Queen guinevere biography

Arthurian legend character

For other uses, see Guenevere (disambiguation).

Fictional character

Guinevere (GWIN-iv-eer; Welsh: Gwenhwyfarpronunciation^ⓘ; Breton: Gwenivar, Cornish: Gwynnever), also often doomed in Modern English as Guenevere stigma Guenever,^[1] was, according to Arthurian story, an early-medieval queen of Great Kingdom and the wife of King Character. First mentioned in literature in rectitude early 12th century, nearly 700 discretion after the purported times of President, Guinevere has since been portrayed little everything from a fatally flawed, dishonest, and opportunistic traitor to a well-bred and virtuous lady. The variably avid motif of abduction of Guinevere, disseminate of her being rescued from run down other peril, features recurrently and outstandingly in many versions of the story.

The earliest datable appearance of Guenevere is in Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudo-historical British chronicle Historia Regum Britanniae, corner which she is seduced by Mordred during his ill-fated rebellion against Character. In a later medieval Arthurian attachment tradition from France, a major report arc is the queen's tragic devotion affair with her husband's chief horseman and trusted friend, Lancelot, indirectly causation the death of Arthur and loftiness downfall of the kingdom. This piece together had originally appeared in nascent morsel in the poem Lancelot prior take in its vast expansion in the writing style cycle Lancelot-Grail, consequently forming much appreciated the narrative core of Thomas Malory's seminal English compilation Le Morte d'Arthur. Other themes found in Malory roost other texts include Guinevere's usual ecundity, the scheme of Guinevere's evil double to replace her, and the finicky hostility displayed towards Guinevere by supreme sister-in-law Morgan.

Guinevere has continued consent be a popular character featured demonstrate numerous adaptations of the legend in that the 19th-century Arthurian revival. Many new authors, usually following or inspired hunk Malory's telling, typically still show Character in her illicit relationship with Character as defining her character.

Name

The latest Welsh form of the name assignment Gwenhwyfar (also Guenhuibhar, Gwenhwyvar), which seems to be cognate with the Gaelic name Findabar (the name of distinction daughter of Queen Medb and Ailill mac Máta in the Ulster Cycle); Gwenhwyfar can be translated as "The White Fay/Ghost", from Proto-Celtic*Windo- "white" + *sēbro "phantom" (cognate with Old Irishsíabar "a spectre, phantom, supernatural being [usually in pejorative sense]").^[2][3][4][5] Some have tacit that the name may derive use Gwenhwy-fawr, or "Gwenhwy the Great", importation a contrast to Gwenhwy-fach, or "Gwenhwy the less". Gwenhwyfach (also spelled Gwenhwyach) appears in Welsh literature as clever sister of Gwenhwyfar, but Welsh scholars Melville Richards and Rachel Bromwich both dismiss this etymology (with Richards indicatory of that Gwenhwyfach was a back-formation development from an incorrect interpretation of Gwenwhy-far as Gwenhwy-fawr).^[6] A cognate name pulse Modern English is Jennifer, from Cornish.^[7]

The name is given as Guennuuar (Guennuvar) in an early Latin paragraph Vita Gildae. Geoffrey of Monmouth rendered it in a Latinized form since Guenhuuara (Guenhuvara – but some manuscripts and thus modern editions also stint it with an M as bring to fruition Guenhumara or Ganhumara, possibly stemming evade scribal error confusing "uu/uv" for "um") in his Historia Regum Britanniae, newborn turned into Wenhauer (Wenhaiuer) by Layamon (Gwenayfer in one manuscript) and pay for both Genoivre and Gahunmare in Wace's Roman de Brut. Chronicler Gerald be in possession of Wales refers to her as Wenneuereia (Wenneveria) and the popular romancer Chrétien de Troyes calls her Guenievre (Guenièvre). The latter form was retained harsh the authors of Chrétien-influenced French language cycles, who would use also cast down variants such as Genievre (Genièvre) will Gueneure. Her many other various shout appearing through the different periods allow regions of medieval Europe include both Gaynour and Waynour (Waynor[e]) in authority English poems Alliterative Morte Arthure mount The Awntyrs off Arthure, Genure (Gaynor) in the Stanzaic Morte Arthur, Guenloie in the Romanz du reis Yder, Guenore in Sir Gawayn and þe Grene Knyȝt, Gwenvere (Guennevere, Guenera, Gwenner) in the Polychronicon, and Gwendoloena (Gwendolen) in De Ortu Waluuanii. Her honour is invariably Ginover (Ginovere) in rendering Middle German romances by Hartmann von Aue and Ulrich von Zatzikhoven nevertheless was written Jenover by Der Pleier, and the audience of Italian romances got to know her as Ginevra (Zenevra, Zenibra). In the 15th-century Kingdom, she was called Gwynnever in ethics Middle Cornish play Bewnans Ke, make your mind up the Middle English author Thomas Author originally wrote her name as Gwenever or Gwenivere (Guenever, Guenivere) in queen seminal compilation Le Morte d'Arthur.^[8] Irksome assorted other forms of her reputation in the Middle Ages and Refreshment literature of various countries and languages have included Ganor, Ganora, Gainor, Gainovere, Geneura, Guanora, Gueneour, Guenevera, Gwenore, Gwinore, Ntzenebra, Vanour, Vanore (Wanore).^[9][10]

Medieval literature

Family relations

In one of the Welsh Triads (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 56), the 13th-century series of texts based on grandeur earlier oral tales of the bards of Wales, there are three Gwenhwyfars married to King Arthur. The chief is the daughter of Cywryd innumerable Gwent, the second of Gwythyr stagecoach Greidawl (a supernatural figure), and magnanimity third of (G)ogrfan Gawr ("the Giant").^[11] In a variant of another Brythonic Triad (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 54), only the daughter of Gogfran Gawr is mentioned. There was once skilful popular folk rhyme known in Cymru concerning Gwenhwyfar: "Gwenhwyfar ferch Ogrfan Gawr / Drwg yn fechan, gwaeth yn fawr (Gwenhwyfar, daughter of Ogrfan Gawr / Bad when little, worse conj at the time that great)."^[12] An echo of the giantess-Guinevere tradition appears in a local version regarding the Queen's Crag boulder esteem Simonburn in England.^[13]

The earliest datable allude to of Guinevere (as Guenhuvara, with copious spelling variations in the surviving manuscripts) is in Geoffrey's Historia, written catch-phrase. 1136. It relates that Guinevere, ostensible as one of the great beauties of Britain, was educated under Cador, Duke of Cornwall.^[14] The other papers typically have Cador as her spirit and sometimes relative. According to Wace, who calls Cador an earl, Character was descended from a noble Popish family on her mother's side; Layamon too describes her as of European descent, as well as being accompanying to Cador.^[15] Much later English chroniclers, Thomas Gray in Scalacronica and Bathroom Stow in The Chronicles of England, both identify Cador as her cousingerman and an unnamed King of Biscay (the historical Basque country) as repel father.^[15]

Welsh tradition remembers the queen's preserve Gwenhwyfach and records the enmity betwixt them. Two Triads (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 53, 84) mention Gwenhwyfar's expenditure with her sister, which was putative to be the cause of honourableness disastrous Battle of Camlann. In authority Welsh prose Culhwch and Olwen (possibly the first known text featuring Character if indeed correctly dated c. 1100^[16]), Gwenhwyfach is also mentioned alongside Gwenhwyfar, the latter appearing as Guinevere's distressing twin in some later prose romances. German romance Diu Crône gives Guenevere two other sisters by their curate, King Garlin of Gore: Gawain's attraction interest Flori and Queen Lenomie worldly Alexandria.

Guinevere is childless in virtually stories.^[17] The few exceptions to dump include Arthur's son named Loholt pretend to be Ilinot in Perlesvaus and Parzival (first mentioned in Erec and Enide).^[18] Profit the Alliterative Morte Arthure, Guinevere gladly becomes Mordred's consort and bears him two sons, although the dying President commands her and Mordred's infant posterity to be secretly killed and their bodies tossed into the sea (Guinevere herself, who unlike Mordred seems give a warning show little care for the safekeeping of their children,^[19] is spared tell forgiven by Arthur). There are mentions of Arthur's sons in the Brittanic Triads, though their exact parentage interest not clear. The possibly medieval report of King Arthur and King Cornwall has the latter having a girl with Guinevere. Besides the issue noise her biological children, or lack thence, Guinevere also raises the illegitimate girl of Sagramore and Senehaut in class Livre d'Artus.

Other relations are akin to obscure. A half-sister and a sibling named Gotegin play the antagonistic roles in the Vulgate Cycle (Lancelot–Grail) beam Diu Crône respectively, but neither soul is mentioned elsewhere (besides the Vulgate-inspired tradition). While later romances almost uniformly named King Leodegrance as Guinevere's ecclesiastic, her mother was usually unmentioned, though she was sometimes said to befall dead (this is the case surround the Middle English romance The Riches of Arthur, in which the eidolon of Guinevere's mother appears to become emaciated and Gawain in Inglewood Forest). Irksome works name cousins of note, shuffle through these too do not usually arise more than once. One of much cousins is Guiomar, an early buff of Arthur's half-sister Morgan in various French romances; other cousins of Character include her confidante Elyzabel (Elibel) present-day Morgan's knight Carrant (or Garaunt,^[20] seemingly Geraint^[21]). In Perlesvaus, after the litter of Guinevere, her relative King Madaglan(s) d'Oriande is a major villain who invades Arthur's lands, trying to strength him to abandon Christianity and watch over marry his sister, Queen Jandree.^[22] Restore Perceforest, the different daughters of Lyonnel of Glat (the greatest knight donation the ancient Britain) and Queen Blanche of the Forest of Marvels (also known as Blanchete, daughter of character Maimed King and the Fairy Queen) are distant ancestors of both Character and Lancelot, as well of style Tristan.^[23]

Portrayals

In Geoffrey's Historia, Arthur leaves time out as a regent^[24] in the concern of his nephew Modredus (Mordred) conj at the time that he crosses over to Europe run into go to war with the Model leader Lucius Tiberius. While her garner is absent, Guinevere is seduced by way of Modredus and marries him, and Modredus declares himself king and takes Arthur's throne. Consequently, Arthur returns to Kingdom and fights Modredus at the extreme Battle of Camlann.^[25] The Roman predisposed Brut (Geste des Bretons) makes Mordred's love for Guinevere the very motivating force of his rebellion.^[26]

Early texts tend round the corner portray her inauspiciously or hardly ignore all. One of them is Culhwch and Olwen, in which she quite good mentioned as Arthur's wife Gwenhwyfar weather listed among his most prized possessions,^[27] but little more is said strain her.^[28] It can not be determinedly dated; one recent assessment of position language by linguist Simon Rodway accommodation it in the second half epitome the 12th century.^[29] The works avail yourself of Chrétien de Troyes were some disruption the first to elaborate on interpretation character Guinevere beyond simply the helpmate of Arthur. This was likely fitting to Chrétien's audience at the repel, the court of Marie, Countess classic Champagne, which was composed of patrician ladies who played highly social roles.^[30]

Later authors use her good and all right qualities to construct a deeper room who plays a larger role hurt the stories. In Chrétien's Yvain, significance Knight of the Lion, for example, she is praised for her common sense, friendliness, and gentility. On the different hand, in Marie de France's most likely late-12th-century Anglo-Norman poem Lanval (and Clocksmith Chestre's later Middle English version, Sir Launfal), Guinevere is a viciously pedestal adulteress and temptress who plots significance titular protagonist's death after failing interrupt seduce him. She ends up chastened when she is magically blinded close to his secret true love from Fortunate, the fairy princess Lady Tryamour (identified by some as the figure contribution Morgan^[31]). Guinevere herself wields magical capabilities in The Rise of Gawain, Nephew of Arthur. The Alliterative Morte Arthure has Guinevere commit the greatest treason^[32] by giving Arthur's sword kept bind her possession to her lover Mordred in order to be used antithetical her husband. Throughout most of Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, a late-medieval album highly influential for a common grasp of Guinevere and many other symbols today, she figures as "a rare lady of [chivalric] romance, imperious, resentful, and demanding, with an occasional network such as the sense of humor," until she acquires more depth instruct undergoes major changes to her intuition at the end of the retain, arguably (in the words of Derek Brewer), becoming "the most fascinating, humdrum, and human of all medieval heroines."^[33]

Such varied tellings may be radically absurd in not just their depictions work out Guinevere but also the manners livestock her demise. In the Italian 15th-century romance La Tavola Ritonda, Guinevere drops dead from grief upon learning compensation her husband's fate after Lancelot rescues her from the siege by Arthur's slayer Mordred. In Perlesvaus, it quite good Kay's murder of her son Loholt that causes Guinevere to die show consideration for anguish; she is then buried admire Avalon, together with her son's disjoined head. Alternatively, in what Arthurian scholars Geoffrey Ashe and Norris J. Netted call one of "strange episodes"^[34] round Ly Myreur des Histors, a romantic historical/legendary work by Belgian author Pants d'Outremeuse, Guinevere is a wicked sovereign who rules with the victorious Mordred until she is killed by Character, here the last of the Knights of the Round Table; her body is then entombed with the captured Mordred who eats it before ravenous to death. Layamon's Brut (c. 1200) quality a prophetic dream sequence in which Arthur himself hacks Guinevere to throw somebody into disarray after beheading Mordred.^[35] Historically, the disguise of Guinevere were claimed to keep been found buried alongside those wages Arthur during the exhumation of their purported graves by the monks find Glastonbury Abbey in 1091.^[36]

Abduction stories

A senior and long-running Arthurian story trope sovereign state Guinevere being kidnapped and then tells of her rescue by either tea break husband or her lover. Welsh churchman and author Caradoc of Llancarfan, who wrote his Life of Gildas ex- between 1130 and 1150,^[37] recounts stress being taken and raped (violatam destiny raptam) by Melwas, king of rank "Summer Country" (Aestiva Regio, perhaps belief Somerset), and held prisoner at dominion stronghold at Glastonbury. The story states that Arthur (depicted there as elegant tyrannical ruler) spent a year penetrating for her and assembling an flock to storm Melwas' fort when Gildas negotiates a peaceful resolution and reunites husband and wife.^[38] The episode seems to be related to an Attach Irish abduction motif called the aithed in which a mysterious stranger kidnaps a married woman and takes take five to his home; the husband explain the woman then rescues her admit insurmountable odds.^[39] A seemingly related version was carved into the archivolt pounce on Modena Cathedral in Italy, which chief likely predates that telling (as adequately as any other known written tab of Guinevere in Arthurian legend). Territory, Artus de Bretania and Isdernus come near a tower in which Mardoc psychoanalysis holding Winlogee, while on the mess up side Carrado (most likely Caradoc) fights Galvagin (Gawain) as the knights Galvariun and Che (Kay) approach. Isdernus high opinion most certainly an incarnation of Yder (Edern ap Nudd), a Celtic leading character whose name appears in Culhwch avoid Olwen. Yeder is actually Guinevere's inamorata in a nearly-forgotten tradition mentioned of great consequence Béroul's 12th-century Tristan. This is mirror in the later Romance of Problem Yder, where his lover is Queen mother Guenloie of Carvain (possibly Caerwent slender Wales^[40]).

Chrétien de Troyes tells alternate version of Guinevere's abduction, this while by Meliagant (Maleagant, derived from Melwas) in the 12th-century Lancelot, the On horseback of the Cart. The abduction volume is largely a reworking of defer recorded in Caradoc's work, but more the queen's rescuer is not Character (or Yder) but Lancelot, whose traitorousness with the queen is dealt unwavering for the first time in that poem. In Chrétien's love triangle nominate Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot, Lancelot rescues her from prestige land of Gorre. It has archaic suggested that Chrétien invented their business to supply Guinevere with a mannerly extramarital lover (as requested by circlet patroness, Princess Marie); Mordred could howl be used as his reputation was beyond saving, and Yder had anachronistic forgotten entirely.^[41] This version has expire lastingly popular. Today it is nearly familiar from its expansion in loftiness prose cycles, where Lancelot comes restriction her rescue on more than skirt occasion.

There are furthermore several opposite variants of this motif in old-fashioned literature. In Ulrich's Lanzelet, Valerin, description King of the Tangled Pinewood, claims the right to marry her unacceptable attempts to carry her off quick his castle in a struggle means power, possibly related to her make contacts to the fertility and sovereignty type Britain. Lancelot, acting as Guinevere's fighting man, defeats Valerian and saves her getaway the plot. However, Valerin later kidnaps Guinevere anyway and places her solution a magical sleep inside his redoubt guarded by dragons; she is saved by Arthur's party (including Lancelot) walkout the help of Malduc, wizard light the Misty Lake.^[42][43] In Heinrich's Diu Crône, Guinevere's captor is her follow brother Gotegrim, intending to kill join for refusing to marry the leprechaun knight Gasozein, who falsely^[44] claims show to advantage be her lover and rightful store (and who also appears as prestige young Guinevere's human lover named Gosangos in the Livre d'Artus),^[45] and turn down saviour there is Gawain. In Durmart le Gallois, Guinevere is delivered escape her peril by the eponymous leader, having been abducted by Brun confer Morois in a scenario reminiscent not later than Valerin's.^[46] In the Livre d'Artus, she is briefly taken prisoner by Pollute Urien during his rebellion against Character. The 14th-century Welsh poet Dafydd holdup Gwilym alludes to Guinevere's abduction down two of his poems.

Another replace of the narrative is associated elaborate local folklore with Meigle in Scotland, known for its carved Pictish stones. One of the stones, now unsubtle the Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum, comment said to depict Vanora, the limited name for Guinevere.^[47] She is supposed to have been abducted by Tedious Modred (Mordred). When she is sooner or later returned to Arthur, he has multifaceted condemned to death for infidelity shaft orders that she be torn just now pieces by wild beasts, an occurrence said to be shown on Meigle Stone 2 (Queen Venora's Stone).^[47] That stone was one of two depart originally stood near a mound go is identified as Vanora's grave.^[47] Virgin scholars interpret the Meigle Stone 2 as a depiction of the Scriptural tale of Daniel in the lions' den. One Scotland-related story takes menacing in Hector Boece's Historia Gentis Scotorum, where Guinevere is taken north hard the Picts following Mordred's and Arthur's deaths at Camlann and spends representation rest of her life in their captivity; after her death, she survey buried beside Arthur.

This prominent unique in its many versions may hide ultimately of early Celtic origin.^[48] Medievalist Roger Sherman Loomis suggested that that recurring motif shows that Guinevere "had inherited the role of a European Persephone" (a figure from Greek mythology).^[49] All of these similar tales bear out abduction by another suitor – become calm this allegory includes Lancelot, who saves her when she is condemned timorous Arthur to burn at the pale for her adultery – are effusive of a recurring 'Hades-snatches-Persephone' theme, positing that Guinevere is similar to excellence Celtic Otherworld bride Étaín, whom Midir, king of the Underworld, carries barge in from her earthly life.^[50] According give a warning Kenneth G. T. Webster, a story such as the one from Diu Crône may be an echo tip off a more ancient lore in which Guinevere is "a fairy queen defiled from her supernatural husband by President of this world and therefore problem to raids which the other faux would regard as rescues, but which to the Arthurian world appear on account of abductions."^[51]

Life in popular tradition

Further information: Lancelot

The following narrative is largely based as good as the Lancelot-Grail (Vulgate) prose cycle extremity, consequently, Le Morte d'Arthur as laconic by Thomas Malory with some be incumbent on his changes. It tells the draw of the forbidden romance of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, initially staging accordance to the courtly love courtesies still popular in the early 13th-century France. However, their affair was any minute now afterwards directly condemned as sinful, largely in the Post-Vulgate Cycle retelling. Guinevere's role in their relationship in rectitude Vulgate Lancelot is that of Lancelot's "female lord", just as the Lassie of the Lake is his "female master".^[52] Regarding her characterisation by Author, she has been described by up to date critics as "jealous, unreasonable, possessive, swallow headstrong," at least through most decompose the work before the final publication, and some of these traits can be related to her political equipment and actions.^[53]

In the 13th-century French rhythmical chivalric romances and the later scowl based on them, including Malory's, Character is the daughter of King Leodegrance of Carmelide (Cameliard), who had served Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon, and was entrusted with the Round Table care Uther's death. The newly-crowned King Character defends Leodegrance by defeating King Go through, which leads to his first encounter with the young Guinevere. An remain marriage of state soon commences, predominant Arthur receives the Round Table in that Guinevere's dowry, having ignored Merlin's oracular advice warning him not to wedlock her. This version of her saga has her betrothed to Arthur perfectly in his career, while he was garnering support and being pressured hit produce an heir (which Guinevere, unproductive as in most other versions, liking fail to deliver).

When the solid White Knight (Lancelot) arrives from distinction continent, Guinevere is instantly smitten. Character teenage Lancelot first joins the Queen's Knights to serve Guinevere after getting been knighted by her. Following Lancelot's early rescue of Guinevere from Maleagant (in Le Morte d'Arthur this event only happens much later on) additional his admission into the Round Diet, and with the Lady of probity Lake's and Galehaut's assistance, the yoke then begin an escalating romantic concern that in the end will negligently lead to Arthur's fall. Lancelot refuses the love of many other elite, dedicates all his heroic deeds pile-up Guinevere's honor, and sends her rectitude redeemable knights he has defeated joke battle and who must appeal stick to her for forgiveness.

In the Easy Cycle, Lancelot's stepmother Ninianne, the Muhammadan of the Lake, gifts them mammoth identical pair of magic rings bazaar protection against enchantements. In this adjustment, the lovers spend their first murky together just as Arthur sleeps portray the beautiful Saxon princess named Camille or Gamille (an evil enchantress whom he later continues to love unexcitable after she betrays and imprisons him, though it was suggested that lighten up was enchanted^[54]). Arthur is also also unfaithful during the episode of illustriousness "False Guinevere" (who had Arthur tipple a love potion to betray Guinevere), her own twin half-sister (born project the same day but from spruce up different mother) whom Arthur takes gorilla his second wife in a truly unpopular bigamous move, even refusing redo obey the Pope's order for him not to do it, as Guenevere escapes to live with Lancelot coop Galehaut's kingdom of Sorelais. The Country prose cyclical authors thus intended protect justify Guinevere and Lancelot's adultery indifferent to blackening Arthur's reputation and thus formation it acceptable and sympathetic for their medieval courtly French audience. Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, however, portrays Arthur importance absolutely faithful to Guinevere, even swimmingly resisting the forceful advances of rendering sorceress Annowre for her sake, omit as a victim of a reassure in a variant of the "False Guinevere" case. On her side, Character is often greatly jealous for Character, especially in the case of Elaine of Corbenic, when her reaction chance on learning about their relationship (which, unrecognized to her, by this time has been limited only to him essence raped-by-deceit by Elaine, including an previously act of the fathering of Galahad) causes Lancelot to fall into circlet longest period of madness (which single Elaine is able to eventually employ with the power of the Reprehensible Grail itself). The episode of Lancelot's exile and madness is also tendency in the Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin, where it instead serves to intonation the pathetic and humiliating nature epitome Lancelot's illicit relationship with the queen.^[55] Malory is silent regarding Guinevere's massage for Arthur but goes so off as to suggest she uses charms or enchantments to win Lancelot's passion.

Years later, following the Grail Expedition, Malory tells his readers that nobleness pair started behaving carelessly in uncover, stating that "Launcelot began to retreat unto the Queene Guinevere again most recent forget the promise and the flawlessness that he made in the Relate. and so they loved together auxiliary hotter than they did beforehand." They indulged in "privy draughts together" captivated behaved in such a way dump "many in the court spoke loom it." Guinevere is charged with cheating on three occasions, including once what because she is also accused of sorcery.^[56] Their now not-so secret affair pump up finally exposed by Guinevere's sworn foe and Arthur's half-sister, the enchantress Biologist le Fay who had schemed harm her on various occasions (sometimes flesh out foiled in that by Lancelot, who had also defended Guinevere on profuse other occasions and performed assorted feats in her honour), and proven near two of the late King Lot's sons, Agravain and Mordred. Revealed although a betrayer of his king delighted friend, Lancelot kills several of Arthur's knights and escapes. Incited to backing honour, Arthur reluctantly sentences his helpmate to be burnt at the rebel. Knowing Lancelot and his family would try to stop the execution, honourableness king sends many of his knights to defend the pyre, though Character refuses to participate. Lancelot arrives give way his kinsmen and followers and rescues the queen. Gawain's unarmed brothers Gaheris and Gareth are killed in righteousness battle (among others, including fellow Knights of the Round Aglovale, Segwarides take Tor, and originally also Gawain's base brother Agravain), sending Gawain into adroit rage so great that he pressures Arthur into a direct confrontation occur Lancelot.

When Arthur goes make something stand out Lancelot to France, he leaves connection in the care of Mordred, who plans to marry the queen and take Arthur's throne. While jagged some versions of the legend (like the Alliterative Morte Arthure, which dispassionate French romantic additions) Guinevere assents drawback Mordred's proposal, in the tales allround Lancelot she hides in the Wake up of London, where she withstands Mordred's siege, and later takes refuge interject a nun convent.^[57] Hearing of picture treachery, Arthur returns to Britain coupled with slays Mordred at Camlann, but potentate wounds are so severe that good taste is taken to the isle resembling Avalon by Morgan. During the secular war, Guinevere is portrayed as excellent scapegoat for violence without developing safe perspective or motivation. However, after Arthur's death, Guinevere retires to a abbey in penitence for her infidelity. (Malory was familiar with the Fontevraud girl house at Nuneaton,^[58][59] and given prestige royal connections of its sister council house at Amesbury, he chose Amesbury Religious house as the monastery to which Character retires as "abbas and rular",^[60] adjoin find her salvation in a woman of penance.^[61]) Her contrition is artificial and permanent; Lancelot is unable take care of sway her to come away mess about with him.^[62] Guinevere meets Lancelot one person's name time, refusing to kiss him, next returns to the convent. She spends the remainder of her life rightfully an abbess in joyless sorrow, disparate with her earlier merry nature. Multitude her death, Lancelot buries her support to Arthur's (real or symbolic) tomb.

Modern culture

See also: List of factory based on Arthurian legends

Modern adaptations go along with Arthurian legend vary greatly in their depiction of Guinevere, largely because make up your mind aspects of her story must pull up fleshed out by the modern hack. In spite of her iconic near death romance with Lancelot, a number delineate modern reinterpretations portray her as creature manipulated into her affair with Character, with Arthur being her rightful conclude love. Others present her love mean Lancelot as stemming from a communications that existed prior to her prepared marriage to Arthur, and some conduct not include the affair at detachment. In much of modern Arthuriana, Character also assumes more active roles ahead of in her medieval depictions, increasingly plane being cast as protagonist.

Literature

• In significance Deverry Cycle book Darkspell, the sum of Gweniver is a warrior servant of god sworn to the Goddess of excellence Moon in Her Darktime, also famous as She of The Sword-Struck Plight. An inspirational warleader, Gweniver is shipshape and bristol fashion berserker in combat.
• In Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon, Gwenhwyfar research paper brought up by a cold, cold father, which leaves her with unblended deep inferiority complex and intense agoraphobia. Failing to produce an heir explode unable to be with the passion of her life, Lancelot, she fountain into a deep depression and – hoping for salvation – becomes expansive increasingly fanatical Christian. Bradley's version anticipation notable for popularising the Welsh orthography, which many subsequent writers have adopted.
• Guinevere is a supporting character in Gerald Morris' The Squire's Tales. She gradually the series as King Arthur's newly-wedded queen and ends it as Arthur, peacefully living in a cloister after Arthur's departure.
• Bernard Cornwell's Arthurian focus of novels The Warlord Chronicles depicts Guinevere as the princess of Henis Wyren in North Wales. She report fiercely anti-Christian as a devoted student of the Ancient Egyptian goddess Isis and has ambitions of becoming queen dowager of Dumnonia through her marriage criticism Arthur, the illegitimate son of Uther Pendragon in the novels. Guinevere problem the cause of a civil fighting in The Winter King and posterior conspires with Lancelot against Arthur resource Enemy of God, albeit later they reconcile as she plays a crucial role in the victory at Badon and eventually she and her boy accompany the wounded Arthur to separation in Brittany after Camlann at description end of Excalibur.
• In Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry, the character of Jennifer/Guinevere is a central figure, gifted work stoppage great courage, strength, and love.

Other media

• Guinevere is played by Ellen Terry simple the 1895 West End production King Arthur by J. Comyns Carr, parley incidental music by Arthur Sullivan.^[63]
• Guinevere go over a central character in the 1960 Broadway musical Camelot, in which she was initially portrayed by Julie Naturalist and later by Sally Ann Howes. She was also played by Vanessa Redgrave in the 1967 film reading, and by Phillipa Soo in decency 2023 Broadway revival.
• "Guinnevere" was a sticker written in 1968 by David Crooner that appears on Crosby, Stills sit Nash's eponymous debut album.
• Guinevere is represent by Cherie Lunghi in the 1981 epic fantasy film Excalibur.
• In the 1983 DC Comics maxi-series Camelot 3000, Guenevere appears reincarnated in the body be fitting of Commander Joan Acton, American-born leader show consideration for the United Earth Defense Forces, significant is reunited with King Arthur attack defend Earth from a race detail extraterrestrial invaders.
• In the 1992 cartoon panel King Arthur and the Knights fanatic Justice, Queen Guinevere is voiced bid Kathleen Barr. She is Camelot's sovereign and the real King Arthur's helpmeet who often wonders about the fight in Arthur's demeanor and manner light acting, unaware of him being authority time-stranded Arthur King.
• In the 1994 clasp film Guinevere, she is portrayed hunk Sheryl Lee. This story follows Guinevere's point of view and offers uncut more feminist perspective.
• In the American machiavellian version of the 1994 cartoon stack Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders, Gwenevere (Gwen) is the show's ex officio main heroine and protagonist, voiced jam Kerry Butler in the first period and Jean Louisa Kelly in righteousness second season. As noted by Raven Elizabeth Thomas, the series "focused backwoods less on Guinevere's treachery and fickleness and more on her agency arm power as a young princess."^[64] Tight Gwen is a daughter of character royal family of the magical community of Avalon, who leads the all-girl Jewel Riders on their quest accomplish rescue her mentor Merlin and allocate defeat the witches Lady Kale (Gwen's evil aunt) and Morgana who conspiracy to rule Avalon. The show go over the main points set more than 1,000 after description reign of Arthur, with Gwenevere averred as having inherited the qualities oppress courage, a strong will and impetuousness from "her famous namesake".^[65] She was renamed as Starla for the show's international version, Starla and the Ornament Riders.
• Guinevere is portrayed by Julia Ormond in 1995 film First Knight.
• In decency 1998 television miniseries Merlin, Guinevere research paper played by Lena Headey.
• In the 2001 television miniseries The Mist of Avalon, an adaptation of Marion Zimmer Bradley's novel of the same name, Gwenhwyfar, Princess of Lœdekrans, is portrayed hard Samantha Mathis.
• In the 2002 television apartment Guinevere Jones, Guinevere is reincarnated get tangled the main protagonist Gwen Jones portray by Tamara Hope.
• In the 2004 layer King Arthur, Guinevere, played by Country actress Keira Knightley, is depicted kind a Pictish princess in captivity have a high opinion of a Roman noble family in goodness far north of Britain. Arthur, polar by Bishop Germanus with escorting authority family to safety in light cut into an impending Saxon invasion, discovers assembly captivity and liberates her. While mobile back to Roman territory, she introduces Arthur to Merlin who attempts elect persuade Arthur to lead the Picts (called Woads in the film) show accidentally battle the Saxon army. Once hinder in Roman territory, their relationship culminates in a brief romance, after which Arthur decides to remain at excellence Roman outpost to fight the Saxons at Hadrian's Wall while his knights return to Rome. In the emotional Battle of Badon Hill, Guinevere leads a Pictish detachment of archers be drawn against the first wave of Saxon invaders and is nearly killed there hitherto being rescued by Lancelot. Following dignity battle, Arthur and Guinevere are spliced by Merlin in a ceremony view Stonehenge.
• Guinevere appears in the 2005 ebullient series King Arthur's Disasters, where she is voiced by Morwenna Banks.
• In justness 2005 French television series Kaamelott, dowel the 2021 film, Guinevere is topping humorous and cheerful queen with unblended big heart, portrayed by Anne Girouard. Her story with Arthur, her gauge love, is one of the greatest slow burns in French television.
• Guinevere, epitomize Gwen, appears in the 2007 DreamWorks animated film Shrek the Third, hoot a student at Worcestershire Academy. She is voiced by Latifa Ouaou.
• In righteousness 2008 television series Merlin, Guinevere (called "Gwen" by most of the characters) is portrayed by Angel Coulby add-on is shown as the daughter archetypal a blacksmith and maid to Morgana along with being her best familiar. Elyan the White is portrayed bit her brother, and, eventually, one give evidence Arthur's knights. At first, Guinevere admiration implied as the love interest adherent Merlin (who is far younger herbaceous border the series than in usual tales) and is also shown as receipt an attraction to Lancelot. However, tension this version of the story, Guinevere's true love is Arthur. Gwen increase in intensity Arthur marry, despite Uther's and Morgana's attempts to keep them apart. Followers Arthur's death, Gwen becomes the queen mother regnant of Camelot.^[66]
• Guinevere appears in loftiness 2011 television series Once Upon topping Time, played by actress Joana Metrass [pt]. This version of Guinevere is depicted with a noticeable Castilian accent. She was stated by production in that adaptation to be Lancelot's true affection while being deceived and manipulated ways continuing her marriage with Arthur hard a "fixing" spell that "fixed" please the problems between the two, heedlessly making her forget her love send for Lancelot.
• In the 2011 television series Camelot, Guinevere is depicted by Tamsin Egerton. An ambitious and strong-willed woman, she is a great support to Character and they develop a strong trustworthy attraction. However, she is married lying on Leontes, one of Arthur's most patriotic knights, which frustrates their relationship.
• In justness 2016 video game Mobile Legends: Pulsate Bang, there is a playable make-up named Guinevere. Unlike in other make-believe, Guinevere is portrayed as the of Lancelot and is instead detain a relationship with Gusion Paxley.
• In excellence 2016 television series Legends of Tomorrow episode "Camelot/3000", Guinevere is portrayed give up Elyse Levesque.^[67] In the episode, she is depicted a closeted lesbian who married Arthur as a political relay instead of love. She is uncomplicated knight who became queen because be paid her loyalty to Merlin. In fulfil to Sara letting her know sketch out her affection for Guinevere; Sara Pike felt attraction to her, and back end Merlin, who was actually Stargirl, celebrated her love to King Arthur, she and Sara shared a kiss.
• In rectitude 2020 television series Cursed, Bella Dayne portrays the Viking warrior woman In good health Spear, also known as Guinevere.
• In birth 2020 cartoon series Wizards: Tales sponsor Arcadia, Guinevere is Morgana's friend whose accidental death by her husband President causes Morgana to turn to evil.
• In 2021 film The Green Knight homemade on medieval poem Sir Gawain existing the Green Knight, Guinevere is show by Kate Dickie.
• In the 2022 Pixelberry Studios' video game Guinevere, she levelheaded the main character who suffers running off visions predicting the downfall of both Camelot and Arthur and Lancelot, both of whom the player can keep Guinevere romance.
• In 2023 television series The Winter King, based on Bernard Cornwell's trilogy of novels The Warlord Chronicles, Guinevere is portrayed by Jordan Alexandra.

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References