Rise of Sir Gawain

The Rise of Sir Gawain was an anonymous Latin romance written in the mid-13th century. The full Latin title is De ortu Waluuanii, nepotis Arturi – "Rise of Gawain, Nephew of Arthur". The story began with his birth and how he was raised in Italy without knowing his real name, until Gawain proved himself to his uncle in Britannia, King Arthur, as a knight of great prowess. Only then was his parentage and name revealed to the young hero.

The tale is quite common, where a young hero didn't know his own name until he won through exceptional deeds of arms. An early French romance titled Le Bel Inconnu (The Fair Unknown), written by Renaud de Beaujeu in 1185-1190, involved Gawain's own son (Guinglain) suffering from a similar identity crisis.

• Birth of Gawain

• Knight of the Surcoat

• Gawain, Nephew of King Arthur

Birth of Gawain

Uther Pendragon was ruling Britain at the time, fighting the Saxons. Uther was married to Igraine and he was the father of Arthur and a daughter named Anna.

One of his allies was a young king named Lot, from Orkney. When Anna saw Lot, she fell in love with him. No one knew of her affection for the young knight. Lot, however, received a wound from one of the battles against the Saxons.

One night, as Lot was recovering from his wound, Anna secretly entered his chamber, expressing her love for him. The two made love and from that union, she conceived a child.

Anna feared that she and her unborn child would be killed, if anyone found out she had become pregnant without being married to a man, so she hid her condition from everyone. When she gave birth to a son, Anna fearfully hid the baby. When the opportunity arose, she gave her son to a merchant, asking the loyal man to care for the baby. With the child, Anna left her royal gold signet ring and a letter that identified who the baby really was. She named her son Gawain (Waluuanius in this Latin tale). She also gave the merchant a chest filled with gold, which was to be given to Gawain when he was old enough. Anna stressed the importance to the merchant of keeping her son's identity and parentage from everyone, including Gawain himself.

(Please note that after this, most of the book didn't mention Gawain by name. He was only referred to as boy or Knight of the Surcoat through much of the tale.)

The merchant was loyal and would have done everything that the princess asked of him. However, one day the merchant went to get supplies from the city of Narbonne (a city in southern Gaul or France), but he left no one to guard the ship and the baby.

A local fisherman named Viamundus found the deserted ship. Viamundus found the small child in the crib, and the treasure in the cabin. Viamundus plundered the ship, taking all of the treasure, including the infant.

The merchant returned to his ship to find that the infant and the treasure he had been told to keep safe, were now gone. The merchant was distressed.

The fisherman brought the child and the treasure to his home. Viamundus gave the infant to his wife to nurse. In the cradle, the fisherman found the letter and the signet. When Viamundus read the letter, he discovered that the infant was a son of a royal princess from Britannia (Britain). Viamundus decided to respect the will of the letter, keeping the baby's identity a secret from everyone. The boy became known as the "Boy with No Name" (puer sine nomine). They raised Gawain as if he were their own son.

Seven years later, Viamundus thought that no one would be searching for his foster son, so he left Narbonne, taking his wife, foster son and the treasure with him to Rome. With the wealth, he pretended to have come from a noble Roman family, with him in the guise of a military leader from Gaul (France). Viamundus offered his services to the Roman emperor. Viamundus became a great friend of the emperor and the pope. As a favour to Viamundus, the emperor made the former fisherman's son, his page.

When Viamundus became seriously ill and decided to reveal his secret to the emperor. Viamundus gave him the letter and signet, and told the emperor Gawain's real name and parentage. The emperor promised Viamundus to train Viamundus's foster son as a knight, and when the time was ripe, he would send Gawain to his uncle, Arthur, who was now king of Britannia, with the letter and signet to identify Gawain.

Viamundus died and the emperor had him buried with the full honours of a nobleman. Gawain was twelve at the time of Viamundus' death. The emperor and Pope Sulpicius kept Viamundus' secret from Gawain. The emperor became the boy's foster father.

---

Before I continue with the story, it should be noted that in Geoffrey of Monmouth's account in Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1137), he wrote that Loth (Lot) sent his twelve-year-old son to serve in the household of Pope Sulpicius. This was during a time when Arthur helped his brother-in-law Lot to secure the kingship of Norway after King Sichelm's death (Lot's uncle). And it was Pope Sulpicius who knighted young Gawain.

In Geoffrey's Historia, there is no mention of Gawain being born illegitimately and sent secretly to Rome. Nor was there any indication that Gawain did not know his own name.

Knight of the Surcoat

Gawain served in the Roman imperial household, first as a page, then as a squire. Gawain distinguished himself in military training, and at the age of 15 he was dubbed as a knight. He received his arms on Equirria, a long festival dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war, between February 27 and March 14. As the most skillful new knight, young Gawain also received a golden circlet.

The Boy with No Name (Gawain) became known as the "Knight of the Surcoat" (Miles cum tunica armature), because he was the first to wear a crimson tunic over his armour.

At the time of his knighthood, there was news of a temporary truce between the Christians and Persia at Jerusalem. As a boon to his young charge (Gawain), the emperor agreed to send him to fight a duel with the Persian champion, so Gawain could avenge the honour and faith of Christianity.

So Gawain and a delegate departed from Rome to Jerusalem in 16 ships. However, a fierce storm disrupted their journey, and they had to land on an island ruled by Milocrates, the Pirate King. The island was known as the Barbarous Isle.

Milocrates captured the emperor's niece as a hostage, and forced her to become his consort.

While Gawain and a few companions went into the forest to forage for food, they were confronted by Milocrates' 20 hostile knights. Gawain killed 13 knights in the fighting. When Milocrates heard the news of intruders on his island, Milocrates organised his forces to drive off or kill the invaders. While at the camp, the centurion sent his kin, Odabel, with Gawain to scout the land for more enemies. Around this time, Gawain killed a wild boar with his spear and his sword.

The centurion also captured Milocrates' spies. The centurion only agreed to free the spies if they falsified their report to Milocrates, about the number of people who had landed on the island. If Milocrates thought there were more enemies than his force, then Milocrates would delay in attacking them.

So Milocrates became alarmed at the (false) report of invaders. He gathered even a larger force; sending a fleet with his brother Buzafaran (Egesarius), while he commanded the land forces.

Meanwhile, Gawain managed to secretly enter the city and then the palace itself. Gawain was able to listen to Milocrates plan. One of the spies that the centurion had captured, a man named Nabaor, recognised Gawain. Instead of sounding the alarm, Nabaor decided to help Gawain. The spy took Gawain to see Milocrates' queen, who was the niece of the Roman emperor.

The Queen was also willing to help Gawain, so she gave Milocrates' sword and armour to the young knight. She informed Gawain of the prophecy that Milocrates couldn't be defeated or lose his kingdom unless someone else wore his armour. The Queen also told the hero that the populace was willing to rise up against their king, because of his oppressive rule.

In the morning, Milocrates marched out of the city with his army. The Queen had the people gather secretly to lock the gates of the city and burn down the palace.

Milocrates was shocked to see his city burning. What shocked the Pirate King even more was when he saw a young knight wearing his own armour. Milocrates didn't know whether to attack the force that confronted him, or to save his city. His indecision and panic costed him dearly, because his entire army decided to scatter and flee.

Seeing that he had lost his kingdom, Milocrates attacked Gawain. The contest was evenly matched at first, until the hero swept the King's head off with the sword.

The enemy army surrendered to the Romans when they saw that their king was dead. The Queen and populace welcomed the Roman liberators, but the Romans didn't spare any of Milocrates' advisers.

Gawain and the Romans stayed for 15 days on the island before they departed. They managed to recruit 200 warriors before they left, as well as some extra ships.

When their ships encountered the fleet of Egesarius, Milocrates' brother, the two sides attacked. Though the Romans were winning the naval battle, an enemy ship threw Greek fire aboard their ship. To rescue his men from the burning ship, Gawain leaped aboard the enemy ship, either killing the pirates or throwing them overboard. At the end of the fighting, the Romans had captured 30 pirate ships.

The Romans arrived in Jerusalem at the appointed time. Both armies agreed that the champions of each side would fight a mortal combat to decide the victory of either side. Gawain's opponent was Gormundus, the giant Persian knight.

Both warriors fought for a whole day. They were seemed to be evenly matched, and only halted when night fell. They agreed to resume the duel on the following morning.

They fought hard the next day. Both knights fought furiously, and each one managed to wound the other. Gormundus received a broken jaw, while the Knight of the Surcoat had a cut on his forehead. The Persian knight delivered a mighty blow with his shield that broke Gawain's sword. Gawain was only saved when he managed to hold Gormundus at bay with his tattered shield until night fell, ending the duel without a victor.

On the third day, the two knights met again. However, Gormundus grew more tired than the younger knight, giving ground to the Knight of the Surcoat. Because of shame and jeering from his own side, the Persian warrior redoubled his efforts. Gormundus delivered a vicious overhead blow that cleaved the shield from Gawain's arm. The force drove the hero to his knees. Angry and ashamed from being knocked to his knees, the Knight of the Surcoat leaped back to his feet and delivered a mighty blow that cleaved through Gormundus' helmet and head, right down to the breastbone.

The Persians were distraught to see that their champion had fallen, and withdrew from Jerusalem, returning to their homeland. Gawain won fame and glory throughout the Roman Empire.

Gawain, Nephew of King Arthur

Victory over the Persians brought peace to the Roman Empire, but the Knight of the Surcoat grew restless with inactivity, and decided to travel to Britannia in search of new adventures. Although the emperor was reluctant to let his foster son depart, he remembered his promise to his friend Viamundus.

The emperor only agreed to his foster son's departure if Gawain would present to King Arthur (who was really Gawain's uncle) a gold coffer that contained Anna's document and other items to identify Gawain's own name. (The tale still didn't use Gawain's name, because the hero still didn't know his own name and noble lineage.) The Emperor told Gawain that he should not look at the contents inside the coffer. The Emperor also included his own testimony about Gawain's identity.

Gawain arrived in Britain and was approaching the castle of Caerleon in Demetia (Wales), but couldn't cross the river Usk due to the flooding of the ford.

That very night, Arthur and Gwendolena (Guinevere), who was his wife and queen, were talking in bed. Gwendolena was not just a queen; she was a powerful sorceress with the gift of foretelling.

The queen mocked her husband's strength and prowess. Gwendolena informed Arthur that a knight from Rome, who was greater than any other knight, had arrived at the town of Usk, about six miles away from Caerleon. To prove her prediction, she told her husband that the knight would send her a gold ring and 3000 pieces of gold on two horses in the morning.

Arthur knew of his wife's divination, but decided to find out if it was true. As Gwendolena slept, the king armed himself and mounted his horse, taking only Sir Kay, his seneschal, with him in this venture.

Arthur encountered the Knight of the Surcoat at the ford, and he recklessly challenged the stranger. Arthur charged at the lone knight, who waited with his lance ready. Arthur was unceremoniously knocked off his saddle into the water. Sir Kay decided to avenge the king, so he too attacked the Knight of the Surcoat and was unhorsed into the river. The king and his seneschal lost their horses in the encounter, so they had to walk back to the castle on foot and in shame.

Arthur returned to his bed, still drenched from the river. Gwendolena asked where he had ben, and Arthur lied that he had gone out to stop the fighting between two men in the castle in the rain.

Gawain found the shallowest ford he could, and crossed the river. The Knight of the Surcoat did not realise that he had fought the king and his own uncle at the ford.

In the morning, while Arthur still slept, Gwendolena sent a messenger out of the castle, towards the town of Usk, where the boy encountered the Knight of the Surcoat. The knight asked the boy to bear his gifts to the Queen.

When Gwendolena recognised the two horses and the horse trappings belonging to her husband and the seneschal, she understood what had occurred the previous night when her husband had come to bed drenched. With great amusement, she sent the horses into her bedchamber, where Arthur still slept.

Arthur woke to find his horse and Kay's in the bedroom. The King felt ashamed when he realised that Gwendolena knew the truth. Gwendolena showed the proof that the mysterious knight had sent to her: two horses, a gold ring and 3000 pieces of gold coins.

By noon, the Knight of the Surcoat arrived at Arthur's court in Caerleon. The hero introduced himself to the king and the entire court, telling them that he had come from the Roman imperial court, and offering his services in arms to become the king's companion (become a knight of the Round Table). The hero also gave Arthur the sealed message and the coffer from the Roman Emperor.

Arthur retired to the adjoining chamber to read the Emperor's personal message. What he found in the document left Arthur astonished. Within the coffer, he found the pallium and signet ring that belonged to his sister Anna, and a letter in his sister's own handwriting that proved the identity of her son. Arthur immediately sent for Anna and her husband Lot, and showed them the contents of the documents and the coffer, demanding an explanation from his sister and brother-in-law.

Anna revealed to her brother the truth she had indeed become pregnant and given birth to her son, before she was married to Lot. Both parents and Arthur were overcome with great joy. However, Arthur wanted them to keep this secret from Gawain, until the Roman knight proved his worth to become a knight of the Round Table.

Arthur returned the court and rudely told the young knight that he already had many knights of great prowess. So unless the Knight of the Surcoat could prove his prowess, the king suggested that he offer his services to some other lord. The hero felt slighted by Arthur's words, yet he felt the need to prove himself. So the hero declared that he would do something that Arthur's knights weren't capable of accomplishing.

Six days had passed when news arrived that the Castle of the Maidens was under siege by a pagan king. The castle belonged to a fair young woman who governed the northern part of Britannia, but as an ally of Arthur. The pagan king had fallen in love with this lady, but she had refused his advances. The pagan king was enraged because of her rejection, so he occupied the land around the castle.

Arthur immediately mustered his army and gathered his knights of the Round Table, before heading north. Before they reached the castle, another messenger arrived to tell the king that the castle had fallen, and the pagan king had taken the Lady as his prisoner. The pagan king was now heading back to his own realm. Arthur immediately set out in pursuit, in the hope of rescuing the Lady.

Arthur's rescue plan fell apart when his army encountered unexpected, strong resistance from the rearguard. The pagan king was expecting pursuit and had placed his more experienced knights with the rearguard battalion. The sudden attack by the rearguard threw Arthur's army into confusion. The pagan king's forces were able to repulse the British army, causing Arthur to shamefully retreat.

The Knight of the Surcoat had followed the army and watched the battle on the hill. When he saw Arthur and his knights being repulsed and retreating from the superior pagan army, the hero jeered at them for cowardly retreating.

After taunting Arthur and his knights, the hero set out alone to rescue the Lady. The pagan army didn't expect an attack from a lone knight, which threw them into confusion. When the hero saw the pagan king and his captive, the Knight of the Surcoat charged with his lance ready. The point smashed through the king's armour and penetrated the pagan king's chest. The pagan king fell dying to the ground; the hero then seized the reins of the young woman's horse, trying to lead her out the enemy army.

However, angry royal guards surrounded them and they sought to avenge the death of their king. The Knight of the Surcoat managed to cut his way through the enemy ranks, but the hero and Lady could not escape through the way he had come from, so he set out in a different direction, with the enemies in hot pursuit.

As they were fleeing, the hero saw an abandoned fortification with a fosse around it, so he led the maiden to the fort. He told the Lady to find a place to hide, while he would defend that place. Fortunately, the bridge to the fort was narrow enough that only one enemy could come at him at a time. Since a broad and deep fosse (moat) surrounded the fort, no one could surround him.

With his sword and shield ready, the Knight of the Surcoat attacked the pursuing enemies. On the bridge, no one could overcome him, as he killed and wounded many knights. Some fled, while others tried to escape from the hero's vicious sword by jumping off the narrow bridge.

The Knight of the Surcoat single-handedly defeated the pagan king's army. He returned to where the king had fallen, and cut off the king's head. The knight placed the king's head on the top end of his standard, while the head was still wearing its diadem. With the Lady at his side, the Knight of the Surcoat returned to King Arthur's court in Caerleon.

There, the hero proudly proclaimed that he had killed the king and destroyed the enemy army alone. He had accomplished what no other knights in Arthur's court had done.

Rather than being offended by the hero's words, Arthur was overjoyed and told the young knight that he had earned the highest honour. Arthur asked the young hero his name and lineage. The hero replied that he was the Knight of the Surcoat and that he had been born in Gaul (France) to a Roman senator, because he seriously thought that Viamundus was his father.

With Anna and Lot standing near their son, Arthur had the letter of the Roman Emperor read so every one in attendance could hear. It revealed that King Lot of Norway and his wife Anna were the hero's real parents, and his real name was Gawain. Everyone including Gawain was utterly amazed at this revelation. Gawain's parents joyfully welcomed home their lost son.

Arthur also joyously announced that Gawain was his nephew. With this announcement, the entire assemblage shouted out:

"Gawain, nephew of King Arthur!"

So here ends the tale of The Rise of Gawain, Nephew of King Arthur.