Lynette and Lyonesse
Encyclopedia
In the Arthurian Legend, Lynette (also referred to as Linnet, Linette, Linet, Lynet, or Lyonet) is a woman who travels to King Arthur
's court to seek help for her beautiful sister Lyonesse (also Lionese, Linesse, Lyoness, Lionesse, or Lyonorr), whose lands are under siege by the Red Knight
of the Red Lands.
Since Lynette refuses to reveal her name for reasons which are not explained, she ends up with a kitchen servant instead of a champion (he is called Beaumains
, but is really Gareth of Orkney in disguise). Furious, Lynette leaves Arthur's court. She does not wish to be accompanied by Beaumains, and continually insults him and tries to send him away. Beaumains, however, follows her and proves himself in combat with various recreant knights. As she observes his skill in battle, Lynette's attitude changes from scorn to respect. Along the way, Gareth is knighted by Sir Lancelot
. They arrive at Lynette's castle, where Lyonesse has been waiting for her champion. Beaumains defeats the Red Knight, gets wounded, is nursed back to health by Lynette, falls in love with Lyonesse, who consents to marry him only after she makes sure that he is of noble birth. The three travel back to Arthur's court, Lynette falls in love with Sir Gaheris
, Gareth's older brother, and the two couples are married in a double ceremony.
In Alfred Tennyson's Gareth and Lynette, however, Tennyson implies that in his story it is Lynette that Gareth marries.
In most stories, Lynette is a minor character. However, in Gerald Morris
' The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf, Lynet is the main character, and Lyonesse, in a new twist, is cruel and stupid. Lynette is also the main character of Vera Chapman
's The King's Damosel
.
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...
's court to seek help for her beautiful sister Lyonesse (also Lionese, Linesse, Lyoness, Lionesse, or Lyonorr), whose lands are under siege by the Red Knight
Red Knight
Red Knight is a title borne by several characters in Arthurian legend. The first is likely the Red Knight of the Forest of Quinqeroi in Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail; he steals a cup from King Arthur and is killed by the protagonist Perceval, who wears his armor and comes to...
of the Red Lands.
Since Lynette refuses to reveal her name for reasons which are not explained, she ends up with a kitchen servant instead of a champion (he is called Beaumains
Gareth
Sir Gareth was a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian Legend. He was the youngest son of Lot and of Morgause, King Arthur's half-sister, thus making him Arthur's nephew, as well as brother to Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris, and half brother of Mordred...
, but is really Gareth of Orkney in disguise). Furious, Lynette leaves Arthur's court. She does not wish to be accompanied by Beaumains, and continually insults him and tries to send him away. Beaumains, however, follows her and proves himself in combat with various recreant knights. As she observes his skill in battle, Lynette's attitude changes from scorn to respect. Along the way, Gareth is knighted by Sir 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...
. They arrive at Lynette's castle, where Lyonesse has been waiting for her champion. Beaumains defeats the Red Knight, gets wounded, is nursed back to health by Lynette, falls in love with Lyonesse, who consents to marry him only after she makes sure that he is of noble birth. The three travel back to Arthur's court, Lynette falls in love with Sir Gaheris
Gaheris
Gaheris is a figure of Arthurian legend, a knight of the Round Table, and a son of Morgause and King Lot of Orkney and Lothian. His brothers are Gawain, Agravaine, Gareth and Mordred, a half-brother. His mother is a daughter of Gorlois and Igraine, and a sister of Elaine and Morgan le Fay...
, Gareth's older brother, and the two couples are married in a double ceremony.
In Alfred Tennyson's Gareth and Lynette, however, Tennyson implies that in his story it is Lynette that Gareth marries.
In most stories, Lynette is a minor character. However, in Gerald Morris
Gerald Morris
Gerald Morris is an American author. Morris is known for his series of stories for preteen and teen readers based in the Middle Ages during the time of King Arthur...
' The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf, Lynet is the main character, and Lyonesse, in a new twist, is cruel and stupid. Lynette is also the main character of Vera Chapman
Vera Chapman
Vera Chapman , also known as Vera Ivy May Fogerty, and within the Tolkien Society as Belladonna Took, was an author and founder of the first Tolkien Society, and also wrote a number of pseudo-historical and Arthurian books.-Life:...
's The King's Damosel
The King's Damosel
The King's Damosel is a fantasy novel based on Arthurian legend by Vera Chapman first published in 1976. It served as the inspiration for the Warner Bros. film Quest for Camelot...
.