Sir Erec (Geraint)

Erec was the hero of the Arthurian romance Erec et Enide, written by Chretien de Troyes. The Welsh poem found in the Mabinogion called Gereint and Enid was parallel to the French version written by Chretien.

Erec was the son of King Lac of Ester-Gales. Erec was the French name of his more commonly known Geraint or Gereint in the English and Welsh versions. In the Welsh legend, he was a son of Erbin and brother of Ermid and Dywel; they are listed in Culhwch and Olwen (Mabinogion).

According to Chretien's Erec and Enide, Erec was only second to Gawain as the best knight of the Round Table, ahead of Lancelot.

Erec fell in love with Enide, a maiden and niece of the Count of Laluth, when he fought against Yder, the son of Nut, known as the Knight of the Kestrel. Erec later married Enide at Arthur's court before he brought her to his father's kingdom.

The amount of time Erec spent with his wife sparked talks about his lack of participation in the tournament and adventure. When Enide heard of the talks she was distressed, since they were blaming her for bewitching their lord. When she revealed to Erec what they have been saying, Erec assumed that his own wife had low esteem for his prowess and skills.

Erec proved to her that he had lost none of his prowess that he had displayed when he defeated Yder and won Enide's hand in marriage, as they journeyed through the forest beset with bandits, giants and treacherous counts. Enide also proved her love and loyalty to Erec, as she went through all the ordeals in their adventure.

Erec's greatest heroic deeds were when he arrived at the town of Brandigan, when he ended the evil custom known as the Joy of the Court. The enchantment only ended when he defeated the knight and blew the horn. Erec gained greater glory as one of the greatest knights of the Round Table after this adventure.

See Erec and Enide for the full story of Erec's adventure with Enide.

According to the Post-Vulgate version of the Grail Quest, Erec took part in the adventure. Like the other knights he performed poorly, which ended in tragedy and disgrace. Erec made a promise to one evil maiden without realising the price he would have to pay. When Erec met his sister, the evil maiden asked for his sister's head. Aghast about this boon, he tried to persuade the maiden to ask for anything else, because he loved his sister. The damsel refused to listen to any plea. So Erec killed his sister, giving her head to the evil maiden. The maiden did not leave the place alive. Lightning struck the evil damsel dead.

Later, Erec encountered another knight, and neither one could recognise the other because they both wore different armour. Erec mortally wounded the knight, but then discovered that was Yvain of the White Hands, a fellow-knight in this sorrowful quest (not to be confused with Yvain the Valiant, son of King Lac). Erec grieved that he had killed his friend. Yvain had also badly wounded Erec in the combat.

When Gawain arrived and found that Erec had killed Yvain, Gawain challenged the wounded Erec to combat. Erec was astonished that Gawain would attack him while he was injured. Gawain killed Erec's horse, who rebuked him for such cowardly act. Gawain then mortally wounded Erec where he lay. Thinking that he was dead, Gawain departed.

Hector and Meraugis arrived and found the unconscious Erec. When Erec regained his senses, he related how Gawain had shamefully and treacherously fought him. When Erec died, the two knights brought his body to Camelot. They did not bring news of Erec's death to Arthur, but instead to King Baudemagus.