Galehaut
Encyclopedia
Galehaut Sire
des Lointaines Isles (Lord of the Distant Isles) appears for the first time in Arthurian literature in the early-thirteenth-century prose Lancelot
, the central work in the series of anonymous French
prose romances collectively called the Lancelot-Grail
or Arthurian Vulgate Cycle. An ambitious, towering figure of a man, he emerges from obscurity to challenge King Arthur
for possession of his entire realm. Though unknown to Arthur and his court, Galehaut has already acquired considerable power, loyal followers, and a reputation for nobility of character. In the ensuing military engagements it is clear that Galehaut’s forces are more than capable of defeating Arthur’s. One thing alone prevents the challenger from succeeding: he is so awed by the battlefield performance of the King’s most ardent defender, that for his sake he renounces certain victory and surrenders to Arthur. Lancelot gratefully accepted Galehaut’s companionship. What follows is a tale of friendship and self-denial, in which Galehaut figures as a major—indeed, as the pivotal — character: he becomes the doomed person in the story. For Lancelot, just as he has surrendered to King Arthur, he will give way before Guenevere, yielding the young Lancelot to her in an especially memorable scene. Lancelot forever has this profound attachment to Galehaut.
Of all the personages in the story, Galehaut is the only one whose inner life the text explores at length and in depth, the only character whose trajectory is that of a classic tragic hero. If a large part of the Prose Lancelot has long been known as the “Book of Galehaut,” it is because its bounds are defined more clearly by his action and evolution than by anything else.
Galehaut gives depth and complexity to the work's grappling with the meaning and expression of love, with its obligations and its consequences. He is unquestionably the richest creation in the narrative's immense cast of characters. Long after his death, brought about by longing, Galehaut is recalled by everyone as an exemplar of greatness. Lancelot, at the end of his own life, will be buried next to Galehaut in the magnificent tomb that the younger man had built to consecrate and eternalize their companionship.
Since the early thirteenth century, there have been numerous retellings, in various languages, of the life and loves and chivalric career of Lancelot. The story of his adulterous liaison with Guenevere has always been part of every significant account of King Arthur. The second, overlapping love story, however, the one related in the Prose Lancelot, in which Galehaut sacrifices his power, his happiness, and ultimately his life for the sake of the younger man, has been quite forgotten. The character himself reappears in a number of Arthurian tales, in several different languages, but without the same significance.
Lancelot is the book that Paolo and Francesca have been reading in the fifth canto of Dante
's Inferno when they yield to their love. Dante mentions Galehaut in passing as the intermediary between Lancelot and the Queen; and Boccaccio, moved by the great lord's generosity, uses his name as the subtitle of his Decameron ("Il Principe Galeotto").
In Spanish, galeoto is still an archaic word for a pimp
. But in later imaginings of the Arthurian myth itself, Galehaut, for all his prominence in the original narrative, was rapidly marginalized and even eclipsed. The greatest retelling in English, the fifteenth-century work of Thomas Malory
, reduced the character to one of no importance, leaving Guenevere without a rival for Lancelot's affections; and subsequent novels, plays, poems—now films as well—have accepted that simplification of the tale. Indeed, so obscure has Galehaut become that modern readers sometimes mistake the name for a mere variant of Galahad
. Galahad is the “pure,” the “chosen” knight who achieves the quest for the Holy Grail in a part of the Arthurian legend quite distinct from the story in which Galehaut appears. There is no connection between the two figures.
Sire
Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...
des Lointaines Isles (Lord of the Distant Isles) appears for the first time in Arthurian literature in the early-thirteenth-century prose Lancelot
Lancelot
Sir Lancelot du Lac is one of the Knights of the Round Table in the Arthurian legend. He is the most trusted of King Arthur's knights and plays a part in many of Arthur's victories...
, the central work in the series of anonymous French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
prose romances collectively called the Lancelot-Grail
Lancelot-Grail
The Lancelot–Grail, also known as the Prose Lancelot, the Vulgate Cycle, or the Pseudo-Map Cycle, is a major source of Arthurian legend written in French. It is a series of five prose volumes that tell the story of the quest for the Holy Grail and the romance of Lancelot and Guinevere...
or Arthurian Vulgate Cycle. An ambitious, towering figure of a man, he emerges from obscurity to challenge King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
for possession of his entire realm. Though unknown to Arthur and his court, Galehaut has already acquired considerable power, loyal followers, and a reputation for nobility of character. In the ensuing military engagements it is clear that Galehaut’s forces are more than capable of defeating Arthur’s. One thing alone prevents the challenger from succeeding: he is so awed by the battlefield performance of the King’s most ardent defender, that for his sake he renounces certain victory and surrenders to Arthur. Lancelot gratefully accepted Galehaut’s companionship. What follows is a tale of friendship and self-denial, in which Galehaut figures as a major—indeed, as the pivotal — character: he becomes the doomed person in the story. For Lancelot, just as he has surrendered to King Arthur, he will give way before Guenevere, yielding the young Lancelot to her in an especially memorable scene. Lancelot forever has this profound attachment to Galehaut.
Of all the personages in the story, Galehaut is the only one whose inner life the text explores at length and in depth, the only character whose trajectory is that of a classic tragic hero. If a large part of the Prose Lancelot has long been known as the “Book of Galehaut,” it is because its bounds are defined more clearly by his action and evolution than by anything else.
Galehaut gives depth and complexity to the work's grappling with the meaning and expression of love, with its obligations and its consequences. He is unquestionably the richest creation in the narrative's immense cast of characters. Long after his death, brought about by longing, Galehaut is recalled by everyone as an exemplar of greatness. Lancelot, at the end of his own life, will be buried next to Galehaut in the magnificent tomb that the younger man had built to consecrate and eternalize their companionship.
Since the early thirteenth century, there have been numerous retellings, in various languages, of the life and loves and chivalric career of Lancelot. The story of his adulterous liaison with Guenevere has always been part of every significant account of King Arthur. The second, overlapping love story, however, the one related in the Prose Lancelot, in which Galehaut sacrifices his power, his happiness, and ultimately his life for the sake of the younger man, has been quite forgotten. The character himself reappears in a number of Arthurian tales, in several different languages, but without the same significance.
Lancelot is the book that Paolo and Francesca have been reading in the fifth canto of Dante
DANTE
Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various national research and education networks in Europe and surrounding regions...
's Inferno when they yield to their love. Dante mentions Galehaut in passing as the intermediary between Lancelot and the Queen; and Boccaccio, moved by the great lord's generosity, uses his name as the subtitle of his Decameron ("Il Principe Galeotto").
In Spanish, galeoto is still an archaic word for a pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
. But in later imaginings of the Arthurian myth itself, Galehaut, for all his prominence in the original narrative, was rapidly marginalized and even eclipsed. The greatest retelling in English, the fifteenth-century work of Thomas Malory
Thomas Malory
Sir Thomas Malory was an English writer, the author or compiler of Le Morte d'Arthur. The antiquary John Leland as well as John Bale believed him to be Welsh, but most modern scholars, beginning with G. L...
, reduced the character to one of no importance, leaving Guenevere without a rival for Lancelot's affections; and subsequent novels, plays, poems—now films as well—have accepted that simplification of the tale. Indeed, so obscure has Galehaut become that modern readers sometimes mistake the name for a mere variant of Galahad
Galahad
Sir Galahad |Round Table]] and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend. He is the illegitimate son of Lancelot and Elaine of Corbenic, and is renowned for his gallantry and purity. Emerging quite late in the medieval Arthurian tradition, he is perhaps the knightly...
. Galahad is the “pure,” the “chosen” knight who achieves the quest for the Holy Grail in a part of the Arthurian legend quite distinct from the story in which Galehaut appears. There is no connection between the two figures.
Further reading
- For an English translation of the “Book of Galehaut” within the Prose Lancelot, see vol. 2 of Norris J. LacyNorris J. LacyNorris J. Lacy is an American scholar focusing on French medieval literature. He is the Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of French and Medieval Studies at the Pennsylvania State University. He is a leading expert on the Arthurian legend and has written and edited numerous books, papers, and articles...
et al., Lancelot-Grail: The Old French Arthurian Vulgate and Post-Vulgate in Translation, 5 vols. (New York-London: Garland [now Routledge], 1993–1996).
- For the evolution of the personage of Galehaut in works subsequent to the Prose Lancelot, see “Translation and Eclipse: The Case of Galehaut” in The Medieval Translator 8, ed. R. Voaden et al. (Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2003): 245-255.
- For a modern retelling of the “Book of Galehaut,” see Patricia Terry and Samuel N. Rosenberg, Lancelot and the Lord of the Distant Isles, or “The Book of Galehaut” Retold, with wood engravings by Judith Jaidinger (Boston: David R. Godine, Publisher, 2006 [2007]).