MERLIN : Prophet and magician, son of the Devil. Arthur's mentor from his birth to his marriage with Gwunevere. Places Arthur as a baby under the care of Sir Ector and his wife, who bring him up with their own son Kay. Falls in love with the sorceress Nyneve, who imprisons him forever in an enchanted cave in Cornwall.
THE DUKE OF TINTAGIL : A rebellious Cornish duke. Married to Igraine and father of the sorceress Morgan Le Fay. Defies King Uther and is killed in battle.
KING UTHER PENDRAGON : King of all Britain. With the aid of Merlin impersonates the Duke of Tintagil, seduces Igraine, and begets Arthur. Marries Igraine thirteen days later. Dies in bed when Arthur is aged two years.
QUEEN IGRAINE : Sister to Queen Margawse and Elayne. Married to the Duke of Tintagil, later to King Uther. Deprived of Arthur at birth by Merlin. Acknowledged by Arthur only after his coronation.
KING ARTHUR : King of all Britain. Conqueror of Rome. Founder of the Knights of the Round Table.commits incest and adultery with his aunt Queen Margawse and begets the bastard Sir Modred, whom he tries to drown. Marries Gwynevere and, after the quest of the Holy Grail,sentences her to burning for adultery. Exiles her lover, Sir Launcelot, and beseiges him at Benwick in France. His throne, meanwhile, is usurped by Sir Modred, who wounds him fatally in single combat after his return to Britain. Conveyed to the Isle of Avalon by the Lady of the Lake.
QUEEN GWYNEVERE : Daughter of King Lodegreaunce. Brings Round Table to Arthur as a marriage gift. Championed by her lover Sir Launcelot, who twice rescues her from burning at the stake.Repents after Arthur's last battle, and dies a nun.
MORGAN LE FAY : A sorceress, half sister to Arthur. Marries King Uryens of Gore and bears him a son, Sir Uwayne. Plots with her lover, Sir Accolon, to destroy Arthur and her husband and to seize the throne; the plot is thwarted by Nyneve and Sir Uwayne. Subsequently captures and tries to seduce Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, and other knights of the Round Table.
KING LOT : Leader of the rebel kings of the North and West. Marries Margawse and begets Sir Gawain,Sir Aggravayne, Sir Gaheris, and Sir Gareth. Killed in the battle of Terrabyl by King Pellinore. His death is avenged by Sir Gawain.
QUEEN MARGAWSE : Sister to Queens Igraine and Elayne. Marries King Lot. While officially spying on Arthur, becomes his lover and bears him Sir Modred. Subsequent to King Lot's death, is murdered by her son Sir Gaheris, who surprises her in bed with her lover Sir Lamerok.
SIR GAWAIN : Eldest son of King Lot, and Arthur's favorite cousin. Avenges his father's death by killing King Pellinore, and his mother's dishonor by killing Sir Lamerok. Abandons quest of the Holy Grail after killing his cousin Sir Uwayne, being rebuked by a hermit, and wounded by Sir Galahad. Twice challenges Sir Launcelot at Benwick in order to avenge his brothers Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris. Fatally wounded by Sir Launcelot and dies on his return to Britain. Writes letter of reconciliation to Sir Launcelot an hour before his death.
SIR GARETH : Youngest son of King Lot. Sir Launcelot's favorite. Serves for a year in the kitchen at Arthur's court under Sir Kay, who dubs him Beaumains. Accomplishes quest of the Lady Lyoness before revealing his identity to Arthur. Posted as guard when Queen Gwynevere is bound to the stake for burning and, together with his brother Sir Gaheris, is unwittingly killed by Sir Launcelot during the latter's rescue of the queen.
SIR MODRED : Bastard son of King Arthur and Queen Margawse. Escapes drowning by a miracle. Exposes adultery between Sir Launcelot and Gywnevere. Exploits dissension to usurp throne. Attempts to marry his stepmother, Gwynevere, while Arthur is in France. Delivers fatal wound to Arthur in single combat, and is killed by him.
KINGS BAN AND BORS OD BENWICK AND GAUL : Arthur's allies in the battle of Bedgrayne. Traditional enemies of King Claudas. King Ban is the father of Sir Launcelot, King Bors of Sir Ector de Marys, Sir Bors, and Sir lyonel, and godfather to Sir Blamoure and Sir Bleobris--all of whom are knights of the Round Table but adopt Sir Launcelot's cause when he is exiled.
SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAKE : Son of King Ban of Benwick. King Arthur�s favorite.
Champion and lover of Queen Gwynevere. Begets Sir Galahad on King
Pelle�s daughter Elaine while under an enchantment. Driven to madness
For two years by Gwynevere�s jealousy. Punished for his adultery by being
Denied participation in the mystery of the Holy Grail. Kills forty knights,
Including Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, in defense of Gwynevere. Is exiled
By Arthur and beseiged by him at Benwick in France. Challenged to
Mortal combat by Sir Gawain, whom he wounds fatally. On return to
Britain finds Arthur dead and Gwynevere a nun. Becomes a monk, and
Dies of a broken heart shortly after Gwynevere. Is buried at his own castle,
The Joyous Gard.