Who were the Knights of the Round Table: Legends of Arthurian Chivalry

The Knights of the Round Table served at the court of King Arthur and featured prominently in medieval literature and Arthurian legend. Mostly of noble birth, the knights were said to be brave, honourable and chivalrous, and their stories are rich with quests for lost relics, battles, and moral dilemmas.

But who were they? Were the Round Table knights a real group of warriors who protected King Arthur? Were they inspired by the most famous knights of the age, or are they nothing more than a literary construct that emerged from medieval folklore?

This time-trip back to twelfth century England will shed some light on the story of the knights and the Round Table, and includes a deep dive into some of the most famous names of the knights of the Round Table.

While there was a lively oral tradition of tales of heroic knights that probably have roots in earlier centuries, the origins of the Knights of the Round Table can be traced back to early medieval literature. One of the first significant mentions of the Arthurian legend – perhaps as early as 1136 – is by Welsh Catholic cleric Geoffrey of Monmouth in his twelfth-century work, Historia Regum Britanniae, or the ‘History of the Kings of Britain’.

However, it was through the writings of twelfth-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes and later Sir Thomas Malory’s fifteenth-century compilation Le Morte d’Arthur that the legend was fully realised. These authors expanded on the knights’ individual stories – including that of Arthur’s supposed traitorous son Mordred – and they weaved a rich tapestry of lore that blended historical elements with myth and legend.

The story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table has been told and retold countless times over the centuries. They came from a mix of Welsh, Scottish, French, and English folklore and have been reimagined and enriched for centuries by untold authors and storytellers, each offering their own version of the most famous of all medieval legends.

So what of the knights and the Round Table? Was it an actual round table, or was it a metaphor? It seems the answer to both questions is ‘yes’.

Again, there may have been oral versions of the story of the mythical round table, but the first documented mention was in 1155 by a medieval Norman poet called Wace, sometimes known as Robert Wace. In his 15,000-line Roman de Brut, a verse loosely translated from Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae, he describes it as a table where all knights could sit with equal status, unlike conventional rectangular tables where seating was based on rank and courtly status.

He never claimed to be the source of the concept of the Round Table – instead crediting that to the ancient Bretons – and one translation of his writings stated that when Arthur’s “fair fellowship” sat to eat, ‘their chairs would be of equal height, their service equal, and none before or after his comrade.’

A late twelfth or early thirteenth century English poet – possibly a priest from Worcestershire – called Layamon or Laghamon, was the first to write specifically about the legend of the Round Table knights in English poetry, and suggested it was big enough to seat 1,600 men.

Quite a few – but not all – versions of the story tell of a permanently empty seat at the table known as the Siege Perilous, a sacred place reserved for the knight who finds the Holy Grail.

As with all tales of medieval folklore, the lines between fact and fiction are blurred, and there’s no agreed-upon list or fixed number of Knights of the Round Table. The earliest accounts don’t specify a number at all, and almost every variation of the story has a different number and a different list of round table knights.

Numbers range from as few as twelve – perhaps, as some historians have suggested, to parallel the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ – to as many as 1,600.

An early version by Chrétien de Troyes seems to suggest there were 500 knights, and an early thirteenth century story known as the Vulgate Cycle is thought to contain around half that number. There are between 140 and 150 in Thomas Malory’s fifteenth century Le Morte d’Arthur, and other accounts list 24, 50, or other numbers, reflecting each individual storyteller’s intentions or the cultural context of the time. The inconsistency arises because the legends evolved over centuries, with various authors adding their own characters and embellishments.

While there’s no list of roundtable knights that experts agree on, some traditions and adaptations of Arthurian legend have highlighted a core group of knights who are frequently mentioned, and this commonly referenced list of prominent knights often includes:

Sir Lancelot

Renowned as one of the greatest knights of the Round Table, he was famed for his prowess in combat and his chivalrous nature. He was a close friend to King Arthur but is also known for his illicit love affair with Queen Guinevere, which ultimately led to the downfall of Camelot.

Sir Gawain

Nephew to King Arthur, Sir Gawain was usually celebrated for his loyalty and courtesy, as well as being a formidable warrior.

Sir Galahad

The son of Sir Lancelot, Galahad was known for his purity and virtue. Often depicted as the perfect knight, he was the one who ultimately achieved the quest for the Holy Grail.

Sir Percival

The original protagonist in the Grail story before being replaced by Sir Galahad, Percival was a brave knight who learned valuable lessons about faith and humility.

Sir Bors

A cousin of Lancelot, Bors was noted for his faithfulness and piety. He was one of the knights – alongside Sir Galahad – who achieved the Holy Grail quest.

Sir Kay

King Arthur’s foster brother and seneschal (steward), Sir Kay was known for his sharp, sarcastic tongue and fiery temper. He was a loyal knight who played a significant role in the early days of Arthur’s reign.

Sir Bedivere

One of the earliest of the round table knights, Sir Bedivere is best known for returning Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake after the Battle of Camlann, Arthur’s final battle.

Sir Tristan

Famous for his tragic romance with Isolde, Sir Tristan was not only a valiant knight but also a skilled musician. His love story is one of the most enduring tales of chivalric love ever written, told in an opera by German composer Richard Wagner in the 1860s.

Sir Gareth

The youngest brother of Sir Gawain, Sir Gareth arrived at Camelot and was nicknamed Beaumains (Fair Hands) while working in the kitchens. He proved his worth through various quests, showcasing humility, bravery, and kindness.

Sir Geraint

Celebrated in Welsh Arthurian tales, Sir Geraint was known for his love and dedication to his wife Enid. His story often explores themes of trust and marital devotion, as he tests and ultimately reaffirms their relationship through various trials.

Sir Lamorak

Along with Lancelot and Tristan, Sir Lamorak was considered one of the strongest knights in the Arthurian legends. His untimely death resulted from familial feuds, and he may have been murdered by Mordred.

Sir Palamedes

A Saracen knight who converted to Christianity in some versions of the story, Sir Palamedes rivalled Sir Tristan for the love of Isolde. He was known for his exceptional bravery.

So there you have it, a list of some of the most famous names of the knights of the Round Table, providing a glimpse into some of the most celebrated and at times infamous round table knights.

From the legendary tales of the quest for the Holy Grail, to the story of Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone, to the tragic love story between Queen Guinivere and Sir Lancelot, the tales of the Knights of the Round Table have left an indelible mark on literature and culture.