Guinevere was the wife of King Arthur, the legendary ruler of Britain. She was a beautiful and noble queen, but her life took a tragic turn when she fell in love with Lancelot, one of Arthur's bravest and most loyal knights.
Character Analysis
Despite her beauty, Guinevere was flawed; she fell in love with a man other than her husband and never had children. She was devoted to Lancelot (her lover) and her betrayal of her husband created the end of King Arthur's roundtable and the downfall of Camelot.
In spite of her iconic doomed romance with Lancelot, a number of modern reinterpretations portray her as being manipulated into her affair with Lancelot, with Arthur being her rightful true love. Others present her love for Lancelot as stemming from a relationship that existed prior to her arranged marriage to Arthur.
Arthur and Guinevere are married after Arthur establishes himself as king of England and quashes the numerous rebellions that rise up against him. In early versions, Guinevere is something of a prize won by a warrior king. The marriage ceremony is lavish and an important symbol of the newly glorious Camelot.
As well known as King Arthur's blade or the Holy Grail of Jesus Christ, the love between Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere has cemented itself as one of the most integral romances of the literary world. It hits all the marks of “true love” including the sacrifice of reputation and the performance of noble deeds.
Guinevere was the wife of King Arthur, the legendary ruler of Britain. She was a beautiful and noble queen, but her life took a tragic turn when she fell in love with Lancelot, one of Arthur's bravest and most loyal knights.
One night, Sir Agravain and Sir Modred, King Arthur's nephew, led a band of 12 knights to Guinevere's chamber where they burst in upon the lovers. Discovered, Sir Lancelot made a fighting escape, but poor Guinevere was not so lucky. She was seized and condemned to burn to death for her adultery.
In the medieval legends about King Arthur of Britain and his knights, Lancelot is the greatest knight of all. In time, however, Lancelot's love for Guinevere, the king's wife, leads him to betray his king and sets in motion the fatal events that end Arthur's rule.
The marriage is partly out of admiration for the king and partly for security against Malagant, but also because she does love Arthur despite their 35-year age difference. While on route to Camelot, Guinevere's carriage is ambushed by a group of Malagant's soldiers.
Older versions of the Arthurian legend mention Guinevere as only one of Arthur's wives. Sometimes Arthur marries three women, all named Guinevere. In other versions, King Leodegrance tricks Arthur into first marrying an identical half-sister of Guinevere's.
Guinevere Pendragon (born Gogyrfan), 461 - 539
Guinevere married Arthur Pendragon on month day 481, at age 20. Arthur was born on December 3 455. They had one son: Gwydre Pendragon. Guinevere then partnered Lancelot du Lac.
The child most frequently associated with King Arthur is his wicked son–nephew, Mordred, by his half sister, Morgause. Usually, the affair is arranged by his half sister Morgan le Fay without Arthur's knowledge.
What is much clearer is that other elements of the story, like the wizard Merlin, Arthur's sword Excalibur, wife Guinevere, and his Knights of the Round Table, are almost entirely fictional and appear together in Geoffrey of Monmouth's c. 1136 AD chronicle The History of the Kings of Britain or its later adaptations.
This is in reference to the scene in which Lancelot and Guinevere are caught in their love by Sir Mordred, although Lancelot, ever the noble knight, denies the allegations of treason that are levied upon him.
Although Morgause was married to King Lot, one of Arthur's enemies, she fell in love with the young king and conceived a child by him. Unwittingly Arthur had slept with his own half sister, the daughter of Ygraine and Gorlois.
In Arthurian legend and romance, Queen Guinevere was famous as the wife of King Arthur and the lover of her husband's best knight, Sir Lancelot du Lac. In some stories, she is presented as being virtuous and honourable, while at the same time being fatally flawed.
Mordred is first mentioned in the Annales Cambriae, in which it simply states for the year 537, "The battle of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut fell." Who Medraut was, and whether he ... King Arthur and Guinevere did not have a child in most classic versions of the King Arthur legend.
It is unknown exactly how old King Arthur was when he died. Most estimations place him between 35 and 50, while some are closer to 75. Part of the issue here is that it is not known exactly when Arthur was born, when he died, or if he was even a historical figure at all.
Guinevere, wife of Arthur, legendary king of Britain, best known in Arthurian romance through the love that his knight Sir Lancelot bore for her.
When Launcelot hears of the death of Arthur and Gawain, he comes to England in haste. He looks for the queen and finds her in a nunnery. For love of Guinevere as much as for remorse he takes on the habit of a priest. Guided by visions, he goes to Almesbury, where he finds Guinevere dead.
One of these knights was Sir Lancelot. He was Arthur's best friend. But unfortunately, Lancelot was also in love with King Arthur's wife, Guinevere. And because Lancelot was the best looking and most chivalrous knight in the kingdom, Guinevere couldn't resist his allure.
As a result of the destruction of his kingdom and seeing the pointless death that the other races and their gods have left in their wake for purely selfish and prejudiced reasons, along with the newfound power of Chaos at his control, these have all taken a great impact on him and how he views the world.
As they approach Camelot, a great shout goes up: 'Blessings on the noble Gawain for saving the Queen!' And the King rides out to greet them. Gawain explains that it is Lancelot, and not he, who has rescued Queen Guinevere, but the King is so happy to have his wife again he hardly cares about anything else.
Did King Arthur forgive Lancelot? Lancelot immediately bowed to the king and begged forgiveness. Arthur laughed, and said he'd heard that Lancelot was on his way to Camelot, and came to meet him to test his skills. Arthur said Lancelot had nothing to be sorry for, and knighted him on the spot.
Kyduan was not the only child of Arthur according to Welsh Arthurian tradition – he is also ascribed sons called Amr (Amhar), Gwydre, Llacheu and Duran. (See the Offspring section for further information about Arthur's children.)