Medieval legends are a huge layer of human culture. They had a strong influence on the consciousness of people of those times and on the development of literature.
A knight is the main character of traditions, the image of a hero. It was the knights who endowed nobility, honor, generosity. A great many legends were created, and each has its own hero. The article tells the stories of the most famous knights.
10. Lohengrin - Knight of the Swan
Once Princess Elsa, after the death of her father, they wanted to pass off as the cruel knight Telramund. Elsa's father never agreed to this marriage, but the knight claimed the opposite.
Elsa's honor was to be defended in a duel, but no one wanted to mess with Telramund. The noble knight of the Swan came to her aid.
Later she and Elsa got married, but on condition that she would never figure out her husband's real name. His wife's curiosity won, and the couple had to disperse.
The knight revealed the secret - his name was Lohengrin. He was a knight of the Holy Grail, who arrived in a boat pulled by swans to save a virgin who was in trouble. Virgo could not be asked about his origin. Lohengrin had to leave, and Elsa could not stand the separation from her husband and died.
9. Tristan
Character of the popular Celtic legend of the sublimity of love. The name of the knight in translation means "sad."
Tristan went on a trip for the girl Isolda, whom his king Mark wanted to marry. The knight saved her from the dragon.
Young people fell in love with each other, but Isolde had to marry King Mark. The detractors of the knight told Mark about the relationship of Tristan with his wife. The ruler was angry, but soon forgave them.
He sent Tristan to seek his happiness in other countries. He died during a duel. Isolda came to her lover and died near grief. King Mark ordered the young to be buried together on the ocean.
8. Siegfried
This hero had a huge influence on the development of German romanticism. Siegfried, or Sigurd, is famous for having killed a dragon. According to one version, the knight smeared his blood and gained invulnerability. Further, the story resembles the ancient Greek myth of Achilles.
Siegfried has only one weak spot left - a small area on his back. Once he helped the king match up with the Irish queen. To do this, he secretly participated in a knightly tournament instead of the ruler. When the deception was revealed, the queen forced her vassal to avenge Sigurda. During the hunt, a servant pierced him with a spear into the only vulnerable spot on his back.
7. Gawain
One of the knights of the Round Table and the most popular characters from the cycle about King Arthur. In addition, his nephew and possible heir to the throne. The name comes from the word hawk.
Gawain was a famous adventurer and a favorite of women. His name is found in numerous medieval novels. In the 13th century, he became an object to follow and the embodiment of the “wandering knight”.
In all legends, the character is noble and brave. Unlike many other heroes, Gawain is already an adult with a mature character. A knight seeks adventure not out of lofty goals, but out of a love of danger.
6. Galahad
The illegally born son of Lancelot, he also became a knight of the Round Table.
Galahad was one of the seekers of the Holy Grail. The knight was so pure and blameless that, unlike his comrades, he could contemplate the holy cup for a long time.
Once he found a sword thrust into a stone. The inscription on the stone said that only the best of the knights could take out a weapon.
The hero did it easily. After what happened, King Arthur declared Galahad the greatest knight that ever existed.
5. Percival (Partzifal)
The knight is also included in the series of works about the knights of the Round Table. He participated in the search for the Holy Grail, during which he was able to remove the old curse, but his purity was not enough to see the cup for longer than a moment.
4. Lancelot the Lake
All his life, Lancelot loved Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur, and faithfully served her. According to one version, Gwen cheated on her husband with a knight. According to others, there was no betrayal. Nevertheless, the search for the Holy Grail turned out to be meaningless for Lancelot, for some reason he was sinful and could not even see the cup.
It is also interesting that the knight conceived the son of Galahad from a woman who took the form of Guinevere.
Most versions are inclined to believe that the hero still had a connection with the queen. This explains the reasons for the turmoil in Camelot and the pursuit of Arthur.
3. King Arthur
Historians admit the existence of Arthur’s prototype in real life. King Arthur is the center of the British epic, legends about him for several centuries have not lost their fame.
According to legend, Arthur is the son of King Uther Pendragon. The wizard Merlin endowed the boy with courage and strength. After Uther's death, the country plunged into chaos, and only Arthur reunited the kingdom.
During the turmoil due to the betrayal of Guinevere with the knight Lancelot, Arthur went after him in pursuit. The king left the viceroy of his nephew, Mordred. He turned out to be a traitor; in Britain, unrest began again. The real ruler returned and killed him, but he also died. Sad ladies took the dying Arthur by boat to the island of Avalon. According to legend, Arthur will return when Britain needs salvation.
2. Sid Campeador
This is a historical figure, a military man, a politician and a hero of Spanish traditions. "Campeador" is translated as a genius of military affairs or a winner. Sid is considered a hero; he fought against tyrants regardless of their religion.
Sid first served King Sancho II, then his brother, Alfonso. Campeador until the last days defended his state from conquest. When Sid died in battle, his wife put on armor and mounted him on a horse so that the morale of the army did not fall at the sight of the deceased governor.
1. Roland
The best hero of Charlemagne is mentioned in historical documents only once. During the next battle, Roland, dying, blew his horn. The king heard this, returned to the opponents and avenged them for the death of the best fighter.
Since the 11th century, Roland is considered a symbol of the ideal warrior. Glory came to him after writing the French heroic scripture "Song of Roland." This song was very popular not only in France, but throughout Europe. It praises the bravery of a knight, talks about his exploits.