According to legend, the Knights of the Round Table they were the chosen warriors of King Arthur , called to Camelot to be part of his court. They were entrusted with the dangerous mission of seeking the Holy Grail . Although in some versions of the story there are even 150 knights, traditionally only 12 diners are called to sit next to King Arthur. In reality, according to the legend, a thirteenth place had also been prepared, but it was left empty:the " Dangerous Seat ", Intended for the pure of heart who would have found the relic (this position seems to follow that of Judas in the Last Supper ). Parsifal seems to have earned this honor, but in other versions it would have been Galahad .
Galvano Grandson of King Arthur , he fought the Green Knight , who obstructed the passage to the paladins of the Round Table as a sign of defiance, and beheaded him. He represents the courage and gallantry of chivalry and it was said that his strength came from the rays of the sun.
The Knights of the Round Table they were knights of great rank, they were part of the court of King Arthur; the number of these knights also varies a lot, depending on the stories.
The number can vary from 12 to over 150. The main ones were:
Sir Aglovale, son of King Pellinore of Listinoise
Sir Agravaine, son of King Lot of the Lothian
Sir Alexanderkoch
Sir Bedivere (Bedwyr)
Sir Bors, king of Gannes (Gaul)
Sir Breunor
Sir Cador
Sir Caradoc, “Caradoc Vreichvras”
Sir Colgrevance
Sir Constantine, became king after Arthur's death
Sir Daniel
Sir Dinadan
Sir Hector, Arthur's adoptive father
Sir Ettore de Maris, son of King Ban of Benwick
Sir Elyan the White, son of Sir Bors
Sir Erec , (see also Geraint)
And many others.
Their particular behavioral code, described by Sir Thomas Malory in The Death of Arthur, was the following:
- Never insult or commit murder;
- Avoid deception;
- Avoid cruelty and give mercy to those who ask for it;
- Always help ladies and widows;
- Never abuse ladies and widows;
- Never engage in battle for the wrong reasons such as love and desire for material possessions.