Sir Percival de Gales Knight of the Round Table Copyright (c) 1996 -- Peter Corless November 20,1996 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Many versions of the Percival story exist, and the versions differ greatly from each other. In this case, Malory is followed as closely as possible except for the gaps he leaves in his narrative. In those cases, highly-varying sources such as Cretien de Troyes, Wolfram von Eschenbach and even Howard Pyle provide clues and bridges to fill in the missing pieces of a consistent and complete narrative. This is especially true in the case of Percival's childhood, since Malory disincludes the entire story of Percival's life until his advent at court and induction to the Round Table. Percival de Gales was the fourth son of King Pellinore, and his last son by the Queen of the Isles. When Pellinore was murdered by the Orkney clan in 524 AD, his wife immediately fled to a remote part of Wales with her new-born son Percival and his sister Amide. Indeed, it was not long before Pellinore's kindgom was beset by other perils. Aglovale, Lamorak, Dornar, and Pellinore's illegitimate son Tor were all noble knights already in Arthur's service, but none had the immedate wherewithal to claim thair father's kingdom. Arthur's call to arms against the French and Roman empires in 525 put an end to any hope they had to recover it. When Pellinore's sons and all of the other knights of Arthur's realms returned to Briton at the end of the year 527 AD, it was too late -- their father's lands were already distributed amongst his rivals, with King Brian of the Isles claiming the bulk, including Pellinore's title and rank (King of the Isles). The former Queen of the Isles kept herself and her two remaining children hidden. She knew well of the long memory, jealousy and hatred of the Orkney clan (foremost among many other enemies), and resolved to not let her two last children fall prey to the feud. Her fears for her children were well grounded, for some years into her seclusion and unknown to her, Dornar was slain by the Orkney brothers. She resolved for Percival to never learn the ways of knighthood, so Percival grew up with none of the schooling in warfare that his brothers enjoyed. He also never knew his magnificent father who, as everyone knows, was the only knight to ever sit in the Siege Perilous at King Arthur's Round Table until Galahad arrived at Camelot in 554 AD. Instead, the former Queen of the Isles spent many hours schooling both her children in the matters and virtues of Christianity. Rather than growing up in a regal court, they only knew a rural, ascetic lifestyle. Their only contact with the outside world was a deaf-mute man, who brought clothes and provisions. Percival grew up strong and fine, but the only "weapon" he ever learned was his short hunting javelin. (Though it was said that he was so quick and accurate with it he could spear a small bird on the wing.) Many years passed. One day, Percival walked through the woods and spied a knight riding through a glade. He had never seen such a magnifcent sight! But when he asked his mother what it was, she told him it had been "an angel." The next day, he spied five more "angels" and became so bold as to venture to speak with them. The lead "angel's" name was Ywaine, who asked him if he had seen a knight he was pursuing. What was a knight? Ywaine explained it was someone dressed as he was. Percival pointed Ywaine in the direction the other knight had ridden, then asked Ywaine all sorts of questions. What did knights do? What were the names all of the magnificent items Ywaine possessed (such his sword, his saddle, and his shield)? Ywaine took a good deal of time to explain all of his knightly trappings then thanked the young lad and continued on his way. Percival returned to his mother, brimming with the news of what he had learned, but it only caused his mother to weep. He also told her he had a wild idea of becoming a knight himself. Rather than share her son's joy, Percival's mother was heartbroken. All of her attempts to prevent this very day had come to naught. Seeing that she could not stop her headstrong and curious son, she did what she could to prepare her son for his new life. First, she brought Percival to the stable, and bequeathed the old pack-horse to him, for she had no other beast to her name. She then fashioned a saddle of sorts from bits of clothes and hay. Around his neck, she hung a sack full of bread and cheese. For a lance, he carried his hunting javelin. Next, she gave Percival a ring which would prove his identity as son of King Pellinore. Lastly, she gave Percival advice on how to behave as a good and holy knight. Though his mother wept at his departure, Percival was totally joyful, and promised to return home when he could. Thusly ill-equipped and under-schooled to his new way of life, Percival rode out into the world to become one of the best knights of the world. Along his way, he wove himself a "suit of armor" made of willow twigs, and thought himself as grandly attired as any knight he had ever seen -- which as has been pointed out, were very few! He rode down the highways and through towns listening to people's mocking laughter, and wondered why his mother never told him the world was peopled with such jolly folk. He returned their laughter with an earnest joy, and caused everyone he met to wonder whether he was mad or just foolish. There are stories that Percival managed to embarrass himself with both maidens and men repeatedly, learning the hard way about the real world before arriving at court. Also how he fought his first "joust" by throwing his hunting spear right into the eye of a mocking opponent, killing him. Percival was trying unsuccessfully to remove the armor from his slain opponent when he was met by his brother Sir Aglovale. What can be said for certain is Aglovale steered Percival from greater follies by teaching him about true knighthood as his own squire. It was shortly after the close of the Friendship Tournament, in 545 AD when Percival arrived at Camelot, accompanied by Aglovale. Aglovale presented his brother to Arthur, and asked that Arthur dub him a knight. Arthur was glad to do so, but had Percivale seated amongst the lesser knights at the evening banquet. Percival was overjoyed at being considered worthy of dubbing by Arthur's hand, and would have remained at this place, when suddenly a maiden who had been mute for as long as anyone could remember, took his hand and asked him to follow her. With the amazed court watching, she led him to the Round Table. She brought Percival to the seat just to the right of the Siege Perilous, and told him that seat was reserved for him alone. She then excused herself, went directly to see a priest, confessed her soul, and died. Arthur and his court, always respectful of such portents, revised their initial impressions of this new knight. Over the next years, Percival acquires quite a reputation as a knight. He becomes known as a finder and rescuer of his fellow knights. He rescues Sir Persides in 548, Tristram from King Mark in 551, and also locates Lancelot at Joyous Isle during the same year. During his battle with "le Chevalier Mal Fet" (as Lancelot called himself during these years of self-imposed exile from Camelot), Percival proves his prowess by battling Lancelot to a standstill for over two hours! During these years, Percival also first encounters the Grail. There are some who say he even found the Grail Castle and almost achieved the Grail Quest years before it was officially declared by Arthur. But no one other than Percival and the keepers of the Grail know the true story. However, during these years Percival's peity was responsible for at least one unquestionable miracle. Percival and Ector had encountered each other and fought for half a day. They had almost slain one other when they finally realized each other's identity. It was then that Percival raised his voice in prayer, and both were healed by the power of the Grail. When the Grail Quest was declared by Arthur, many expected Percival to be the one who would achieve it, but were understandably impressed when Galahad both drew the sword meant for the acheiver of the Grail, and sat in the Siege Perillous. Yet though he was not to be the one to fulfill the Grail Quest personally, he would accompany Galahad to Sarras and witness his acheivement. Percival accompanied Galahad, along with Sir Bors, and met his own sister, Amide, during the journey. Amide sacrificed herself for the sake of a lady, to cure her of leprosy. Percival thereafter followed his sister's requests to go with Galahad and Bors to the city of Sarras. There, after suffering imprisonment, but sustained by the power of the Grail, Galahad was made King of Sarras. After beholding the miracle and mystery of the Holy Grail, Percival retired to the life of a simple monk. Bors stayed with him during this period, but maintained his secular lifestyle, keeping up his arms and armor. But for Percival, there was no returning to the way of the warrior. Just fourteen months after the passing of Galahad, Percival de Gales also left this life and entered into the next. Bors buried him beside the bodies of his sister, and Sir Galahad, and returned to Logres to tell others of the end of the Quest for the Holy Grail. [SIDEBAR] Percival de Gales' life as described here follows Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte D'Arthur". Yet many other versions of his life and quest for the Holy Grail exist. Each of these alternates places Percival as the achiever of the Grail, instead of Galahad, which would make for a very different story indeed. Though most "Pendragon" campaigns will follow the "canonical" treatment of Malory, many of the alternate Grail Quests featuring Percival make for enticing reading and very different campaigns indeed. Galahad does not occur in any of these adventures, and instead of Lancelot, Gawaine is used as the exemplar of the best knight in the world, who would have achieved the Grail except for his impurity of spirit. * "Perceval" by Cretien de Troyes [tbd] * "Parzival" by Wolfram von Eschenbach Wolfram's version is a continuation and expansion of Cretien's story. He includes a "prequel" story of the life of Parzival's father, Gahmuret. He has a different story than Pellinore, since Gahmuret goes on crusade to the Holy Land and also begets a half-brother of Parzival's: Feirefiz. In the end, the half-brothers are united shortly before Parzival achieves the Grail. Interestingly, Parzival has a wife and lives "happily-ever-after" as the Grail King. - Prequel: Gahmuret champions Queen Zazamanc of Azagouc. They beget Fierfiz. - Prequel: Gahmuret marries Queen Herzeloyde of Wales. Begets Parzival. Dies. - Parzival falls in love and marries Condwiramurs; includes "three drops of blood against the snow" event with Sir Kay and Gawaine. - Parzival and Feirefiz meet before Grail Castle; Feirefiz converts, sees Grail, and falls in love with Grail Maiden, Repanse. - Sequel: Parzival's son, Lohengrin, marries a woman but forbids her from asking his name; she does, and Lohengrin returns to the Grail Castle. - Sequel: Feirefiz, who married the Grail Maiden Repanse, has a son Prester John, who becomes King of India. * "Peredur" anonymous Welsh tale The Welsh version of the Percival tale includes a number of unique adventures, such as fighting monsters and a fourteen year love affair with the Empress of Constantinople! It also lacks one thing: A Holy Grail. - Includes "drops of blood against the snow" reverie with Kay and Gawaine - Beheads a number of monsters, including a serpent and a unicorn - Lover to the Empress of Constantinople for 14 years - Fights and kills the Witches of Gloucester (Ladies of the Lake?), then suddenly ends. * "Perlesvaus" anonymous French tale In this wild variant, Percival and the Grail Quest are almost backdrops to one of the most dynamic version of the story. The summary below cannot do justice to the intricate and very different plot. Also note how Sir Kay betrays Arthur. In the story, Kay reasons with himself that he has been with Arthur his whole life, but is always overlooked and taken for granted by his liege and foster-brother. - Sir Kay betrays Arthur, kills Arthur's son Sir Loholt; becomes outlaw - Brian of the Isles lays waste to Arthur's kingdom - Queen Guenever dies unexpectedly - Arthur, shocked by Guenever's death, takes up the Grail Quest himself! - Brian of the Isles is made to submit to Arthur, but connives Arthur into believing Lancelot is trying to make himself High King; Lancelot flees for his life. - Percival achieves the Grail, and the story suddenly ends unresolved! [END SIDEBAR] The Life of Sir Percival de Gales --------------------------------- 524 - Pellinore murdered and Meliodas killed by Gawaine; just-born Percival taken into hiding 545 - Arrives at Camelot; a maid leads him to his Siege at the Round Table, then dies ??? - Mentioned to be of reknown by Sir Persides in Tale of Sir Gareth Beaumains (VII, 13, pg 255) ??? - Fights on King Arthur's side at the tournament at Castle Perilous beside the Isle of Avilion (Avalon) in the Tale of Sir Gareth Beaumains; fights Sir Carados of the Tower (VII, 27, pg 283-285) 547-551 - Searches the length and breadth of Briton for Sir Lancelot; finally finds him at the Tournament at Joyous Isle 547 - With his brother Sir Aglovale, visits his mother, the Queen of the Isles; they revenge the squire killed by Sir Goodewin 548 - Leaves Sir Aglovale in Cardigan; frees Sir Persides from imprisoment at the hands of a scorned lady by cutting his chains with a single sword blow 549 - Percival and Sir Ector fight for half a day; both healed miraculously by the Holy Grail after Percival prays to Jesus 551 - Discovers "Le Chevalier Mal Fet" is none other than Lancelot after fighting him to a standstill for over two hours; returns to Camelot with Lancelot and Ector 551 - Freed Sir Tristram from King Mark's imprisonment; chastizes King Mark 552 - Tricked by Sir Breunis Saunce Pite into attacking Bleoberis; learns his brother Lamorak was slain by the Orkney clan 553 - Was notably absent from the Lonazep Tournament 554 - The Grail Quest begins; Percival is unable to draw the sword meant for Galahad; was one of only two knights (the other being Lancelot) not unhorsed by Galahad at his trial of combat 555 - Finally unhorsed (along with Lancelot) by Galahad during an encounter on the Grail Quest; took the hospitality of an old recluse woman of great insight: his aunt, the Queen of the Wastelands 557 - End of the Grail Quest Clan - de Gales Father - King Pellinore of the Isles Mother - Queen of the Isles Brothers - Aglovale, Melodiam, Lamorak, Dornar Sisters - Eleine (died before he was born), Amide Half-Brother - Tor Uncle - King Pellam of Listenesse Aunt - Queen of the Wastelands