Son of Morgause and King Lot of Lothien (I.19).
Gawain
Son of Morgause and King Lot of Lothien (I.2).
Sir Kay (Kaynus, Kaynes)
Son of Sir Ector (I.3), foster-brother of Arthur. Asks Arthur to fetch hsi sword upo which occasion Arthur pulls the sword in the stone out of the stone (I.3). Kay himself is claiming to have done it but tells the truth upon oath. He is made seneschall by Arthur and at various occasions portraied as arrogant and condescending, esp. on Gareth.
Lamorake of Wales
Son of King Pellinore (I.24).
Mordred
Bastard-son of Arthur and Morgause (I.19). Survives the May Day Massacre intended to kill him, is taken up by a foster father and later brought to Arthur's court [a story which Mallory says he will tell later but in fact never tells] (I.27)
Parcival (Percyvall)
Son of King Pellinore (I.24).
Others
Gwenhyvere
Daughter of King Lodegreaunce of Camylerde (I.17), later wife to Arthur (???).
Igraine (Igrayne)
Wife to the Duke of Tyntagil (I.1), who is said to be wise and evades a seduction by Uther. Later wife of Uther Pendragon (I.2), and mother of Arthur by said Uther through a plot furthered by Merlin (I.2)
Merlin (Merlyn, Merlyon)
Eminence Grise, prophet, magician, generally not liked too much by friends and foes alike; prophecies the end of Arthur's court as well as various events. Reveals Arthur's descent (I.7). Advises Arthur to call for King Ban of Benwic and Bors of Gaule (I.10). Advises Arthur further in his battles against the 11 kings (I.12ff). Explains Arthur's origin (I.21). Advises Arthur to kill all May Day children (I.27). [list them!]; ultimately falls in love with Nineve, a lady of the lake, and becomes trapped by her under a stone (IV.1) where he remains.
Morgan le Fey
Third sister, daughter of Igraine and the duke of Tyntagil (and thus half-sister to Arthur). (I.2). Sister to Elayne and Morgause. Learns Necromancy in a nunnery. Later marries Kyng Uriens of Gore whi is father of Sir Ewain the blanche Mains (I.2).
Morgause (Margeuse, Margawse)
Wife to King Lot of Lothien, mother to Gawain; daughter of Igraine and the duke of Tyntagil (and thus half-sister to Arthur). Siter to Elayne and Morgan le Fey (I.2). Mother of Gaheris, Agrevain and Gareth (I.19). Visits King Arthur's court and begets Mordred on him (I.19)
Groupings
The 11 Kings
The 11 Kings swear an oath to destory Arthur: Duke of Candebenet, Brandegoris of Strangore, Clarihaus of Northuberland, The King with the Hundred Knights, Lot of Lothien, Uriens of Gore, Idres of cornwall, Cradilmans, Anguisshauns, Nentres of Garlot, Carados. (I.12) Eventually subdued by King Royns.
Minor Characters
These characters are often only names without further porminence. They are knights that get defeated, participate in jousts, quests, and battles or ladies offering a quest. Generally they could easily be replaced by any other name and nobody would ever notice.
Kings
Anguisshauns of Ireland (Anwysshauns)
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Brandeforis of Strangore
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Carados
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Duke of Candebenet
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Clarihaus of Northumberland
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Cradilmans (Cradilmente, Cradilmasse)
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Idres of Conrwall
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Lodegreaunce of Camylarde
Is attacked by Royns; Arthur asists Lodegreanunce (I.17). Father to Gwenhyvere.
Morganore (Morganoure)
Seneschall of the King with the Hundred Knights (I.14). Killed by Ban (I.16).
Nentres of Garlot
Husband to Elayne (I.2); Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).
Knights
Annecians
Godson of King Bors, noble knight. (I.17)
Barcias (Barsias, Brascias, Brastias)
A knight of the Duke's of Tyntagil (I.3). Escorts Arthur later (I.6). Made warden upon the North (I.7), messenger to Ban and Bors (I.10).
Bawdewyn of Britain
Escorts Arthur (I.6). Is made Constable (I.7).
Bloyas de Flaundres
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.15).
Borre
Son of Arthur and Lyonors (I.17)
Bryaunte
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.15).
Clarinaus de la Forest Savage
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.14).
Egglamore (Egglame)
Flees from Pellinore (I.25)
Ewayns le Blaunche Mayn
Son of King Uriens of Gore (I.2)
Gracian
A lord of France. Sent back to hold his castle (I.11)
Gryfflet (Gryflett, Gryflette)
Son of God[!] of Cardal (I.10).
Gwenhaus
Brother to Ban and Bors, a wise clerk (I.11).
Gwynas
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.15).
Gwyniarte de Bloy
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.14).
Jordans
A knight of the Duke's of Tyntagil (I.3).
Ladynas
Duels with Gryfflet in a joust between Arthur's knights and Bors and Bans(I.11).
Lardans
Knight fighting against Arthur (I.14).
Lucas the Butler
Son of Duke Corneus (I.10).
Lyonses (Lionse)
Lord of Bayarne, servant(?) of Bans and Bors (I.10).
Marys de la Roche
Fights for Arthur (I.15).
Naram
Knows King Royns (I.26).
Palomydes
Follows King Pellinore in hunting the Questing Beast later (I.19).
Placidas
A knight of France (I.10). Sent back to hold his castle.
Pharyaunce (Pheriaunce)
Lord of Bayarne, servant(?) of Bans and Bors (I.10).
Duke of Tyntagil
Husband to Igrayne and commander of the castles of Tyntagil and Terrabil. Is in war with Uther Pendragon and eventually defeated and killed in the siege of Terrabil. (I.1-I.2)
Ulfyus (Vlfyus)
A knight in Uther Penragon's service. Helps him to get to Igraine (I.1-I.2) and in battle (I.3). He later serves as guard for Arthur (I.6) and is made Chamberlain (I.7); is messager to Bors and Ban together with Brastias (I.10). He later fights for Arthur, good on foot (I.14) but rescued by Arthur who regards him an 'old friend'; Among the eleven assaulting the three kings (I.17); accuses Igraine to be cause of Arthur's problems but then shifts blame to Merlin (I.21).
Uwain (Uwayne)
Son of King Uriens (I.12).
Others
Archbishop of Canterbury
...
Elayne (Elaine)
Wife to King Nentres of Garlot (I.2), daughter of Igraine and the duke of Tyntagil (and thus half-sister to Arthur). Sister to Morgause and Morgan le Fey.
Lady of the Lake
Gives Caliburn (Excalibur) to Arthur (I.25) in exchange for a later request. She later requests the head of Balyn who kills her for former deeds against his kin (II.?).
Lyonors
Daughter of the Earl of Sanam, gets a child with Arthur: Borre (I.17)
Groupings
40 knights
40 knights side with Arthzragainst the three kings in I.17: Lyonses, Pheriaunce, Ulfius, Brascias, Ector, Kay, Lucas the Butler, Gryfflet la Fyse de Deu, Marrys de La Roche, Gwynas de Bloy, Bryaunte de la Forest Saveage, Bellaus, Morians of the Castle Maydyns, Flaundres of the Castle of Ladies, Annecians, Ladinas de la Rouse, Emerause, Caulas, Graciens la Castilion, Bloyse de la Case, Colgrevance de Goore [and presumably 20 more].
Note: Wikipedia has a file of [Arthurian Characters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arthurian_characters]. These are, however, drastically reduced in number compared to the high number of characters in the Morte d'Arthure. They are, of course, the most well known. (As has been said in the seminar: who woul generally assume the Round Table to consist of 150 knights, some of them eventually deceased and replaced by new ones?) This article does NOT look at the Morte exclusively but at the big Arthurian Tales more in general.