Lady of the Lake

• Birth and Education

• Entering Knighthood

Birth and Education

Lancelot was born to King Ban of Banoic (or Benwick), and Helen (Helaine or Elaine). When Lancelot was an infant, his father was losing a war against Claudas, king of the Waste Lands (somewhere in France). Ban died of sorrow when his last castle (Trebe) was captured. His seneschal had betrayed him.

When King Bors of Gaunes, Ban's brother, heard of his death, Bors died of sorrow over the loss of his brother. Claudas captured King Bors' two sons, Lionel and Bors, who were held prisoners and hostages. (For more details about Ban and Bors and their wives, read King Ban and King Bors.)

As his wife Helen mourned for him, she neglected her son (Lancelot). Niniane, the Lady of the Lake, vanished with the infant Lancelot into her domain, disappearing into the Lake. The Lake was not so much as a body of water, but rather like the Celtic Otherworld. The magic hid her home from intruders, and the lake was merely an illusion.

Niniane learned some of her magic from Merlin. There, Niniane had already imprisoned Merlin in a cave or tomb, and had saved Arthur from the plot of Morgan le Faye, before she took the infant into her domain. (See the Legend of Excalibur for the episodes mentioned above about her involvement with Merlin and Morgan.)

There, Niniane brought up Lancelot. She was responsible for his education, giving him lessons in courtly love and manners.

At an early age, he excelled in his education and training. He grew into a strong and handsome youth.

Though Lancelot had all the mannerisms of a prince and a knight, Niniane never revealed to Lancelot his true identity. Everyone called him King's Son. Lancelot was ignorant of his background, his parents, and his own name. Lancelot's parents had named him Galahad, but this was not the name he was frequently known by.

Entering Knighthood

Though Niniane knew that Lancelot would some day leave her, she was a little distressed because she loved him as if he were really her own son. When the time came for him to leave, she prepared him for traveling to the court of King Arthur. She knew Lancelot had the makings of the greatest knight in the world.

Niniane sent one of her damsels to rescue Lancelot's cousins from King Claudas, Lionel and Bors, and brought them to the Lake. While Lancelot went to Arthur's court, his cousins would remain with Niniane until they were old enough to receive knighthood.

She and Lancelot were dressed in white. Lancelot's new armour and weapons were also white. Niniane had her entire retinue dressed in white. Even their horses were white.

As they travelled to Camelot, she instructed Lancelot not to remain with King Arthur, after he was knighted. She informed him not to stay at any court of the king for very long, until his name and identity was revealed to him and until he established his reputation as a great knight.

They all accompanied the Lady and Lancelot to King Arthur's court, where she asked the king for a boon. Arthur granted her anything she desired. She asked Arthur to knight her protégé, whenever he so desired. Arthur granted her this boon. Arthur was saddened that he could not make the Lady of the Lake stay in Camelot to enjoy his hospitality. She immediately departed their company, leaving four squires in Lancelot's services.

Everyone in Arthur's court was curious about the new arrival, including the best knights from the Round Table and Queen Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur. Arthur left Sir Yvain in charge of the new arrival for training.

The flawless beauty of Queen Guinevere immediately captivated Lancelot. The youth instantly fell in love with the queen.

Guinevere sought to discover his name, but he replied that he did not know. Guinevere thought he was lying, until Sir Yvain pointed out that he may have been subjected to a promise not to disclose his name, not really realising that the youth actually did not know his own identity.

That night, Lancelot asked the king to fulfil his promise of knighting him, the following morning. Everyone including Arthur was surprised that he wanted to be knighted so soon.

After a night of fasting and praying, King Arthur knighted Lancelot in the morning. Lancelot immediately wanted to leave to seek out new adventure. That morning, a messenger arrived from the Lady of Nohaut. The King of Northumbria wanted her land, and was currently at war with the Lady of Nohaut. She needed one of Arthur's knights to fight in combat against her enemy's champion. The new knight persuaded Arthur to allow him to be the Lady's champion. Reluctantly, the king agreed.

When asking for Queen Guinevere's leave to depart, he wished to be her knight and champion, to which she agreed.

Before Lancelot could leave, he learned that Arthur forgot to finish the ceremony by belting him a sword. Though he said he would return with a sword, Lancelot had no intention of returning, and set out immediately.