EBK: The Knights of the Round Table

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KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE
Who were they?

The Round Table - first mentioned by Wace (1155) in his "Roman de Brut" - was not only a physical table, but the highest Order of Chivalry at the Court of King Arthur. Its members were supposedly the cream of the British military who followed a strict code of honour and service. Sir Thomas Malory outlines this as:

To never do outrage nor murder

Always to flee treason

To by no means be cruel but to give mercy unto him who asks for mercy

To always do ladies, gentlewomen and widows succor

To never force ladies, gentlewomen or widows

Not to take up battles in wrongful quarrels for love or worldly goods

Giovanni Boccaccio in his "De Casibus Virorum Illustrium" further says that the twelve basic rules of the Knights of the Round Table were:

To never lay down arms
To seek after wonders
When called upon, to defend the rights of the weak with all one's strength
To injure no one
Not to attack one another
To fight for the safety of one's country
To give one's life for one's country
To seek nothing before honour
Never to break faith for any reason
To practice religion most diligently
To grant hospitality to anyone, each according to his ability
Whether in honour or disgrace, to make a report with the greatest fidelity to truth to those who keep the annals

Lesser Orders of Chivalry established by King Arthur apparently included the Queen's Knights, the Knights of the Watch, the Table of Errant Companions and the, unfortunately named, Table of Less-Valued Knights. Perhaps these additional orders led to the confusion which exists over the the number of knights admitted to the Round Table. This varies dramatically, depending one which literary source one examines:

13 in the "Didot-Perceval" (c.1225)
50 in Robert De Boron's "Merlin" (c.1195)
60 in Jean D'Ouremeuse's "Ly Myreur des Histors" (c.1350)
130 in the English ballad, "The Legend of King Arthur" (16th century)
140 in Hartmann Von Aue's "Erec" and "Iwein" (late 12th century)
150 in the Vulgate "Lancelot" (c.1220)
150 in Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte D'Arthur" (1470) where he names most of them
250 in the Vulgate "Merlin" (c.1225)
1,600 in Layamon's "Brut" (late 12th century)

The names of the 25 knights inscribed on the Winchester Round Table are given as:

Kyng Arthur	King Arthur
Sir Galahallt	Sir Galahad
Sir Launcelot Deulake	Sir Lancelot du Lac
Sir Gauen	Sir Gawain
Sir Percyvale	Sir Percivale
Sir Lyonell	Sir Lionel
Sir Trystram Delyens	Sir Tristram de Lyones
Sir Garethe	Sir Gareth
Sir Bedwere	Sir Bedivere
Sir Blubrys	Sir Bleoberis
Sir Lacotemale Tayle	La Cote Male Taile
Sir Lucane	Sir Lucan
Sir Plomyde	Sir Palomides
Sir Lamorak	Sir Lamorak
Sir Bors De Ganys	Sir Bors de Ganis
Sir Safer	Sir Safir
Sir Pelleus	Sir Pelleas
Sir Kay	Sir Kay
Sir Ectorde Marys	Sir Ector de Maris
Sir Dagonet	Sir Dagonet
Sir Degore	Sir Tegyr
Sir Brumear	Sir Brunor le Noir
Sir Lybyus Dysconyus	Le Bel Desconneu
Sir Alynore	Sir Alymere
Sir Mordrede	Sir Mordred

Long lists of Arthur's warriors may also be found in the Mabinogion tale of "Culhwch and Olwen" (pre 11th C.) and Chrétien de Troyes' tale of "Erec and Enid" (1160), but we are not told specifically that they were Knights of the Round Table. The Twenty-Four Knights at Arthur's Court listed in the "Pedwar Marchog ar Hugain Llys Arthur" (15th C.) may have been an order which pre-dated the Round Table.