Lancelot du Lac

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

or Sir Lancelot, in British romance, the most celebrated of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. The stories told of him are almost numberless. They are among the earliest of the Arthurian legends. Lancelot was the son of King Ban of Benwicke. In infancy he was stolen by the sorceress Vivien and brought up by her in her home in the magic lake. From this he received his cognomen, Lancelot du Lac, Lancelot of the Lake. When full grown, Vivien took Lancelot to King Arthur, who dubbed him knight. He had many adventures, in all of which he proved himself a valiant knight. He was false to the king, however, and by his guilty love for Queen Guinevere set in motion the chain of events which led to the destruction of Arthur's kingdom. Lancelot was loved by Elaine, whom he married, although he did not return her affection. Sir Galahad was their son. In some accounts, Lancelot spent his last days in repentance and the holy life of the cloister. In others, he was slain by Modred, the murderer of Arthur. Tennyson in The Idylls of the King represents Sir Lancelot as the bravest and noblest of Arthur's Knights, loved and trusted by Arthur and his entire court. He it was whom Arthur sent to Cameliard to bring Guinevere when her father's consent had been obtained to her marriage with the king. And it was at this time that the attachment was formed between Guinevere and Lancelot which led to the downfall of Arthur's hopes. Tennyson's Elaine is not the Elaine of the old legends. She never married Lancelot but loved him and died for love. See Arthur ; Round Table ; Idylls Of The King ; Galahad