by Mike Ashley
Lailoken, see Merlin.
Lambor, see Fisher King.
Lamorak. The son of King Pellinore (and therefore brother to Aglovale, Perceval and Elaine), regarded as one of the noblest of knights, and generally rated as third only to Lancelot and Tristram. His relationship with Tristram sours after Tristram spares him in a fight, which leads to an incident over the cuckhold’s horn that nearly costs Iseult her life, but the two become reunited in the common fight against Nabon le Noir. Lamorak’s fate is long sealed, though, because his father had slain King Lot and he incurred the further wrath of Gawaine and his brothers by becoming the lover of their mother Morgause. He is eventually killed by Gawaine.
Lancelot or Launcelot, see Chapter 17.
Lanval or Launfal. The hero of Marie de France’s lai, Lanval (see Chapter 18).
Leodegrance or Leodegan. The father of Guenevere (see entry) in the romances, though her father was Ogrfan in Welsh tradition.
Leudonus, see Lot.
Lionel. The eldest son of King Bors and thus brother of Bors and cousin of Lancelot and Ector, he is raised with Lancelot by the Lady of the Lake. Lionel, who has a birthmark shaped like a lion on his chest, later fights and kills a lion soon after he is knighted. Initially Lionel serves as Lancelot’s squire, and rescues Lancelot when the knight does battle with Gawain. Impulsive and quick-tempered, Lionel has a vicious streak and seldom listens to reason. During the Grail Quest he nearly kills Bors because Bors follows his conscience and chooses to rescue a damsel rather than Lionel. In the fracas Calogrenant is killed. Lionel is amongst those captured by Tericam/Turquin until rescued by Lancelot. After the defeat of Claudas Lionel succeeds to his father’s kingdom. He is killed by one of Mordred’s sons in the battles that follow Camlann.
Lisanor, Lyzianor or Lionors. The mother of Arthur’s son Loholt (see Llacheu).
Llacheu or Loholt. Possibly the only legitimate son of Arthur and Guenevere, although by the time of the Vulgate Cycle he had become an earlier, and illegitimate, son by Lisanor, daughter of Count Sevain. The Vulgate Cycle has Loholt die in the Dolorous Tower as a prisoner of Karados, but the Perlesvaus has him a victim of Kay’s jealousy. Loholt has the odd habit of sleeping on the corpse of whomever he kills. Kay finds him on the body of the giant Logrin, beheads Loholt and claims the giant’s death as his own. Malory calls him Borre, a name so similar to Bors, who is also called Bohort, as to suggest some confusion or even a connection. Since Loomis believes that Bohort evolved from Gohors > Gwri, the original super-hero who inspires Gawain, Agravaine and much else besides, it may be that Lohort is yet another manifestation of the original solar deity, though clearly a sleepy one.
Llacheu, however, does not seem to be a direct derivation of the same name. He was clearly highly regarded, Welsh texts treating him as one of the “Three Well Endowed Men” of Britain and noting that he was “renowned for his arts”. He was also slain, but we do not know by whom. A much later reference states he met his death at Llechysgar, believed to be in Powys. It has also been suggested that Llacheu was killed at Llongborth and was the “young Briton of noble birth” recorded in the ASC. In neither case is there an associated grave name.
Llwch Lleminawc. Suggested as a Celtic prototype for Lancelot, though the name probably lent itself to Lucan. See Chapter 17 for discussion.
Llywarch Hen. The cousin of Urien of Rheged who ended up a refugee from his homeland as a guest at the Arthur’s court. He later developed a reputation as a poet but this may be a confusion with Taliesin. He is remembered in Triad 65 (see Chapter 8).
Lohengrin. The son of Parzifal, according to Wolfram von Eschenbach.
Loholt, see Llacheu.
Lot or Loth. In Geoffrey’s History he is the ruler of Lodonesia who marries Arthur’s sister Anna, and is the father of Gawain and Mordred. He assists Uther in his battle against the Saxons. He loses his lands but following Arthur’s victories they are restored. Subsequently Loth, as the nephew of Sichelm, king of Norway, becomes king of Norway with Arthur’s aid. In the later romances his wife is Morgawse, and he has additional sons – Agravain, Gaheris and Gareth – plus two daughters, Soredamors and Clarissant. Lot is seen as antagonistic towards Arthur at the outset and subsequently joins the rebellion of the kings under Rience. He is killed in battle by Pellinore.
In Welsh tradition Lot is Lleuddun Luyddog, “Loth of the Hosts”, and he is primarily remembered as the grandfather of St. Kentigern through his wayward daughter Taneu. Lleuddun is regarded as the eponymous founder of Lothian, and the later romances also treat Lot as the king of Lothian and Orcanie, usually translated as the Orkneys. Since Lleuddun’s capital is remembered as Dinas Eidyn (modern Edinburgh), it would make sense to equate him with Lothian. However, the old British name for Leeds was Loidis or Lat, and the inhabitants were the Ladenses. Lot’s sister Elfryddl married Eliffer of the Great Host, an epithet similar to Lot’s, and it’s possible that Loth may have succeeded to part of Eliffer’s territory. Some pedigrees also list Loth as the brother of Urien, so he may have had some territory in northern Britain. This raises the question of his connection with the Orkneys. Some have suggested that there was a territory called Orcanie, either in Brittany or in northern Britain, though August Hunt has suggested it may be Archenfield, the old name for the area around the Forest of Dean. It may simply be that Lot’s name was connected with Ljot, the Norse earl of Orkney, who ruled from 981–94.
Lucan. Arthur’s butler, the son of Duke Corneus, cousin of Griflet and possibly brother of Bedivere. Although he tends to remain in the background the frequent references to his name show that he is at most major battles in the early days and is involved in the tourneys. He fights at Camlann and is severely wounded. When Arthur gives him his final embrace the wounds split and Lucan dies. His name, though not his character, is probably derived from the Celtic hero Llwch Lleminawc.
Lunette, Luned or Lynet. A cousin of Niniane, and sister of Lyones. She creates a fountain that causes storms. She becomes the wife of Gareth in Malory’s version. Her story is told in Chrétien’s Yvain and in the Welsh The Lady of the Fountain.
Mabon. As Mabon ap Modron he is listed amongst Arthur’s counsellors in Culhwch and Olwen. However, he had also been spirited away at birth and his skills as a hunter are needed for Culhwch’s series of tasks, so Arthur and his men track down Mabon in a prison approachable only by water. Mabon, or his mother, is also described as Uther Pendragon’s servant. In the Prose Tristram, Mabon is seen as a sorcerer and student of Merlin and is called “le Noir”. He is drawn from Maponus, the Celtic god of youth and music. Mabon probably equates to Mabuz whom Lanzelet aids in von Zarzikhoven’s romance. See also Morgan.
MacArthur, Clan. The Scottish Clan MacArthur, also represented today by the Clan Campbell, claims descent from King Arthur through a son called Merevie or Smerbe or Smerevie or Merbis. This is almost certainly from Artúir mac Aedan of Dál Riata, who lived from 560–596AD. The line of descent to the earliest historical attested name runs Merevie > Ferrither > Duibne Mhor > Arthur OgFerrither > Duibne Fait Dhearg > Ferrither > Duibne Dearg > Duibne Donn > Diarmind O’Duibne, who lived in the early tenth century. These eleven generations span about 300 years, and therefore this descent fits the time scale. Nothing is known of Merevie, whose name corresponds to the Welsh Meurig.
Mador or Amador de la Porte. One of Arthur’s longest serving knights, since we are told in the Vulgate Mort Artu that he had served Arthur for forty-five years. Yet he is virile enough to fight Lancelot in single combat for an hour. This comes about because Mador’s cousin Gaheris (Patrise in Malory) dies after eating a poisoned apple and Mador accuses the Queen of murder. Loomis suggests that Mador is drawn from the character of Mardoc, Gatekeeper to the Other World, but that role better suits Maduc le Noir, a knight who refuses to pay homage to Arthur but instead builds a fortress in the Forest of Sarpenic from where he strikes at and kills any of Arthur’s company who pass. Intriguingly there is a Madog amongst the princes of Powys (see Table 3.9), who
is named as one of the “Three Gate-Keepers” at the Battle of Perllan Fangor (believed to be the slaughter at Chester in 615).
Maduc le Noir, see Mador.
Maelgwyn. The king of Gwynedd who was considered by Gildas to be the most evil of the rulers he castigated. He is discussed in detail in Chapter 5. He was adopted into the later French romances as Malaquin le Gallois.
Malahaut, Lady of. From the same land as the King of the Hundred Knights, the Lady (rarely named but once called Bloie) appears in several romances but primarily the Vulgate Lancelot. See Chapter 17 for details.
Marc, March or Mark. Tristan’s uncle and husband of Iseult. See Chapter 13.
Margawse, see Morgause.
Meleagaunt or Melwas. The son of Bagdemagus of Gorre who abducts Guenevere. This story first appeared in Caradog of Llancarfan’s Life of Gildas (see Chapter 11) and was rapidly drawn into the burgeoning Arthurian romance as the launchpad for Lancelot (see Chapter 17). Geoffrey of Monmouth had referred to Melwas as Malvasius, king of Iceland, though Iceland is a corruption of the Isle of Glass, regarded as Glastonbury. However, the few surviving fragments from earlier Welsh tradition that refer to him make him a Prince of North Britain, but he is not otherwise known.
Menw. An enchanter who is listed in the Twenty-Four Knights of Arthur’s Court and amongst his Counsellors. He is involved in the hunt for the Boar Trwyth in Culhwch and Olwen, during which he became permanently scarred. He may be the prototype for Merlin.
Merbis or Smerbe, see MacArthur.
Merlin or Myrddin. See Chapter 15 for full discussion.
Mordrain, see Evelach.
Mordred. Originally treated as a legitimate son of Lot and Arthur’s sister (see Anna and Morgause), but usually regarded as the illegitimate and incestuous son of Arthur and his half-sister. Mordred’s story was developed in full in the Vulgate Cycle. Both versions of his conception and how Arthur tries to kill him as an infant are covered in Chapter 15, whilst his role in usurping the throne and his war with Arthur are covered in Chapter 17. Geoffrey’s earlier version is in Chapter 9. Most romances show Mordred as a good knight in his youth, but once the truth of his birth is revealed he becomes troubled and his evil side takes over, especially once he pairs up with Agravaine. Mordred is credited with two sons but in the romances his wife is not named. In later Welsh tradition she is Gwenhwyfach, sister of Gwenhwyfar, and it is Mordred’s reaction to an argument between the sisters that leads to Camlann, rather than him usurping the kingdom. Later tradition has the war arise because Arthur refuses to recognise Mordred as his heir. In Welsh he is called Medraut or Medrod. Only one other Medrod is listed in the pedigrees, and he is the grandson of Caradog Vreichfras and the father of St. Dyfnog. There is no reason to link the two, but tradition did because Dyfnog’s mother is sometimes recorded as Gwenhwyfach. Both Mordred’s children were murdered, probably by Constantine as implied by Gildas, though in the romances they are killed by Bors and Lancelot.
Morfran. According to Culhwch and Olwen, one of the three knights who survives Camlann, apparently because of his extreme ugliness as no one would approach him. Even so he is one of Arthur’s counsellors and listed amongst his twenty-four knights. This may be the knight that Chrétien calls “the Ugly Brave”.
Morgan, Morgain or Morgen le Fay. The enchantress of the Isle of Avalon who is shown throughout the legend as Arthur’s adversary. Originally she is seen as Arthur’s saviour, appearing only at the end of the story, along with her maidens, to bear Arthur away to Avalon and tend his wounds. She is sometimes called Argante, and was regarded as related to Arthur. Later texts, including Malory, make her his half-sister, along with Morgause and Elaine, and even contrive to have her seduce him to become the mother of Mordred. It is the Vulgate Cycle, particularly the Prose Lancelot, that introduces her as the beautiful but deadly fey who works through others to seek Arthur’s downfall. These others include Accolon, Bertilak, Guingamor and Karados. Her main opponent is the Lady of the Lake, though before that role developed Morgan, as the Mistress of Avalon, was the prototype Lady of the Lake. Morgan became the fusion of several early myths and traditions. She is usually seen as a representation of the Morrigán, one of a group of Irish war-goddesses who seek to influence the outcome of battles by indirect means. These goddesses often appear in threes, as with Morgan and her two sisters. Morgan is also associated with the Nine Sisters of Avalon, though the only ones named are Moronoe, Mazoe, Gliten, Glitonea, Gliton, Tyronoe and Thiten.
The Morrigán also uses her sexual charms to achieve her plans. In the Irish legend of Cú Chulainn she seeks to allure the hero but when he spurns her she uses every means possible to destroy him. Morgan is also associated with the concept of the Divine Mother known as Modron. Later romances have Morgan as the wife of Urien of Rheged, and early Welsh tradition relates how Urien was beguiled by Modron ferch Afallach who bore him two children, Owain and Morfudd. Modron is also the mother of Mabon (see entry) who, in the early story Lanzelet appears as Mabuz, son of the Lady of the Lake.
In that last role Morgan is also seen as a healer. She provides a salve to help cure Erec in Chrétien’s story, and in the equivalent Welsh story of Geraint she is shown in male aspect as Morgan Tud, Arthur’s chief physician. Morgan’s first lover Guingamor was called Lord of Avalon and is almost certainly based on Gwyn ap Nudd, whose lover was Creiddylad, mentioned in Culhwch and Olwen as the “maiden of most majesty” in all of Britain. Creiddylad was betrothed to Gwythyr but abducted by Gwyn, and this led to a war between the two which Arthur had to stop. More importantly, Creiddylad was regarded as the daughter of Llud Llawereint or Llud of the Silver Hand, the Welsh equivalent of the Irish Nuada Argatlam. Nuada is seen as a manifestation of Nodens, the British god of healing. There was a magnificent healing sanctuary dedicated to Nodens at Lydney in Gloucestershire, which was still in use into the early fifth century. It may be that the historical character upon which Morgan is based was a female healer at Lydney. We may even venture to conjecture whom this was. Vortimer had a daughter, Madrun, who may have retired to the sanctuary after her father’s death. Later Welsh legend makes Madrun the founder of a church in Ardudwy while she was on a pilgrimage to Bardsey, and Bardsey, like Lydney, has a reputation as a healing sanctuary.
Morgause or Margawse. The half-sister of Arthur, who seems to have replaced Anna in the later narratives. She is the wife of Lot and mother of Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris and Gareth but, as revealed in the Vulgate Cycle, she sleeps with Arthur and becomes the mother of Mordred. After Lot’s death she becomes the lover of Lamorak and is killed by her own son, Gaheris. In Diu Krône she is called Morchades, which links her name to Lot’s kingdom of the Orkneys.
Morrigán, see Morgan.
Myrddin, see Merlin.
Nascien. The baptismal name of Seraphe, brother-in-law of Evalach/Mordrain. In the Vulgate Cycle, he is blinded when he looks too closely at the Grail but is healed by the Bleeding Lance. Nascien’s later adventures involve Solomon’s Ship and the Sword of David. His misuse of the latter causes it to break and Nascien to be wounded. Nascien is the ancestor of Lancelot and Galahad. One of his descendants is Galahad’s guardian. The name also appears on the list of Arthur’s twenty-four knights.
Nimuë, see Lady of the Lake.
Niniane, see Lady of the Lake.
Octa, see under Oisc.
Oisc or Aesc. The founder of the first Saxon dynasty in Kent, which was known as the Oiscingas. The ASC treats him as the son of Hengist. He may have fought at Badon and therefore may be the same as Osla Bigknife, but this is not definite. Bede has Octa as Oisc’s son, but Nennius states that he was Hengist’s son, so Octa may be Osla, and Oisc may have succeeded him. Osla might also be Esla, Cerdic’s grandfather. See Chapters 4, 7, and 8.
Osla Bigknife, see under Oisc.
Owain, Owein, Ivain or Yvain. The son of Urien of Rheged who may have lived long enough to inherit the kingdom but who died soon afterwards, possibly at Catraeth. He is renowned in the battle poems of the
North for having defeated the Angles (see Chapter 8). He is usually treated as the father of St. Kentigern. Owain mutated into the Arthurian romances, via Geoffrey’s History, as Yvain, the Knight of the Lion (see Chapter 18). He is closely associated with Gawain and it is possible that the historical originals were cousins. He is the original tutor of Lancelot in the Vulgate version.
Palamedes or Palomides. A Saracen knight who is besotted with Iseult but never gains her hand. As a consequence, he ends up in various fights and altercations with Tristram. He also takes over from Pellinore in the never-ending pursuit of the Questing Beast. Palamedes has several brothers, including Safere and Segwarides. With Safere he helps rescue four brothers from Karados’s Dolorous Tower. In the Prose Tristram Palamedes is wounded by Lancelot and later killed by Gawain, but Malory has him as an ally of Lancelot who accompanies him to France and becomes Duke of Provence. That last may have been a token gesture to Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Henry VI, who was still alive at the time Malory wrote Morte Darthur. Edward’s mother Marguerite was the daughter of Rene the Good, King of Naples and Sicily, King of Jerusalem, Duke of Lorraine and, as it transpired, the last Count of Provence. Edward, as his eldest male grandson, might have succeeded him in that title had he not been killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury in May 1471.
Pellam or Pellehan. The king of Listinoise and both the Fisher King and the Maimed King. In the Post-Vulgate and Malory he is wounded by Balin with the Dolorous Blow. In some texts he is made the father of Perceval, but that is probably an error for his son Pelles (see entry). Loomis suggests that the name is a mutation of Beli, but all of the other Fisher King names are derived from the Biblical patriarchs, and Pellam could be derived from Peleg whose name means “division”, as in his day the peoples of the Earth were divided.
Pelleas. A knight whose story seems an image of Tristan and Isolde. Pelleas is in love with Ettard but she does not return it. Gawain promises to win her over but instead takes the lady himself. Nimuë makes Pelleas fall in love with her and Ettard now becomes enamoured of Pelleas, but it’s too late. Ettard dies of a broken heart.