Red Knight ( cy, Marchog Coch, kw, Marghek Rudh, br, Marc'heg Ruz) is a title borne by several characters in Arthurian legend.

In legends

Tales of Perceval

The Red Knight prominently appears in the tales of the hero Perceval ( Percival) as his early enemy. * In

Chrétien de Troyes Chrétien de Troyes (Modern ; fro, Crestien de Troies ; 1160–1191) was a French poet and trouvère known for his writing on Arthurian subjects, and for first writing of Lancelot, Percival and the Holy Grail. Chrétien's works, including ''E ...

' ''

Perceval, the Story of the Grail , original_title_lang = fro , translator = , written = between 1182 and 1190 , country = , language = Old French , subject = Arthurian legend , genre = Chivalric romance , for ...

'', the Red Knight of the Forest of Quinqeroi steals a cup from

King Arthur King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...

. He is killed by Perceval, who wears his armour and comes to be known as the Red Knight himself. * In Wolfram von Eschenbach's '' Parzival'', a retelling of Chrétien's story, the Red Knight is identified as Sir Ither, the Red Knight of Kukumerlant, a cousin to both Arthur and Perceval. He too is killed by Perceval, who then puts on his armour. * In possibly

Robert de Boron Robert de Boron (also spelled in the manuscripts "Roberz", "Borron", "Bouron", "Beron") was a French poet of the late 12th and early 13th centuries, notable as the reputed author of the poems and ''Merlin''. Although little is known of him apart f ...

's Ditot ''Perceval'', Perceval kills the Red Knight in his youth, and later slays also the Red Knight's vengeful brother named Cahot the Red. * In ''

Sir Perceval of Galles ''Sir Perceval of Galles'' is a Middle English Arthurian verse romance whose protagonist, Sir Perceval (Percival), first appeared in medieval literature in Chrétien de Troyes' final poem, the 12th-century Old French '' Conte del Graal'', well ov ...

'', Perceval kills the Red Knight, thus avenging his own father, and takes his armour. Wearing the armour, Perceval later finds the Red Knight's witch mother, deceives her into believing him to be her son, and burns her.

Vulgate Cycle

* Galahad is called by this name in the Vulgate ''Queste''. * In the Vulgate ''Suite de Merlin'', two enemies of Arthur's are the lords of the castle Estremores, Roalais and Sir Belias of Estremores, who both called the Red Knights of Estremores. * In the ''Livre d'Artus'', the Red Knight is a heathen prince named Oriols (Oriolz), son of Saxon king Aminaduc (a nephew of

Hengist Hengist and Horsa are Germanic brothers said to have led the Angles, Saxons and Jutes in their invasion of Britain in the 5th century. Tradition lists Hengist as the first of the Jutish kings of Kent. Most modern scholarly consensus now rega ...

) and the unnamed Queen of Denmark (Danemarche). He dwells with his mother and others (including a trio of cannibal giants) in the cursed castle (later known as the

Castle of Maidens The Land of Maidens (or the Land of Women, the Island of Women, the Isle of Ladies, among other forms and names) is a motif in Irish mythology and medieval literature, especially in the chivalric romance genre. The latter often also features a c ...

) where they work to conquer Logres, until they are overthrown by Gawain and

Sagramore Sir Sagramore (also known as Sagremor and many other variations) is a Knight of the Round Table in the Arthurian legend. He appears in standalone and cyclical chivalric romances and other works, including some where he is the titular protagonist. ...

and flee. He also appears in the Vulgate ''Merlin'' (and in its English adaptation '' Of Arthour and of Merlin'') under variants of this name (Oriel, Oriens, Oriol, Oriolt, etc.), but not as the Red Knight. It is possible that he is related to the legend of Ogier the Dane.

''Le Morte d'Arthur''

Two different Red Knights appear in the tale of

Gareth Sir Gareth (; Old French: ''Guerehet'', ''Guerrehet'') is a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend. He is the youngest son of King Lot and Queen Morgause, King Arthur's half-sister, thus making him Arthur's nephew, as well as brother ...

in Thomas Malory's ''

Le Morte d'Arthur ' (originally written as '; inaccurate Middle French for "The Death of Arthur") is a 15th-century Middle English prose reworking by Sir Thomas Malory of tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Knights of the Rou ...

''. * The first of them is named Sir Perimones and is also known as "The

Puce Puce is a dark red or purple brown color, a brownish purple or a "dark reddish brown." Etymology The colour is said to be the color of bloodstains on linen or bedsheets, even after being laundered, from flea droppings, or after a flea has been ...

Knight", who, like his three brothers the Black Knight, the "Green Knight" (distinct from the character in '' Sir Gawain and the Green Knight''), and Sir Persant of Inde "The Blue Knight", is bested by the young Gareth. * After these initial trials Gareth must face the Red Knight of the Red Launds, whose real identity is Sir Ironside. Ironside has the strength of seven men and has trapped the princess of Lyonesse in a tower from which Gareth must save her. Though he had demonstrated a cruel and sadistic nature, Ironside is brought to Arthur's court and even made a Knight of the

Round Table The Round Table ( cy, y Ford Gron; kw, an Moos Krenn; br, an Daol Grenn; la, Mensa Rotunda) is King Arthur's famed table in the Arthurian legend, around which he and his knights congregate. As its name suggests, it has no head, implying that e ...

Other red knights

* In Chrétien's story '' Yvain, the Knight of the Lion'', Esclados the Red ( Old French: ''li Ros'') is the guardian of an otherworldly fountain in the enchanted forest of Brocéliande. He appears as spouse of the lady Laudine (usually known as "the Lady of the Fountain") prior to Sir Yvain. He was slain by Yvain for attacking the latter's cousin, Sir Calogrenant, in defence of the magic fountain (or well, or

spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a ...

). * Gawain is known as the Red Knight for a brief time in '' Perlesvaus''. In the same story, Percival also kills a pet lion of the Red Knight of the Deep Forest. * In the Irish folklore tale'' Eachtra an Amadán Mor'', the Red Knight is one of the knights defeated by Arthur's nephew known as the Great Fool.

In popular culture

*In the 1991 film '' The Fisher King'', the Red Knight is a central character. He symbolises the fear, loss, and grief experienced by Parry, a mentally ill homeless man portrayed by Robin Williams. *In the 1998 animated film ''

Quest for Camelot ''Quest for Camelot'' (released internationally as ''The Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot'') is a 1998 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation and directed by Frederik Du Chau and very loosely based on the ...

'', The Red Knight is given the name Sir Ruber (voiced by Gary Oldman), and is portrayed as a power-hungry

kleptomaniac Kleptomania is the inability to resist the urge to steal items, usually for reasons other than personal use or financial gain. First described in 1816, kleptomania is classified in psychiatry Psychiatry is the specialty (medicine), medical ...

attempting to claim Excalibur for himself. *An episode of ''

My Knight and Me ''My Knight and Me'' is a computer-animated fantasy television series created by Joeri Christiaen. The series is a co-production between TeamTO and Thuristar, in co-production with Canal+ Family and Télétoon+, with the participation of Super ...

'' features the Knight of Red or the Red Knight for short, who is depicted as a stereotypical gym teacher. *In the 2019 young adult novel '' RWBY: After the Fall'', the main antagonist, Carmine Esclados, is based on the Red Knight.

References

{{Arthurian Legend Arthurian characters Fictional knights