king arthur

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 Post-Vulgate Cycle, 1230s Morgan le Fay's lover

Aglovale† Agloval, Sir Aglovale de GalisThe Life of Sir Aglovale de Galis, The Once and Future King

King Pellinore's eldest son

Agravain† Agravaine Lancelot-Grail, Le Morte D'ArthurSecond son of King Lot and Morgause, joinsMordred's rebellion

Amr Amhar, Amir, AnirHistoria Brittonum, c. AD 820

Geraint and Enid Son of King Arthur

Andred Le Morte D'Arthur Cousin of Tristram

Sqedwayne

King Arthur† Arthur Pendragon Y Gododdin, c. 7th century Many King of the Britons

Aurelius Ambrosius

Ambrosius Aurelianus Gildas' De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae c. AD

Historia Brittonum c. AD 820 Uther Pendragon's brother, High King of Britain before him

540s

Bagdemagus† Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, 1170s Meleagant's father and ruler of Gorre

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

BalinSir Balin le Savage, Knight with Two Swords

Post-Vulgate Cycle, 1230s Post-Vulgate, Le Morte D'ArthurBrother to Balan, kills the Lady of the Lake and strikes the Dolorous Stroke

Bedivere†(Welsh: Bedwyr)(French: Bédoier) Bedevere

Pa Gur yv y Porthaur, c. 10th century

Vita Cadoc, Culhwch and Olwen, Stanzas of the Graves, Welsh Triads, Historia Regum Britanniae,Le Morte d'Arthur, numerous others

Returns Excalibur to The Lady of the Lake, brother to Sir Lucan

Black KnightKing Arthur's grandson through Tom a'Lincoln. Another Black Knight is an antagonist figure

BlanchefleurChrétien 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 centuryBrother to King Ban, and an ally of Arthur's

Bors the Younger†

Son of Bors the Elder, father of Elyan the White

BrangaineBrangaene, Brangwane, Brangien

Tristan poems by Béroul andThomas 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

Bruin Sir Bruin Surnamed the BlackFirst Named in "King Arthur Meets Lady Guinevere" Howard Pyle

Unknown Family, One of the Original 32 Knights of the "Round table"

Breunor le Noir†

Brunor, La Cote Male Taile ("The Badly-shaped Coat")

Knight who wears his murdered father's coat, brother of Dinadan and Daniel

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 toConstantine III of Britain, Described in some works as Arthur's cousin

Caelia Celia, The Faerie QueeneEdmund 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, CynanChrétien de Troyes' Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, 1170s

Le Morte d'Arthur Cousin to Sir Ywain

Caradoc†

(Latin: Caractacus) (Welsh: Caradog Freichfras, meaning Caradoc Strong (or Stout) Arm)) (French: Carados Briefbras)

Perceval, the Story of the Grail, the Mabinogion

Rebelled against Arthur when he first became king, but later supported him. Sometimes two characters, Caradoc the Elder (a king) and Caradoc the Younger (a knight)

Catigern (Welsh: Cattegirn)Historia Brittonum (9th century), Harleian genealogies, Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1134)

Son of Vortigern; fought alongside his brotherVortimer against the Saxons

Cerdic of Wessex

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 9th century

First King of Wessex

ClaudasPerlesvaus, 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 BritanniaeSon of Constantine II of Britain, older brother toUther Pendragon

Constantine II of Britain

Based on the historical figure Constantine

Historia Regum BritanniaeArthur's grandfather, father to Uther Pendragon, Constans, and Ambrosius Aurelianus

Constantine III of Britain†

Geoffrey of Monmouth'sHistoria Regum Britanniae, c. 1136

Historia Regum Britanniae, Le Morte d'ArthurArthur's cousin and successor to his throne, Cador's son

CulhwchCulhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century

Cousin 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 Prose Tristan, Le Morte D'Arthur 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

Durnure Sir DurnureFirst Named in "King Arthur Meets Lady Guinevere" Howard Pyle

One of Three Sons of King Pellinore, One of the Original 32 Knights of the "Round table"

Ector† Hector, Antor, EctoriusLancelot-Grail, early 13th century

The Once and Future King, Le Morte d'ArthurRaises Arthur according to Merlin's command, father to Sir Kay

Edern ap Nudd

Edern, son of Nudd, Yder, Yver, Isdernus, Knight of the Sparrowhawk

Culhwch and Olwen, c. 1100Chrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide (as Yder),Geraint ac Enid, The Dream of Rhonabwy

Brother of Gwyn ap Nudd, rival to Erec/Geraint. Originally a hostile figure, later a member of Arthur's retinue

Elaine of Astolat

Elaine the White, Elaine the Fair, The Lady of Shalott

Le Morte d'Arthur, 1470 The Lady of ShalottDaughter of Bernard of Astolat, classic Arthurian figure of unrequited love

Elaine of Benoic

Lancelot-Grail, early 13th century

Wife of King Ban and mother to Lancelot, Evaine's sister

Elaine of Corbenic

Amite, Helaine or Helizabel; "The Grail Maiden"

Chrétien de Troyes'Perceval, the Story of the Grail c. 1181

The Once and Future King, Perceval le Gallois(1978)

Daughter of the Fisher King, mother of Galahadby Lancelot

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 Listenoise

Le Morte d'ArthurDaughter of King Pellinore, lover of Sir Miles of the Laundes

Elaine the Peerless

Niece of the Lord of the Fens and wife of Persides the Red of the Castle of

Gazevilte

Eliwlod Welsh TriadsNephew to Arthur, son of Madoc, Uther Pendragon's son

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 EnidChrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170

Idylls of the King, Geraint and Enid Erec's wife

Epinogres Sir EpinogresFirst Named in "King Arthur Meets Lady Guinevere" Howard Pyle

Son of King of Umberland, and brother unto Enchantress Vivien, One of the Original 32 Knights of the "Round table"

Erec†

Unclear; first literary appearance as Erec inChrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170

See Geraint and EnidSon 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

EvaineLancelot-Grail, early 13th century

Wife of Bors the Elder, mother of Bors the Younger and Lionel, sister of Elaine of Benoic, aunt of Lancelot

Faerie Knight, The

Richard Johnson's Tom a Lincoln part 1, 1599

Illegitimate son of Tom a'Lincoln and Caelia, the Faerie Queen, half brother to the Black Knight

Feirefiz†Wolfram von Eschenbach'sParzival, 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

Vulgate Queste del Saint Graal, c. 1220, ProseTristan as interpolation, c. 1230

Guardian of the Holy Grail

Gaheris† Le Morte d'ArthurSon 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

Illegitimate son of Sir Lancelot and Elaine of Corbenic

Galehault† Galehalt, GalehautLancelot-Grail, early 13th century

Former enemy of Arthur who becomes close friends with Lancelot

Galeschin† Galeshin The Vulgate CycleSon of Elaine of Garlot and King Nentres, nephew of Arthur

Gareth† Beaumains Le Morte d'Arthur, Idylls of the KingAlso a son of Lot and Morgause, in love withLyonesse

Gawain†(Latin: Walwanus, Welsh: Gwalchmai, Irish: Balbhuaidh)

Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century

Chretien de Troyes' Conte du Graal, Lancelot-Grail cycle, Prose Tristan,Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur and many short Middle English romances

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 BritanniaeIgraine's first husband before she married Uther Pendragon. Father of Morgause and Morgan le Fay.

GornemantChrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170

Chrétien's Perceval, the Story of the Grail Percival's mentor

Guiron le Courtois

Palamedes, 1235–40 Palamedes, Guiron Compilation Companion of Meliodas

Green Knight†Bercilak, Bertilak, Bernlak, Bredbeddle

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 1300s

The Greene Knight, King Arthur and King Cornwall

A knight enchanted by Morgan le Fay in order to test Gawain

Griflet† Girflet, Jaufre JaufréThe son of Do (or Don), cousin to Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere

Gringolet

(Welsh: gwyn calet("white-hardy"), orceincaled ("handsome-hardy"))

Chrétien de Troyes' Erec and Enide, c. 1170

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Gawain's horse

Guinevak GwenhwyvachCulhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century

Welsh Triads, Thomas Love Peacock'sMisfortunes of Elphin

Guinevere's half-sister

Queen Guinevere

(Welsh: Gwenhwyfar, 'The White Fay' or 'White Ghost')(Latin:Guanhumara)

Culhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century

ManyWife to King Arthur, famous for her affair with Lancelot

Gwyn ap Nudd

First appeared in the Arthurian saga in Culhwch and Olwen, c.1100. Character is much older.

One of Arthur's knights. Brother of Edern ap Nudd, rival of Gwythyr ap Greidawl, lover ofCreiddylad

Hector de Maris†

Ector de Maris Quest du Saint Graal Vulgate CycleHalf-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 Historia Regum Britanniae An Anglo-Saxon king killed by Uther

History of the English People, AD 721

Pendragon;Horsa's brother

Hueil mab Caw

Huail Culhwch and Olwen, c 1110 Vita Gildas, Welsh TriadsA Pictish plunderer and chieftain, killed by Arthur. Brother to Saint Gildas

Hoel† (Welsh: Howel, Hywel) The Dream of Rhonabwy, Geraint and EnidSon of King Budic of Brittany, father to St. Tudwal

HorsaBede'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'sHistoria Regum Britanniae, c. 1136

Vulgate Merlin

Mother to King Arthur through an affair with Uther Pendragon. Mother of Morgause and Morgan le Fay through her first husband Gorlois.

Iseult of Ireland

Isolde, Yseult, Isode, Isoude, Isotta

Tristan and IseultWife of Mark of Cornwall and adulterous lover of Sir Tristan

Queen IseultIsolde, Yseult, Isode, Isoude, Isotta

Tristan and Iseult Iseult of Ireland's mother

Iseult of the White Hands

Isolde, Yseult, Isode, Isoude, Isotta

Tristan and IseultDaughter of Hoel of Brittany, sister of Sir Kahedin, and wife of Tristan

Joseph of Arimathea

Biblical figure; first connection with Arthur is inRobert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie, 12th century

First keeper of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend

Josephus of Arimathea

Josephe, JosephesLancelot-Grail cycle, Post Vulgate Prose Tristan, Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur

Son of Joseph of Arimathea

Kay† (Welsh: Cai, Latin: Caius)Pa Gur yv y porthaur? 10th century

Many Foster brother to Arthur, Sir Ector's son

KahedinKahadin, Kahedrin, Kehenis, Kehidius; possibly the Welsh character Kae Hir

Thomas of Britain's Roman de Tristan

Prose Tristan, Malory's Le Morte D'ArthurBrother 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 CycleSon of King Pellinore, brother to Tor, Aglovale, Percival, and Dindrane. Lover of Morgause

Lancelot† Lancelot du Lac, Lancelot of the Chrétien de Troyes' Erec Chrétien's Lancelot, the Knight of the Son to King Ban and Elaine, most

Lake, Launcelot and Enide, c. 1170 Cart,Lancelot-Grail, many othersfamous for his affair with Queen Guinevere, Arthur's wife, most prominent Knight of the Round Table

Lanval† Landevale, Launfal, LambewellMarie de France's Lanval, late 12th century

Sir Landevale, Sir Launfal, Sir LambewellA knight of King Arthur's court who falls in love with a fairy

Laudine Lady of the FountainChrétien de Troyes' Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, 1170s

Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain, Iwein Sir Ywain's wife

Leodegrance† LeondegranceGuinevere's father, King of Cameliard in what is now southwest England

Lionel† Lancelot-Grail, early 13th centurySon of King Bors of Gaunnes (or Gaul), brother of Bors the Younger

Lohengrin Loherangrin, LorengelWolfram von Eschenbach'sParzival, early 13th century

Parzival, German romance Lohengrin, Lorengel,Richard Wagner's Lohengrin

A knight of the Holy Grail, son of Percival

LoholtPossibly Llacheu, similar character in Welsh sources

Welsh Triads (as Llacheu) Perlesvaus, Vulgate Cycle (as Loholt) Illegitimate son of Arthur

Lot LothGeoffrey of Monmouth'sHistoria Regum Britanniae, c. 1136

Le Morte d'ArthurKing of Lothian, father to Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris, and Gareth

Lucan† Sir Lucan the Butler Le Morte d'ArthurServant to King Arthur, Bedivere's brother, Griflet's cousin

Lucius Lucius Tiberius, Lucius HiberiusGeoffrey of Monmouth'sHistoria 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

LynetteThomas 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

LyonesseThomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, c. 1470

Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the KingEntrapped sister of Lynette; rescued by Gareth, whom she eventually marries

Mabon ap Modron

Culhwch and Olwen, 11th century

Welsh TriadsSon of Modron, kidnapped at birth, rescued byCulhwch

Madoc Madawg Book of Taliesin Stanzas of the GravesSon of Uther Pendragon, brother of Arthur in early Welsh tradition, father of Eliwlod

Maleagant† Malagant, Meleagant, perhaps Melwas

Unclear, a similar character named "Melwas" appears in the 12th century Life of

Lancelot-Grail, Post-Vulgate Cycle, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur

Abductor of Guinevere

Gildas

Manawydan fab Llyr

Sometimes Manawyddan

The Mabinogion (first appearance)

Pa Gur yv y Porthaur (circa 10th century)

Culhwch and Olwen (circa 1100)Originally a British God; appeared as a knight of Arthur's in Culhwch and Olwen

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, Palamedes

Tristan's uncle, husband to Iseult

Meirchion Tristan and Iseult Father to Mark of Cornwall

Melehan

Geoffrey of Monmouth'sHistoria Regum Britanniae, c. 1136 (unnamed)

Elder son of Mordred

Meliodas MeliadusProse Tristan; Tristan's father was named Rivalen in earlier versions

Le Morte d'Arthur Father to Tristan

Menw ap Tairgwaedd

Culhwch and Olwen c.1100 Welsh Triads Enchanter, member of Arthur's retinue.

Merlin(Welsh: Myrddin), Myrddin Emrys, Merlin Ambrosius

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 ofMabon ap Modron inCulhwch and Olwen and theWelsh Triads

Welsh Triads

Mother of Mabon; in another folktale, she is the mother of Owain (Ywain) and Morvydd by Urien. Possible source for Morgan le Fay

Mordred†Modred (Welsh:Medrawd, Latin: Medraut)

Annales Cambriae, c. 970 ManyIn some literature, Arthur's illegitimate son through Morgause (or Morgan le Fay), kills and is killed by Arthur

Morgan le FayMorgaine, Morgain, Morgana, Bellicent

Unclear; first mention as Morgan in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini, c. 1150

ManySorceress, half-sister and sometime antagonist of Arthur, and (in some traditions) mother of Mordred

Morgause AnnaGeoffrey of Monmouth'sHistoria Regum Britanniae, c. 1136

Arthur's half-sister, wife to King Lot, mother to Gawain, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth. In some traditions, also the mother of Mordred

Morgan Tud Geraint ac Enid Head physician of Arthur's court.

Morholt† Marhalt, Morold, MarhausTristan poems of Béroul andThomas 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

Irish knight, rival of Tristan, uncle of Iseult

Morien† MoriaenDutch 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

OberonAuberon, King of Shadows and Fairies

King of the Fairies, sometimes identified as a son of Morgan le Fay

OlwenCulhwch and Olwen, c. 11th century

Daughter of Ysbaddaden, beloved of Culhwch

Orgeluse Haughty Maiden of LogresChrétien de Troyes'Perceval, the Story of the Grail, c. 1181

A wife of Gawain

Owain† (see Ywain) Historical figure Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain Son of Urien

Palamedes† Palamede, Palomides Prose Tristan, 1230s, Thomas Malory's Le Morte

T.H. White's The Once and Future King Saracen Knight of the Round Table

D'Arthur,

Parcenet The Story of King Arthur and His KnightsA maid from Queen Ettarre's court who helps Sir Pelleas

PellamKing Pellam of Listeneise, Pellehan

see Fisher King

Pelleas† Pellias Post-Vulgate Cycle, 1230sThomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King

A Knight of the Round table in love with Ettarre, later lover of Nimue

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

Beste Glatisant (Barking Beast) Perlesvaus, c. 1210

Gerbert's Continuation of Chrétien de Troyes'Perceval, the Story of the Grail, Post VulgateSuite du Merlin, Prose Tristan, Thomas Malory'sLe Morte d'Arthur

A strange beast quested after by many knights associated with Pellinore and Palamedes.

Lady RagnellSir Gawain's wife, in some legends mother ofPercival

Red KnightChrétien's Perceval, the Story of the Grail, c. 1181

Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'ArthurAppears in many tales, usually as an antagonist

Rience Ritho, Ryence, Ryons, and RionGeoffrey of Monmouth'sHistoria 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, ProseTristan

Son to Esclabor, brother of Segwarides andPalamedes

Sagramore† SagramorLancelot-Grail, Post-Vulgate Cycle, ProseTristan, 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, ProseTristan

Son of Esclabor, brother of Safir and Palamedes

Taliesin Historical figureThe 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'sTom a Lincoln part 1, 1599; possibly mentioned in Robert Greene's Farewell to Folly, 1591

Illegitimate son of King Arthur through Angelica

Tom ThumbReginald Scot's Discovery of Witchcraft

The History of Tom Thumb, Henry Fielding's Tom Thumb and The Tragedy of Tragedies

A tiny creation of Merlin. Later becomes Arthur's court dwarf and an honorary knight

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.)

Beroul's 'Roman de Tristan'

Thomas of Britain's 'Roman de Tristan', the two 'Folies Tristans', Marie de France's 'Chevrefeuil',Eilhart von Oberge, Gottfried von Strassburg, Post-Vulgate Prose Tristan, Post-Vulgate Cycle,Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur

Son of Blancheflor and Rivalen (or Meliodas), Iseult's lover

Urien† Uriens Historical figure Welsh TriadsFather of Ywain (Owain mab Urien), husband ofMorgan le Fay

Uther Pendragon

(French: Uter Pendragon; Welsh: Wthyr Bendragon, Uthr Bendragon, Uthyr Pendraeg)

Pa Gur yv y Porthaur?, c. 10th century

Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, c. 1136

Welsh TriadsArthur'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 Son of Vortigern

820

YsbaddadenCulhwch 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 figureOwain mab Urien

Historia Brittonum, Yvain, the Knight of the Lion

Urien's son, Morvydd's brother

Ywain the Bastard†

Ywain the AdventurousUrien's illegitimate son through a seneschal, accidentally killed by Gawain