Arthur Son of Uther Pendragon and Igrayne, Arthur is given to Merlin the magician, who later counsels him in all matters. Sir Ector raises the boy until he pulls the sword, Excalibur, from the stone. He then becomes the mightiest king of his time.
Uther Pendragon The mightiest of all English kings. Uther is the father of King Arthur as well as three daughters.
Igrayne The wife of the Duke of Cornwall. Uther Pendragon seduces and later marries her. She is the mother of King Arthur.
Merlin The magician who counsels King Arthur.
Lot A king married to one of Uther Pendragon’s daughters. Arthur seduces Lot’s wife, not knowing that she is Arthur’s own sister, and they are the parents of Mordred. King Lot is one of the eleven kings who are hostile to Arthur; he is slain by Pellanor.
Mordred Arthur’s son by his sister, Lot’s wife. Merlin prophesies that Mordred will destroy Arthur; they kill each other in a battle for the throne of England. Mordred is half-brother to Gawain, Gareth, Gaheris, and Aggravain.
Nantres A king married to one of Uther Pendragon’s daughters. King Nantres is one of the eleven kings who are hostile to Arthur.
Morgan le Fay Uther Pendragon’s third daughter; she later marries King Uriens. She tries to kill Arthur so that her lover, Accolon, can be king.
Accolon Morgan le Fay’s lover.
Ector The knight who raised Arthur until the boy pulled the sword from the stone and claimed his right to the throne. Ector goes on the Grail Quest but fails.
Kay Sir Ector’s son. He is knighted by Arthur and later goes with Arthur on a pilgrimage to St. Michael’s Mount.
Ban and Bors Two kings from overseas who are loyal to Arthur. Bors goes on the Grail Quest and assists Galahad.
Lionel Bors’ brother. Bors chooses to save a maiden from rape instead of saving Lionel from a beating, and Lionel tries unsuccessfully to kill Bors in revenge.
Lodegreaunce A king aided by Arthur, Ban, and Bors.
Gawain One of King Lot’s sons, he is knighted by Arthur and sits at the Round Table. He is good friends with Launcelot, who later kills him in a battle. He goes on the Grail Quest but fails.
Gareth Another of King Lot’s sons and the most noble. He arrives at the court anonymously, but he proves himself in battle, beating six thieves, two knights, the Black Knight, the Green Knight, Sir Persaunt of Inde, the Red Knight of the Red Lands, and the Brown Knight without Pity. Launcelot kills Gareth at the failed execution of Guinevere, even though Gareth was unarmed and against the execution.
Gaheris, Aggravain Two of King Lot’s sons. Gaheris kills his own mother and is slain by Launcelot at Guinevere’s failed execution. Aggravain spreads the news of Launcelot’s and Guinevere’s affair and is later killed by Launcelot.
Pellanor Hunter of the Questing Beast.
Gryfflet A young squire whose father is killed by Sir Pellanor. He asks to be made a knight to avenge his father’s death.
Percival Welsh son of Pellanor who, along with his brother, Lamerok, is among the most valiant knights at the Round Table. He goes on the Grail Quest and assists Galahad. Percival later experiences religious conversion with the help of his aunt and holy man; he embraces the New Law (faith, hope, belief, and baptism), renounces the Devil, and becomes a hermit.
Lamerok Welsh son of Pellanor and brother of Percival; a highly regarded knight at the Round Table. Lamerok sends a magical cup to King Mark to test whether Mark’s wife, Isode, is loyal. Lamerok later falls in love with Lot’s widow, who is killed by her son Gaheris. Gaheris and Gawain later murder Lamerok.
Tor Bastard son of Pellanor who is dubbed a knight by King Arthur and later promoted to the Round Table.
Bagdemagus A minor knight who is angry when Tor is admitted to the Round Table. He leaves the court, intent on proving his worth. He finds Merlin in the cave, but Merlin tells him to ride on.
Royns of North Wales A powerful king who vanquishes the eleven kings who are hostile to Arthur. He is killed by Balyn and Balan.
Nero King Royns’ brother, who is out to avenge his brother’s death. An ally of King Lot’s.
The Lady of the Lake The woman who gives Arthur his new sword, after he loses it in a fight with Pellanor. It belonged to her lover, who was killed his own brother. She then takes the sword to Lady Lyle of Avilon, who misused it.
Lady Lyle of Avilon A woman who wears a sword and scabbard at all times; she searches for the best and hardiest man in the kingdom to pull it out. Sir Balyn is that man.
Balyn He pulls out the Lady of Avilon’s sword, and then beheads the Lady of the Lake, who killed his mother. This act loses Arthur’s respect for Balyn. He kills Launceor and Launceor’s lady, and he kills Garlon. He is also called The Knight of the Two Swords, and he both kills and is killed by his brother, Balan.
Balan Sir Balyn’s brother.
