King Arthur, after he had defeated the Saxons in various battles and brought under his rule Scotland, Ireland and the neighboring isles and ravaged the principality of Wales, established, on his return from his expeditions, an order of knighthood in order to requite the services of twenty four of his most valiant warriors, and to show equal love and esteem for all of them, he had a round table made in 516 for those honored of his order, to meet and feast on all festive days, with their shields hanging at their back, hence the name "Knights of the Round Table" 

          Until recently the origins of the Round Table now hanging in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle were unknown, it is unquestionably the most renowned Arthurian relic in the world.  It was honored as King Arthur's table long before it was first painted in 1520 for the benefit of the visiting Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Only seven years earlier, a splendid Durer-designed statue of King Arthur had been set beside the cenotaph of Emperor Maximillian, Charles' grandfather at Innsbrook, thus proclaiming the illustrious forbears of the Hapsburg dynasty. Now young King Henry Tudor was making a similar claim, by having his likeness painted in Arthur's venerated position. 

          The task of identifying all the knights is difficult, and not made easier by the repainting of the table in 1789. The artist faithfully follow- ed the original at that time, but x-rays have revealed work of much finer quality underneath. Several of the named knights can be found in early British legends, in tales told long before heraldry began. Their coats of arms however are remarkably consistent and derive from traditions established by a host of medieval manuscripts. The interpretation of the shield designs is based, where possible, on the Arthurian Heraldry in the Royal Robing Room of the House of Lords, corroborated and embel- lished mainly by material in the "Livre des Tournois'" of Rene d'Anjou c. 1452. 

In 13C manuscripts King Arthur's blazon is described as three crowns against a blue or red background. In later texts the number of crowns increases to thirteen signifying the number of kingdoms in his domain. He was the son of Uther Pendragon and Igerne, Brother of Morgause, queen of Orkney and therefor uncle to Gawaine, Agrevaine, Gaheris, and Gareth.  He was renowned as a brilliant idealistic warrior in early manhood, until divide loyalties reduce him to a rather passive figure, against whose established background the Knights of the Round Table act out their separate destinies. 

His Blazon varies, occasionally being shown with one red band only. Son of King Ban of Benoic in Brittany he was stolen in infancy by Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, who reared him and presented him to Arthur. He embodied all the strengths and weaknesses of chivalry. His unrepentant love for Guinevere accomplished the ruin of the Round Table. According to Malory he died of grief beside her tomb six weeks after her death. 

The noblest knight of the Round Table and the only one worthy to sit in the Siege Perilous. Descended from Joseph of Arimathea, he was the son of Lancelot and Elaine of Astolat. He gained his blazon when another kinsman called Joseph crossed the plain face of his shield with his own dying blood Galahad journeyed to the Holy land where he achieved the quest of the Holy Grail whereupon his soul was borne up to heaven. 

A Saracen Knight, son of Esclabor and brother of Palomedes. He helped his brother against King Karrados {Guiron le Courtios} He also took part in the Grail Quest {Tristan} 

He is first mentioned in Ancient Celtic legend (Culwch and Olwen). He was steward to the King, a boorish braggart, disliked by all for his venomous tongue. The son of Ector and foster brother to Arthur, he was afflicted with a stammer, caused when Arthur displaced him at his mother's breast. Granted Domains in Anjou and Angiers, he was mortally wounded in battle and buried at Chinon, which, according to Wace, derives its name from him. 

   A number of Arthurian figures have variants of this name and their lives and personalities are often confused. This knight is probably King Pellinore, King Arthur's faithful ally from the time Merlin chose him for the round table. Like Palomedes, he followed the Questing Beast. His killing of King Lot began the family feud which brought ruin to the Round Table and his own death at the hands of Gawaine. 

Son of King Bohort, brother of Lionel, cousin of Lancelot, father of Helaine le Blanc. Schooled in asceticism and forbearance by Nasciens the Hermit of Carbonek, he was the only knight to achieve the quest of the Grail and return to Camelot. He staunchly supported his kinsmen Lancelot in his breach with Arthur. After Lancelot's death he returned to the Holy lands and died there. 

Sir Plomyd
{Plomid, Pallamedes, Le Chevalier de la Beste Glanssant} 

Blazon; 
Checky; Argent and Sable

Son of Nestor of Gaunes, brother of Blamore, father of Nestor de la Fontain, cousin of Lancelot. He defended le Gue Perileus until defeated by Gawaine who sent him as prisoner to Arthur's court, where he became famous as a story teller. As Lancelot's kinsman he sided with him throughout his troubles and eventually became a hermit with him. 
 
 

Brother of Lucan, constable of Llogres {England} and Arthurs constant companion. First mentioned in ancient (Culwch and Olwen). In the Brut he is granted Normandy and is buried at Bayeuse. In Mallory it is he that flings the sword into the sea after Camlan. He then becomes a hermit dwelling in a Glastonbury chapel in prayers, fasting, and great abstinence. 

Natural son of King Ban and the niece {or daughter]  of Agravadain, Half Brother to Lancelot, uncle to Gawaine, and foster brother to Gorleston. Merlin gave the infant Arthur into his care and Hector reared him as his own. Their home is said to have been in the hill fort known as Caer Gai above the river Dee, west of Balla in Merimethshire. 
 
 

Still a great jouster in Arthur's time, he had been granted the Kingdom of Estrangor {Strathmore} by Uther Pendragon for his prowess. He was murdered in old age by Ferrant and Briadon who were slain in their turn by his son Brunor le Noir. 

Son of Pellinore, brother of Percival, Alain, Aglovale, and Driant, lover of King Lots widow, after Pellinore had slain her husband. Gaheris found them in bed together and promptly beheaded his mother unex- plainably allowing Lamorak to survive. The family feud festered until the breakup of the Round Table. He died trying to avenge his brother Driant. Overthrown by Mordred and Agrevaine he was beheaded by Gawaine. 

Brother of Bedivere, butler or steward to Arthur. One of the three knights left alive after the battle of Camlan. Malory tells how he dies trying to lift the wounded Arthur. Sir  Lucan took up the King the one part and  Sir Bedevere the other part and Sir Lucan fell in a swoon with the lift,  that part of his guts fell out of his body and therewith the noble knights heart brast. Alas said the King, this is to me a heavy sight, for he would have holpen me that had more need of help than I..." 

This blazon was temporarily adopted by Brunor The Black until his father's death was avenged. He was son of King Karrados of Estran- gore {Strathmore}, brother of Dinadan, father of Galehaut. When his father was slain he took up and wore his ill fitting cloak to preserve his memory. Kay dubbed him "La Cote Male Taile" but Brunor wore it proudly. Eventually he became Lord of Castle Pendragon. 

Youngest son of King Lot, brother of Agrevaine, Gaheris, Gawaine and Mordred. Of every knighthood worth all his brethren {Mallory}. He worked as scullion in the King's kitchen for a year until he slew the Red Knight. Thereafter he became an honoured member of the Round Table until slain accidentally by Lancelot during his ill fated rescue of Guine- vere from the stake. 

According to the "Galehaut" he was born insane and was the ... "most coward heart to be known" In "Guiron le Courtois" he is a foolish knight who administers the kings household with great inefficiency. The Vulgate Lancelot tells us that his madness developed after he lost his wife. In Mallory he is portrayed simply as the fool at King Arthur's court. 

A truly historical figure whose tombstone still stands near Fowey. As nephew and champion of King Mark he slew Morholt of Ireland then fell in love with Morholt's niece Iseult. Their love story was immensely popular in the middle ages and inspired the magnificent music of Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde". Malory has Tristan slain by Mark. Other versions have him die in Brittany as he waits for Iseult, who dies beside him when she arrives to late. 

At first he fought for Galeholt, lord of the far isles {Hebrides} against Arthur until Galeholt and Lancelot became firm and lasting friends. Thereafter he also became a knight of the Round Table and a trusted member of Arthur's household. "the Vulgate version of the Arthurian Romances" 

Brother of Bors and cousin of Lancelot. So named for the lion shaped birthmark on his chest. Bold and impetuous he quarrelled with Bors for aiding a damsel instead of himself and he cut down a hermit and fellow knight when they tried to intervene. He supported Lancelot against Arthur and was madeKing of Gaunes in Gaul.  He was mortally wounded in battle against Mordred's sons and was buried at Winchester. {La Mort le Roi Arthur} 

The main hero of most continental Grail stories though not in Malory. When he leaves his widowed mother to die of grief and shows no concern for the Grail Guardian's suffering, he is cast out for his indifference. Eventually he rediscovers the mystic Grail Castle, cures the King, and restores the Waste Land. In "Perlesvaus" Britain is the waste land and Arthur the King. 

Hero of the 12th century French verse romance  "Le Bel Inconnu", the 13th century "Wigalois", and the 14th century English version "Libeaus Desconus". He was the son of Gawaine and grandson of King Lot, whose lineage was kept secret from him until he had proved himself. Malory's "Tale of Garethe" derives from the same stock. 

Eldest son of King Lot of Orkney, brother of Agravaine, Gareth, and Mordred. A medieval Don Juan, courteous and near invincible. A close friend of Lancelot, he is at first reluctant to expose him, knowing the disastrous effects that will follow, but when Lancelot accidentally kills his brother, he is remorseless in seeking revenge. Mortally wounded by Lancelot he was, according to Mallory, buried at Dover Castle where Lancelot lay for two nights weeping on his tomb. 

Son of Pellinore, brother of Percival, Lamorak, Aglovale, and Driant, Half brother of Tor. He does not take a very prominent part in the stories. He guards a bridge in the prose Tristan and defeats Dinadan in a joust. 

One of Arthur's nephews in some texts, his son in others by his sister Morgause, Queen of Orkney. His personality varies in different texts but he is always a thoroughly unpleasant character. Geoffrey of Monmouth brands him a traitor who mistreats the Queen. In the "Brut" he commits adultery with the Queen. In "Claris" he is disposed to ravishing solitary damsels. Malory presents him as the shrewd manipulator of the corrup- tion growing at the heart of King Arthur's court. 

By; Forrester Roberts, 
March House, 3 Southfield Road, Gloucester GL4 9UG