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Lancelot was the son of King Ban of Benwick and Queen Elaine. He was
the First Knight of the Round Table, and he never failed in gentleness,
courtesy, or courage. Launcelot was also a knight who was very willing
to serve others.
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| Launcelot forces
Sir Mador to withdraw his false accusation against Queen Guinevere. |
It has been said that Lancelot was the greatest
fighter and swordsman of all the knights of the Round Table. Legend
tells us that as a child, Lancelot was left by the shore of the lake,
where he was found by Vivien, the Lady of the Lake. She fostered and
raised him, and in time Lancelot became one of history's greatest
knights.
Legend also says that Lancelot was the father of Galahad by Elaine.
It was another Elaine, Elaine of Astolat, who died of a broken heart
because Launcelot did not return her love and affection.
Many sources tell us of the love shared toward each other of Lancelot
and Queen Guinevere. There may be some truth to this since Lancelot
was a favorite of the Queen's, and he rescued her from the stake on
two different occasions. It was at one of these rescues that Lancelot
mistakenly killed Sir Gareth, which led to the disbandment of the
Round Table. After the Queen repented to an abbey as a nun, Lancelot
lived the rest of his life as a hermit in penitence.
Did Lancelot originate in Celtic mythology, was he a continental invention,
or did he really live as a famous knight and hero? We may never know...
but Launcelot will always live in our imaginations as one of the greatest
knights in history.
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