Key character names from Arthurian Legend

Merlin

a magician and primary mentor figure for Uther and Arthur in most of legends. Considered in some tales to be at least part fairy. Arranges for Uther to claim Igrain as his own wife, in exchange for taking baby arthur as soon as hes born. In some versions of the tale, he has time traveled or even ages backwards through time

Vortigern

Attempts to build a tower to defend against his enemies. Considers using the blood of the child Merlin to shore up the foundations but instead young merlin tells him its foolish to build a tower on a lake. He foresees his own downfall in the battle of the red and white dragon

Uther Pendragon

Arthurs father. Recieves a prophecy from an image of a dragon in the sky predicting the birth of his son. Recieves magical aid from Merlin so that he can sleep with Igrain. Arthur is conceived in this union

Joseph of Arimathes

in scripture this is the man who oversees the burial and provides the tomb for Jesus. In this legend he is the possessor of the Holy Grail (the cup Christ used at the last supper) and brought the (now magical/blessed) cup to England

Alan the Rich Fisher

a friend of Joseph who could catch a magic fish that would provide plenty of food for all around the table. Travels with Joseph to England. in other versions the fisher king is a mysterious figure that some of the knights questing for the holy grail encounter.

Lady Igrain/ Y gierne

mother of arthur (by uther) and morgan le fay (by the duke of cornwall) in some versions,clueless of uthers deception. in others, she is willingly his lover and wanting to be “rescued” from her husband

Lord Cornwall

Igrains first husband and father to Morgan le Fay

Arthur

legendary king of england. sometimes portrayed as mediator between celtic paganism and christianity

Sir Kay

Arthurs foster brother. tries to lie at the famous sword in the stone incident, saying he pulled the sword but later becomes a valuable knight of the round table

Sir hector/ector

arthurs foster father who raises him out in the country. since he grows up in obscurity, arthurs identity as the heir to the throne is generally unknown

King Leodogran/ leodegrance

father pf Guinevere. King of camiliard and friend of uther. keeper of the round table after uthers death until arthurs marriage to guinevere

Sword in the stone

a magical sword in an anvil only able to be pulled by the true king of England. inscribed on the hilt “whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is the rightise king born of all england”

Camelot

arthurs castle and general name given to his court and kingdom. Symbol of light,truth,justice, and chilvary

King pellinore

he takes on all challengers in anear by forest. Arthur accepts the challenge. when his sword breaks, merlin puts pellinore to sleep and takes arthur to recieve excalibur

Guinevere

arthurs wife. lancelots courtly lover

the seat perilous/the seige perilous

a mysterious seat at the round table with no name, awaiting the special knight who will be the most worthy and the one to succeed at the grail quest

Lancelot/Lancelot de Lac/ Lancelot of the Lake

comes late to the round table. raised by a fairy, perhaps the lady of the lake. is a devoted knight/best friend of Arthur. becomes a devoted courtly lover to Guinevere.

Galahad

son of lancelot and elaine. is the one the seat perilous has been waiting for. succeeds in the grail quest

Agravain

Half brother to Mordred and brother to Gawain. Son of Morgan (or her sister Morgause, depending on the account) in our closing chapters one of the main agitators stirring up suspicion against Lancelot and Guinevere