Counting down to Valentine's Day, we are reminiscing famous love stories.
The tragic love storyof Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevereis probablyone of the best-known stories of Arthurian Legend. Lancelot fall in love with Queen Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. Their love grew slowly, as Guinevere kept Lancelot away from her. Eventually, however, her love and passion overpowered her and the pair became lovers. 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. Poor Lancelot ended his days as a lowly hermit and Guinevere became a nun at Amesbury where she died.
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FAQs
Though Lancelot is loyal to Arthur and Guinevere's marriage to the King takes place as planned, it is not long before the two become lovers. Modred spies on them and informs Arthur of his wife's infidelity. Lancelot escapes, but Guinevere is condemned to be burned at the stake.
What is the true story of Lancelot and Guinevere? ›
None of them are true stories. Most of the surrounding stories, like the Quest for the Grail, Lancelot & Guinevere, the Sword in the Stone, The Green Knight …. etc, didn't start circulating until the Middle Ages, and were the products of poets, storytellers and troubadours.
Who is Lancelot truly in love with? ›
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.
Who did Guinevere love more, Arthur or Lancelot? ›
In most versions of the tale, Guinevere's love for Lancelot exceeds her love of Arthur. In modern retellings, such as the musical Camelot, there is still affection between Guinevere and her husband, but she harbors passionate love only for Lancelot.
How do Lancelot and Guinevere end up? ›
Guinevere meets Lancelot one last time, refusing to kiss him, then returns to the convent. She spends the remainder of her life as an abbess in joyless sorrow contrasting with her earlier merry nature. Following her death, Lancelot buries her next to Arthur's (real or symbolic) grave.
Who accused Lancelot of sleeping with Guinevere? ›
Several days later, Lancelot is finally granted a private audience by Guinevere. He presents her with his gift, but the queen coldly accuses him of infidelity to her. In her anger she tosses the diamonds from her window into the river below.
What happened to Guinevere and Lancelot after Arthur's death? ›
Le Morte d'Arthur
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.
Why did Guinevere banish Lancelot? ›
But Guinevere learns of their affair, and becomes furious when she finds that Elaine has made Lancelot sleep with her by magic trickery for a second time and in Guinevere's own castle. She blames Lancelot and banishes him from Camelot.
Why did Lancelot betray Arthur? ›
Lancelot's adulterous love for the queen, moreover, caused him to fail in the quest for the Holy Grail and set in motion the fatal chain of events that brought about the destruction of the knightly fellowship of the Round Table.
What was Guinevere's punishment supposed to be? ›
In the stories of Camelot, Queen Guinevere had a love affair with Lancelot, a knight of the Round Table. Guinevere's husband, King Arthur, sentenced her to death as a result.
Modern-day scholars claim that she may have been a historical figure who was mythologized after her death as a “Celtic Persephone” or that she represents the sovereignty of Britain while still others claim she symbolizes the goddess Sophia (wisdom) as envisioned by the Cathars.
How many wives did King Arthur have? ›
Though one of the Welsh Triads (Triad 56) speaks of Arthur's three great queens (all named Gwenhwyfar), later romance generally gives him only one wife named Guinevere. Geoffrey of Monmouth introduces the notion of Guinevere's infidelity (with Modred) while Arthur is fighting on the continent.
Who did Guinevere marry after Arthur died? ›
But Arthur was alive and so Guinevere was not free to remarry. Even after Arthur was dead or presumed dead (taken to Avalon) Guinevere decided to split with Lancelot and went away to a nunnery to pray for her sins. Lancelot respected her decision and he, and all his surviving kin of de Ganis likewise became monks.
How old was Queen Guinevere when she died? ›
Guinevere Pendragon, 455 - 515
Guinevere Pendragon was born in 455. Guinevere married Arthur Pendragon. Arthur was born in 460, in birth place. Guinevere passed away in 515, at age 60.
Did King Arthur marry his daughter? ›
Their Marriage
Arthur met his daughter Guinevere, and fell instantly in love. Merlin tried to persuade Arthur against marrying her, telling him that she would lead to his and his country's ruin. Arthur loved her too much, and married her anyway.
Why did Guinevere reject Lancelot? ›
By this point it has been made clear that Lancelot is in love with Guinevere, but when he bests Meleagant, the mysterious knight who has stolen her in the first place, she spurns Lancelot because of the two seconds he hesitated before boarding the cart.
What did Lancelot say after Lady Guinevere refused to kiss him? ›
What did Lancelot win for running the gauntlet? A kiss from the Queen. What did Lancelot say after Lady Guinevere refused to kiss him? "I won't kiss a lady so fair."
