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Sir Lancelot the Handsome

© Linda Casselman

Let's continue our quest this week with a closer look at the handsome and noble Sir Lancelot.

Sir Lancelot was the great champion, a superb knight, one of the greatest of the Round Table. This "flower of knights" was highly attractive to women -- a trait that often got him into trouble.

One story tells of how Morgan Le Fay, King Arthur's half sister, cast a spell over the sleeping Lancelot and then held him captive in the dungeon of her castle. She, along with three other fairy queens, would not let him leave for they demanded that he choose one of them as his mistress. Lancelot refused them, and it is here that he admitted his love for Queen Guinevere, King Arthur's wife.

The tragic love story of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere is probably one of the best-known stories of Arthurian Legend.

Lancelot and Guinevere's love for each other grew slowly, as Guinevere kept Lancelot away from her. Eventually, however, her love and passion overpowered her and the pair became lovers. Before long, Sir Meliagaunt grew suspicious of the lovers' actions so he confronted Sir Lancelot in front of both the king and queen. It was decided that a tournament would settle the score and reveal the truth. When Sir Lancelot met his opponent, Sir Meliagaunt, he hit him with such ferocity that it is said his head was cleaved in two!

The matter was settled. Both Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere's honour were restored and all was well -- or was it?

Unbeknownst to the secret lovers, Sir Meliaguant was not the only knight suspicious of the pair's relationship. 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. Fear not. Sir Lancelot returned several days later to rescue his beloved Guinevere from the fire.

This whole sad affair divided the Knights of the Round Table and weakened Arthur's kingdom. King Arthur later attacked Lancelot's castle in Brittany without success. Poor Lancelot ended his days as a lowly hermit and Guinevere became a nun at Amesbury where she died.

This is the story of handsome, brave, and noble Sir Lancelot. ...But what about the Quest for the Holy Grail? Did Lancelot join his fellow knights on this holy mission?