Knights of the Round Table

The Knights of the Round Table are a group of legendary warriors who served under King Arthur. They first appeared in stories written in French in the middle of the 12th century. These knights were part of a special group called a chivalric order, and their job was to keep peace in Arthur's land. Later, they were also asked to go on a magical quest to find the Holy Grail.

The knights came from many places, not just Great Britain, and some were even from far away outside of Europe. Some were close family members of Arthur, while others were former enemies who became friends. Famous knights include Bedivere, Gawain, Kay, Lancelot, Perceval, and Tristan. One of the most well-known stories is about Galahad, who took over the quest for the Holy Grail in later tales.

The earliest written story about these knights is from a book called the Roman de Brut, written by a writer named Wace in 1155. As time went on, many more stories were written about Arthur and his knights, making them famous all over the world.

Numbers of members

The number of Knights of the Round Table, including King Arthur, changes in different stories. Some stories say there were only 12 knights, while others say there could be as many as 1,600 — the number of seats at the table. Most stories say there were between 100 and 300 knights, with one seat always left empty.

Famous writers like Thomas Malory in Le Morte d'Arthur talk about around 140 or 150 knights. Other stories mention smaller groups, like 13 or 60 knights, or even larger groups with 250 or more. The number often changes in the tales.

Partial lists

Select members

Here are some of the more famous knights from King Arthur's group:

Sir Urry list

Many knights are not as well known. The story of "The Healing of Sir Urry" in the Winchester Manuscript includes knights like:

• Duke Chalance of Clarence
• Earl Aristance
• Earl of Lambaile
• Earl Ulbawes
• King Anguish of Ireland
• King Claryaunce of Northumberland
• King Nentres of Garlot
• Sir Arrok
• Sir Ascamore
• Sir Barrant le Apres
• Sir Bellenger le Beau
• Sir Belliance le Orgulous
• Sir Blamor de Ganis
• Sir Bleoberis de Ganis
• Sir Bohart le Cure Hardy
• Sir Brandiles
• Sir Bryan de Les Iles
• Sir Cardok
• Sir Claryus of Cleremont
• Sir Clegis
• Sir Clodrus
• Sir Crosselm
• Sir Damas
• Sir Degrave sans Villainy
• Sir Degrevant
• Sir Dinas
• Sir Dinas le Seneschal de Cornwall
• Sir Dodinas le Savage
• Sir Dornar
• Sir Driaunt
• Sir Edward of Orkney
• Sir Epinogris
• Sir Evarist of Faithful Castle
• Sir Fergus
• Sir Florence
• Sir Gahalantyne
• Sir Galahodin
• Sir Galleron of Galway
• Sir Gautere
• Sir Gillimere
• Sir Grommer Grummorson
• Sir Gumret le Petit
• Sir Harry le Fils Lake
• Sir Hebes
• Sir Hebes le Renowne
• Sir Hectymere
• Sir Herminde
• Sir Hervyse de la Forest Savage
• Sir Ironside
• Sir Kay l'Estrange
• Sir Lambegus
• Sir Lamiel
• Sir Lavain
• Sir Lovell
• Sir Mador de la Porte
• Sir Marrok
• Sir Melias de Lile
• Sir Melion of the Mountain
• Sir Meliot de Logris
• Sir Menaduke
• Sir Morganore
• Sir Neroveous
• Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy
• Sir Perimones
• Sir Pertolepe
• Sir Petipace of Winchelsea
• Sir Plaine de Fors
• Sir Plenorius
• Sir Priamus
• Sir Pursuant of Inde
• Sir Reynold
• Sir Sadok
• Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower
• Sir Sentrail
• Sir Severause le Breuse
• Sir Suppinabiles
• Sir Urry of Hungary
• Sir Villiars the Valiant

Winchester Castle list

The Winchester Round Table shows knights such as Sir Alynore, Sir Bedwere, Sir Blubrys, Sir Bors Deganys, Sir Brumear, Sir Dagonet, Sir Degore, Sir Ectorde Marys, Sir Galahallt, Sir Garethe, Sir Gauen, Sir Kay, Sir Lamorak, Sir Launcelot Deulake, Sir Lacotemale Tayle, Sir Lucane, Sir Libbyus Dysconyus, Sir Lyonell, Sir Mordrede, Sir Plomyde, Sir Pelleus, Sir Percyvale, Sir Safer, and Sir Trystram Delyens. There are 24 knights in total, not including Arthur.

Major knights

See also: Accolon, Agravain, King Arthur, Bagdemagus, Bedivere, Bors, Brunor, Cador, Caradoc, Dagonet, Dinadan, Feirefiz, Gaheris, Galahad, Galehaut, Gareth, Gawain, Geraint, Hoel, Kay (Arthurian legend), Lamorak, Lancelot, Lionel (Arthurian legend), Maleagant, Mordred, Palamedes (Arthurian legend), Pelleas, Pellinore, Perceval, Sagramore, Tristan, Urien, and Yvain

Aglovale

Aglovale is a character from Arthurian legend. He is the eldest son of King Pellinore of Listenois. Like his father and his brothers, he is a Knight of the Round Table.

In stories, he brings his long lost brother Perceval to Camelot to be knighted.

Arthur the Less

Arthur the Less is an illegitimate son of King Arthur. After Arthur forces himself on a daughter of a knight, he orders the child to be named Arthur the Less. The boy appears at Arthur's court and is knighted by Tristan. He proves to be a great knight, but he is known only as the Unknown Knight. He fights in wars for King Arthur and is one of Galahad's companions during a special quest. After Arthur's death, he is a candidate to be the next ruler, but he dislikes Lancelot's group. He is later defeated in a fight and dies cursing the kingdom.

Bleoberis

Bleoberis de Ganis is a Knight of the Round Table from the land of Ganis. His name may have come from an old Welsh storyteller.

He was first mentioned by Chrétien de Troyes in Erec and Enide. He has appeared in many stories with different names.

Brandelis

Brandelis is the name of several Arthurian characters, including Knights of the Round Table. The best known was originally known as Bran de Lis. He appears in stories as a brother of the mother of Gawain's son Lionel. After fights with Gawain, they become friends.

Calogrenant

Calogrenant, sometimes known as Colgrevance of Gore, is a knight of the Round Table and cousin to Yvain. He tells a story about an adventure in the forest of Brocéliande, where a magic spring could summon a storm. A knight named Esclados attacked and defeated him. Yvain is upset and sets out to get revenge.

Claudin

Claudin is the son of the Frankish King Claudas of the Wasteland. His father is a villain in early stories of King Arthur. When Claudas loses and flees, Claudin surrenders and joins Arthur's Round Table. During a special quest, he is one of the companions of Bors the Younger, Galahad and Perceval.

Cligès

Cligès is the hero of Chrétien de Troyes' French poem Cligès. He is the offspring of Arthur's niece Soredamors and Alexander, a son of the Greek Emperor. He marries Fenice, a daughter of the German Emperor, and becomes the Greek Emperor himself.

Dodinel

Dodinel, originally known as Lionel, is a Knight of the Round Table. He is often called the Wild or the Savage. He might have been a character from the woods.

Drian

Drian is one of King Pellinore's sons. He is described as one of the best Knights. He dies in a fight with three of King Lot's sons.

Elyan

Elyan the White is son of Bors the Younger. His mother tricked Bors using a magic ring. At age 15, Elyan comes to Arthur's court and becomes a Knight of the Round Table. He later becomes Emperor of Constantinople.

Erec

Erec, the son of King Lac, is the protagonist in Chrétien de Troyes' first romance, Erec and Enide. In the story, Erec meets Enide and they fall in love and marry. Rumors spread that Erec no longer cares for knighthood, so Enide cries, and Erec proves his abilities through a test of Enide's love. When Erec's father Lac dies, Erec inherits his kingdom.

Esclabor

Esclabor the Unknown is a wandering Saracen king. He is the father of Palamedes, Safir, and Segwarides. He hides his faith at first but becomes known as a brave knight. He saves the Roman Emperor and later travels to Arthur's Logres. He settles at Camelot and later adventures during a special quest. He agrees to convert to Christianity but dies from grief after his son Palamedes' death.

Gaheris de Karaheu

Gaheris de Karaheu is one of the minor Knights of the Round Table and brother of Mador de la Porte. In stories, he dies from eating a poisoned apple meant for Gawain. The queen is accused of his murder but is later cleared.

Galehodin

Galehodin le Gallois is Galehaut's nephew and godson. He desires to learn from Lancelot and is described as one of the tallest knights. He triumphs in tournaments and hosts a great tournament in Sorelois.

Galeschin

Galeschin is the son of King Arthur's half-sister Queen Elaine and King Nentres of Garlot. He attempts to rescue Gawain from the wicked lord Carados but is captured and later rescued by Lancelot.

Gingalain

Gingalain is the hero of the Fair Unknown literary cycle. He is eventually revealed as son of Gawain and a fairy. In Le Morte d'Arthur, Sir Gingalin is killed by Lancelot along with his brothers after Mordred and Agravain expose Lancelot's affair with Guinevere.

Gornemant

Gornemant de Gohort is Perceval's old mentor. He instructs the young hero in the ways of knighthood and is also an uncle of Blanchefleur, whom Perceval later marries.

Griflet

Griflet is one of the first Knights of the Round Table. He is found in many Arthurian stories and comes from Welsh mythology. He is the eponymous hero of his own romance, Jaufre.

Hector de Maris

Hector de Maris is the younger half-brother of Lancelot; Bors and Lionel are his cousins. His adventures are many, especially in the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate cycles. He is an illegitimate son of King Ban of Benoic, raised by his maternal grandfather. He fights against the Saxons and prevails in tournaments. He has a relationship with Lady Perse and later participates in the Grail Quest. He stands by Lancelot when he is caught in his affair with Guinevere and helps defend Lancelot's castle. He dies on a crusade in the Holy Land.

King of a Hundred Knights

The King of (or with) a (or the) Hundred Knights is a character who has appeared under different names in Arthurian stories. These include Malaguin in the Prose Lancelot, Heraut li Aspres in the Prose Tristan, and Sir Barant le Apres in Le Morte d'Arthur. He first appears as one of the rebels against King Arthur but later joins Arthur's side.

Lac

King Lac is the father of the Round Table member Erec, introduced in Chrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide. In the Post-Vulgate Cycle, he is son of Canan, a Greek king. He dies poisoned by his brother's sons, and Erec inherits his kingdom.

Lohot

Lohot or Loholt is based on the figure of Llacheu, one of King Arthur's sons. He is either Arthur's legitimate or illegitimate son. In some stories, he is murdered by Kay, causing Guinevere to die of sorrow.

Lucan

Lucan the Butler is a personal servant and court official of King Arthur. He and his relatives remain loyal to Arthur. In most stories of Arthur's death, Lucan is one of the last knights at the king's side and is usually the last to die.

Mador de la Porte

Mador de la Porte is a minor Knight of the Round Table. His epithet "of the Gate" suggests he might have been Arthur's porter.

Melian

Melian is a Knight of the Round Table introduced in Perceval, the Story of the Grail by Chrétien de Troyes.

Morholt

Morholt of Ireland is an Irish warrior who demands tribute from King Mark of Cornwall until he is slain by Mark's nephew Tristan.

Nentres

In Arthurian romance, Nentres of Garlot is a British king who had served Arthur's father Uther Pendragon. He rebels against the young King Arthur but becomes his ally after defeat and reconciliation.

Osenain

Osenain is a character who appears as one of the knights of the Round Table in Arthurian stories. In English, he is best known from Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur as Ozanna le Cure Hardy.

Priamus

Priamus is a Roman ally of Emperor Lucius who defects to join King Arthur and converts to Christianity. He is later killed by Lancelot.

Safir

Safir is the youngest son of the Saracen king Esclabor. He appears in several Arthurian works, including the Prose Tristan and Le Morte d'Arthur.

Segwarides

Segwarides is a son of the Saracen king Esclabor who becomes a liegeman of King Mark. His brothers include the Round Table knights Palamedes and Safir.

Tor

Tor appears frequently in Arthurian literature in minor roles. In the Post-Vulgate Cycle and Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, Tor's natural father is King Pellinore. He is born to a peasant mother and later recognized by Pellinore. Tor distinguishes himself at the wedding feast of Arthur and Guinevere and dies when Lancelot and his followers rescue the queen.

Yvain the Bastard

Yvain the Bastard is a son of King Urien of Gore. He is a hearty and sensible knight, fighting in Arthur's wars and questing for the Holy Grail. In the Post-Vulgate Cycle, he is killed by his cousin Gawain during a joust.

Yvain of the White Hands

Yvain of the White Hands is another Knight of the Round Table named Yvain. He serves Arthur in the Saxon wars and participates in quests to learn the fate of Merlin and to find the missing Lancelot. In the Post-Vulgate Queste, he is mistakenly slain by Erec.

Other Arthurian fellowships

The Queen's Knights (Chevaliers de la Reine) are knights who serve King Arthur’s wife Queen Guinevere. They are also called the "Knights of Queen Guinevere" and sometimes the "Valiant Knights of Queen Guinevere." These knights carry plain white shields and often join the queen. They sometimes compete with the experienced Knights of the Round Table. Famous knights like Gawain and Lancelot started as Queen’s Knights before becoming members of the Round Table.

There are also other groups of knights in Arthur’s court. One is the Table of Errant Companions for knights seeking adventures. Another is the Table of Less-Valued Knights for knights with lower rank. Some stories talk about an earlier group called the Grail Table, used by followers of Joseph of Arimathea, who guarded a special item called the Grail. There are also tales about knights from the time of Uther Pendragon, Arthur’s father, and even from times long before Arthur, like the Order of the Franc Palais.