Lancelot du Lac

## Sir Lancelot du Lac

Maternal

* Lancelot of Benoic

**Lancelot du Lac** (born **Galahad of Benoic**) was the prince of Benoic, a member of the Knights of the Round Table, and King Arthur's greatest knight. When Lancelot was young his kingdom was invaded by King Claudas. Lancelot's father Ban was killed in the invasion and his mother gave him to Nimueh, the Lady of the Lake, to be raised. Nimueh then took Lancelot to Avalon, where he was raised for several years. Lancelot would later be joined by his cousins Bors and Lionel. Lancelot was raised without the knowledge of his parentage or even his name

When Lancelot was 15, he would emerge from Avalon and began traveling Europe as a knight errant, simply calling himself **the White Knight**. During this time, Lancelot would discover his identity and take on the name Lancelot after his grandfather. Lancelot would later find the Knights of the Round Table. After engaging in duels with the Knights of the Round Table he gained the attention of King Arthur himself. The two would duel and against all odds, Lancelot would defeat Arthur by disarming him. Because of this, Lancelot would be allowed to join the Round Table and he later became good friends with Arthur, Gawain, Tristan, and Percival. Lancelot would become one of Arthur's greatest knights. It was during this time that he freed Dolorous Guard and renamed it Joyous Guard, taking it as his personal domain.

Lancelot would rescue Queen Gwenhwyfar from Maleagant, which would lead to Lancelot becoming her personal knight and bodyguard. The two would fall in love and began an affair, despite their love and respect for Arthur which caused both great sorrow. Lancelot would go on many adventures, and eventually would save Benoic with the help of Arthur and the rest of the Knights. Lancelot would also be tricked into sleeping with Elaine of Corbenic which resulted in the birth of Galahad.

Eventually Lancelot and Gwenhwyfar's affair would be exposed and Lancelot would flee to safety. When he discovered that Gwenhwyfar was about to be executed (in reality Arthur was debating whether he should simply imprison her or allow her to live with Lancelot), he returned to Britain and went on a rampage that killed several knights to rescue her. As a result, Arthur had no choice but to hunt Lancelot down in retribution. Lancelot and his supporters would flee to Gaul and fight many battles against Arthur. During this Lancelot would face a grave battle against Gawain that nearly resulted in both their deaths. Arthur and his army would abandon the war in order to deal with a coup back in Britain led by Mordred. Lancelot would lead his supporters to help Arthur after a dying Gawain beseeched him for support. Lancelot and his men would arrive to late and witnessed the destruction of the kingdom he had pledged himself to. Lancelot and his men would put down the remnants of Mordred's rebellion before he abandoned the life of a knight to become a monk in an attempt to atone for his sins. Lancelot would die from illness a few years later.

## Relationships

### Arthur Pendragon

Lancelot was Arthur's greatest knight and one of his closest friends.

Although Lancelot didn't realize it, he loved Arthur more than just as a knight to his king or a comrade-in-arms, part of Lancelot genuinely was in love with Arthur yet he did realize it. Even if he did the standards of the time would forbid such a relationship and Arthur would be unable to reciprocate those feelings due to his sexuality being non-compatible. Lancelot only realized his feelings soon during his time in Avalon, though by that point he was already married to Gwenhwyfar (whom he loved more) and Arthur was married to Guinevere (who was his first and truest love).