[Arthurian] One of Arthur's main champions; in medieval English terms, the chief knight of the Round Table. He is frequently identified with the Welsh warrior Gwalchmei but is much more significant. Strangely, Gawain's strength increases until noon then wanes, hinting that he has origins in solar myth but has become fully human. His exploits were found on the Continent prior to Geoffrey of Monmouth. His father is Lot but there are uncertainties about his mother. Romancers finally settled on Morgause, Arthur's half-sister, making Mordred his brother or half brother. Undisputedly he has three more brothers- Gaheris, Agravain and Gareth. The Didot-Perceval gives him a sister, Elaine, as well. William of Malmesbury referred to him as early as 1125 as the nephew of Arthur. William also claimed that Gawain's tomb was found during the reign of William the Conqueror on the coast of Pembrokeshire. William says that Gawain fought against a brother of Hengist, the Saxon chieftain. Two accounts of his deat...
Read more...
