Myths and Legends of the World
COPYRIGHT 2001 Macmillan Reference, USA

Guinevere was the wife of King Arthur. the legendary ruler of Britain. She was a beautiful and noble queen, but her life took a tragic turn when she fell in love with Lancelot, one of Arthur's bravest and most loyal knights. The relationship between the queen and Lancelot eventually destroyed the special fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table.

Guinevere was the daughter of King Leodegran of Scotland. Arthur admired the king's lovely daughter and married her in spite of a warning from his adviser Merlin that Guinevere would be unfaithful to him. As a wedding gift, Leodegran gave Arthur a round table that would play a central role in his court.

After the marriage, Guinevere became acquainted with Lancelot, who performed various deeds to honor and rescue her. At first, Arthur took no notice of the growing attachment between the queen and Lancelot. Later, however, the king was forced to accuse his wife of adultery and to fight her lover. Several violent battles between Arthur and Lancelot followed, with groups of knights joining in on each side. Eventually, Guinevere returned to Arthur.

Another group of legends concerning Guinevere show the queen in a more loyal role. In these tales, King Arthur left his nephew Mordred in charge of the kingdom during a military campaign. Mordred began to plot against Arthur, planning to marry Guinevere and take over as ruler of Britain. The queen refused to cooperate with Mordred and locked herself in the Tower of London to avoid marrying him. When Arthur returned to reclaim his throne, the two men fought. Arthur killed Mordred but was fatally wounded.

Following the death of Arthur, Guinevere entered a convent, where she spent the rest of her life praying and helping the poor. Filled with remorse for the trouble she and her lover had caused, she vowed never to see Lancelot again. When Guinevere died, she was buried beside King Arthur.

adultery sexual relationship between a married person and someone other than his or her spouse

See alsoArthur, King; Arthurian Legends; Camelot; Lancelot; Merlin; Round Table.

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Copyright The Columbia University Press

Guinevere (gwĬn´əvĬr´, gwĕn´–). in Arthurian legend. wife of King Arthur. Her illicit and tragic love for Sir Launcelot. which foreshadowed the downfall of Arthur's kingdom, ends with her retirement to a convent. She also figures in several early romances and Celtic legends, her name appearing in various forms (e.g. Guanhamara, Gvenour, and Gwenhwyfars). In different versions of the Arthurian story her name appears as Guenevere and Guinever.

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The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
© The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006.

Guinevere in Arthurian legend, the wife of King Arthur and lover of Lancelot. In the Arthurian cycle she is seen through her love for Lancelot as one of the key figures in the ultimate destruction of Arthur's kingdom, by providing an opening which can be exploited by the traitor Mordred. Guinevere, who survives her husband's death, traditionally repented her sins and became a nun.

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Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes
© Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes 2007, originally published by Oxford University Press 2007.

Guinevere •astrantia • Bastia •Dei gratia. hamartia •poinsettia •in absentia. Parmentier •Izvestia •meteor. wheatear •Whittier • cottier • Ostia •consortia. courtier •protea • Yakutia • frontier • Althea •Anthea • Parthia •Pythia. stichomythia •Carinthia. Cynthia •forsythia • Scythia • clothier • salvia •Latvia • Yugoslavia • envier •Flavia. Moldavia. Moravia. Octavia. paviour (US pavior), Scandinavia. Xavier •Bolivia . Livia, Olivia, trivia •Sylvia • Guinevere • Elzevir •Monrovia. Segovia •Retrovir • effluvia • colloquia •Goodyear • yesteryear • brassiere •Abkhazia •Anastasia . aphasia, brazier, dysphasia, dysplasia, euthanasia, fantasia, Frazier, glazier, grazier, gymnasia, Malaysia •amnesia. anaesthesia (US anesthesia), analgesia, freesia, Indonesia. Silesia. synaesthesia •artemisia. Kirghizia, Tunisia •ambrosia. crozier, hosier, osier, symposia

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