Quondam et Futurus
Register
Advertisement


The Knights of the Round Table are characters in the legends about King Arthur. They were the best knights in Arthur's kingdom, and lived in the King's castle-city of Camelot. They were called the Knights of the Round Table because of a special table that was in Camelot, that was round instead of rectangular. This meant that everyone who sat around it was seen as trust worthy and equal.

Code of chivalry[]

In order to become a Knight of the Round Table, a knight had to prove he was chivalrous (polite) enough. In the legend, the knights swore a Code of Chivalry, which is much like an oath is today. This meant that they promised to uphold the rules given to them once they became a Knight of the Round Table.

Sir Thomas Malory (c. 1405 - March 14th, 1471) was an English writer, who wrote a book based on the legend of King Arthur. It was called Le Morte d'Arthur. In it, he wrote his version of the Code of Chivalry:

  • To never do outrage nor murder (not to assault or murder anybody)
  • Always to flee treason (do not commit treason, a crime against your country or king)
  • To by no means be cruel but to give mercy unto him who asks for mercy (Do not be mean. Grant mercy to those who ask, even in combat.)
  • To always do ladies, gentlewomen and widows succor ('succor' is an old word for help; this means that the knight must promise to help women if they need it. Note that this does not necessarily include peasantry.)
  • To never force ladies, gentlewomen or widows (never 'harm' women. Note that this does not necessarily include peasantry.)
  • Not to take up battles in wrongful quarrels for love or worldly goods (do not even join in fights over anything less than God or country)

List of the Knights of the Round Table[]

(Withdrawn from Wikipedia)

Other Knights[]

In addition, Malory's account includes many obscure knights during the episode containing Sir Urry:

Yet other sources add more obscure knights. For example, Lancelot und Ginevra (Anonymous, 1230) mentions Sir Gaimar and has him a lover of both Guinevere and Morgan le Fay. (He has had an asteroid named after him: 9502 Gaimar)

Related pages[]

Advertisement