Le Morte d’Arthur: Book 1 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 1 The narrator begins during the reign of king Uther Pendragon in England. Uther sends for the Duke of Cornwall, who has been warring against Uther, and also for the Duke’s wife Igraine. Uther falls in love with Igraine and propositions her, but she refuses him and tells the Duke what Uther has done. They soon depart. Uther then sends for the Duke again. When he doesn’t return, Uther is incredibly angry, and decides to use this an excuse to make war.

Once he’s received Uther’s beckon, the Duke of Cornwall furnishes two of his castles, Terrabil and Tintagil. The Duke hides in Terrabil and hides his wife Igraine in Tintagil. Uther and his men besiege Terrabil for many days, and Uther falls sick from anger and lust. A knight named Sir Ulfius offers to seek out the wizard Merlin to help him. Ulfius comes across Merlin, who is disguised as a beggar. Merlin reveals himself, and says that if Uther promises to fulfill Merlin’s desire, he will do the same for Uther.

Chapter 2 Ulfius returns, with Merlin not far behind him. Merlin asks Uther to swear to fulfill Merlin’s desire, and he does so. Then Merlin says that Igraine will conceive a child the first night Uther sleeps with her, and he wants that child to be delivered to him to raise. Uther agrees. Merlin then tells Uther that he’ll sleep with Igraine that night, as Merlin will make Uther look like the Duke of Cornwall, and will make himself look like the Duke’s knight Sir Jordanus.

Merlin knows that Igraine is at Tintagil, so he and Uther travel there. The Duke of Cornwall spies Uther leaving Terrabil, however, so he leaves the castle himself, and is killed. After his death, Uther, disguised as the Duke, sleeps with Igraine. She conceives Arthur (Uther’s son) that night. Only the next day does she learn that the Duke is dead. Igraine mourns, confused about who she slept with the night before. Ulfius approaches Igraine and convinces her that it will suit everyone for Igraine to wed him. She and her advisors accept, and the marriage takes place, along with the weddings of a number of other couples who will go on to give birth to important knights.

Chapter 3 As Igraine’s due date approaches, she confesses to Uther that she had slept with an unknown man, thinking it was her husband. Uther reveals that it was him, and Igraine is relieved.

Merlin comes to Uther to remind him of his promise. Merlin says that he knows a good man named Sir Ector, who will be given the son to raise. Ector, on Merlin’s advice, comes to court and Uther gives him gifts. When the child is born, they give it to Merlin, who brings the baby to Ector and names him Arthur.

Chapter 4 After two years King Uther falls ill, and his enemies take advantage of this to wage war. Merlin advises Uther to come to the battlefield even if on a stretcher. Uther does so, carried in on a horse-litter, and his men vanquish their enemies. The king returns to London to celebrate victory, but then falls ill again. Merlin says there is no other remedy for him—it will be God’s will. Though Uther has been unable to speak, Merlin asks him if his son Arthur should be the new king of the realm. Uther says, with all around him hearing it, that he wishes that this be so.

Chapter 5 Despite the king’s last words, many want to be king after Uther’s death. Merlin tells the Archbishop of Canterbury to gather all the lords of the kingdom to London by Christmas, so that Jesus might show by a miracle who should be king. After the lords arrive and attend church, they see in the churchyard a massive stone with a sword stuck into it: letters in gold around the stone say that whoever pulls the sword from the stone is the rightful king.

Some of the lords try, but none can move the sword. The Archbishop says that the man who can is not there. On New Year’s Day the barons and knights gather for a grand tournament. Sir Ector arrives at this festive jousting with Sir Kay, his son, and Arthur. As they’re riding to the jousting area, Kay realizes that he’s left his sword at his father’s lodging. He asks Arthur to go back and get it. Arthur sees the sword in the churchyard stone and thinks he’ll get that instead to give to his brother. No knights are guarding it, since everyone is at the tournament, and Arthur easily pulls the sword out. He brings it to Kay, who immediately recognizes it. Kay declares to his father that he (Kay) should be king of the land.

Sir Ector brings Kay into the church, and makes him swear on the Bible how he got the sword. Kay tells him the truth, and when Ector asks Arthur how he came upon it, Arthur tells him what happened. Ector has Arthur put the sword back in the stone. Ector fails to pull it out, but Arthur does so easily.

Chapter 6 Kay cannot pull the sword out either. Sir Ector then kneels before Arthur, saying that he is not Arthur’s father, and that Arthur is of a higher kinship. Ector then tells him the story of Merlin. Arthur is sorry to learn that Ector is not his true father, and swears to continue to be loyal to him. Ector asks only that Kay be made senecal (steward) of the kingdom, and Arthur agrees. They all go to the Archbishop to tell him what’s taken place, and in front of everyone Arthur again pulls the sword out of the stone.

Chapter 7 At the Christian feast of Pentecost, many try to pull the sword out of the stone once again, but only Arthur succeeds. The commoners cry that they want Arthur as their king. At the London cathedral, Arthur is sworn in and crowned as king. Many come to complain about the lawless seizing of lands since Uther’s death. Arthur restores these lands to their proper owners. He appoints Sir Kay senecal (steward) of England and Sir Ulfius chamberlain. The narrator says that within a few years, Arthur will conquer the north of England, Scotland, and much of Wales, together with his knights of the Round Table.

Chapter 8 In Wales, shortly after his coronation, Arthur proclaims a great Pentecost feast in celebration. Many other kings attend, but it turns out that these kings are skeptical of a boy ruling the kingdom and want to take it from him. On his advisors’ advice, Arthur brings 500 men to a stronghold, where they defend themselves against many of these kings. After two weeks, Merlin speaks to the kings, telling them about Arthur’s holy birth and lineage from Uther and Igraine, and predicting that Arthur will long be king over England and many other realms. Some laugh scornfully at this prediction, but eventually they accept Merlin’s reasoning. Merlin goes to Arthur to tell him to emerge and speak with the kings, for it is now safe to do so.

Chapter 9 King Arthur, with the Archbishop, Sir Kay, and other knights, meet the other kings, but when Arthur says that he will subdue them by force, they grow angry again and re-arm themselves. Arthur retreats back to the tower, and Merlin admonishes the kings that they were wrong to be angry, since they will never prevail even though there are many of them. Then Merlin vanishes and returns to Arthur, telling him to make an offense, but not to draw his miraculous sword until the very end. There are many great deeds in this battle, but finally King Lot (one of Arthur’s enemies) breaks through the line and approaches Arthur, killing his horse beneath him. Arthur then draws his sword, “Excalibur,” which gives off great light to his enemies. Arthur kills many people and is able to pursue the kings until they flee.

Chapter 10 When King Arthur returns to London, he gathers his barons and asks Merlin to come advise them. Merlin warns them that the rival kings are recouping and preparing to fight again. He says that two great brother kings across the sea, King Ban of Benwick and King Bors of Gaul (France), are fighting a third, King Claudas. Merlin suggests that the court should propose to help them in their fight against Claudas, if the brothers will in turn help Arthur in his war. Ulfius and another knight Brastias are appointed messengers. They ride to the sea at Benwick, but they are attacked by knights who turn out to be in Claudas’s pay. They fight until Ulfius and Brastias kill these knights, along with two more pairs of knights they encounter along the way.

Ulfius and Brastias find both King Ban and King Bors in Benwick. The kings welcome them as they deliver Arthur’s letters, and say that they will agree to ally themselves to Arthur. The kings are cheered by the tale of Ulfius and Brastias slaying Claudas’s knights. The two knights return to Arthur to tell him the news. By the holiday of All Hallowmass the two kings arrive with 300 knights. They have a great feast.

Chapter 11 There are now 700 knights altogether. Arthur and the two kings put on a tournament for them. Griflet, a French knight, jousts with the English Ladinas, so hard that their shields shatter and people fear they’ve been killed. But they continue, and Sir Kay receives the prize for best knight. Then Arthur decides to send Merlin to King Ban and King Bors’s subjects across the sea to update them on how the kings are faring, and to prepare for war. Through his magic, Merlin brings 10,000 soldiers back to England and hides them in the forest of Bedegraine.

Chapter 12 The three kings go to Bedegraine. Meanwhile, eleven other kings meet and swear to destroy Arthur, each pledging thousands of men for a total of 50,000. They prepare and then divide, some going to Bedegraine and some to Arthur’s castle.

Chapter 13 One enemy, the King with a Hundred Knights, dreams two nights before the battle that a great wind has blown down all the allies’ castles and towns, followed by a huge flood. All believe this is a sign of a great battle. Merlin warns Arthur’s alliance of the approaching enemies, and they prepare to fight.

Chapter 14 Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors lead the charge, but 10,000 men are killed on the first day. Merlin suggests that Ban and Bors lie in wait with their men the second day, so that the enemies might think there aren’t as many men and become emboldened. That is what happens: Sir Ulfius has his horse slain beneath him, but survives, and though Sir Kay shines in battle, the enemies manage to steal many of the knights’ horses. At that point Arthur enters, kills the Welsh king, and gives his horse to Ulfius. The battle continues to go back and forth.

Chapter 15 The battle continues to rage, though Arthur is pleased to have “re-horsed” (that is, regained a riding horse for) many of his knights. When Arthur realizes that the battle is at a standstill, he enters again into battle. Some of the enemies withdraw to rest, leaving six kings and their men. At that point King Ban and King Bors enter into battle, and King Lot, one enemy, marvels, realizing Merlin must have spirited them into the country.

Chapter 16 King Lot knows that King Ban and King Bors are the most renowned brother knights in the world, and he weeps at the death he knows will ensue, but he and his allies continue fighting. The King of the Hundred Knights fights with Ban and Bors, finally killing Ban’s horse. Arthur rides into battle, though no one recognizes him since there is so much blood on his body and sword from those he killed. He conquers another horse for Ban. As they rest that night Ban and Bors tell Arthur that their enemies are highly skilled, and if they were only to pay allegiance to Arthur they would be excellent allies.

The eleven kings meet that night, and King Lot suggests that they start to sacrifice any man that loses his horse, rather than wait for him, because that will only weaken them. They swear loyalty to each other.

Chapter 17 Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors meet their knights the next morning and praise them for their chivalry. The battle begins again. Ban and Bors are at one point driven back over a small river. Then Merlin arrives on a black horse and asks if Arthur has not had enough: only 15,000 remain of the 60,000 original fighters. Merlin says it is time to stop, or else the eleven kings will see fortune turn their way. He tells Arthur to withdraw and reward his knights. Merlin says that the eleven kings will have something to distract them, since the Saracens have arrived to their lands and are laying siege to their castles. Merlin departs to see his master Bleise in Northumberland, who records the battle just as Merlin relates it, as Bleise does with all battles of Arthur’s court.

Then Merlin disguises himself in sheepskins, boots, and a bow and arrow and goes to see Arthur. He asks Arthur to give him a gift, and Arthur asks why he should. Still disguised, Merlin says that Arthur should give him the gift or else lose great riches, since great treasure is hidden in the earth beneath their feet—Merlin told him so. Arthur is ashamed for being brusque with him.

After the battle a lady named Lionors arrives to give Arthur homage, and he falls in love with her. She gives birth to his child Borre, who will become another knight of the Round Table. Then Arthur hears of a war between King Leodegrance, an ally, and King Rience, and prepares for another battle.

Chapter 18 Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors depart for the country of Cameliard where they rescue Leodegrance against King Rience. They celebrate with a feast, which is when Arthur first meets and falls in love with Leodegrance’s daughter Guenever, whom he will later marry. King Claudas is continuing to wage war in Ban and Bors’s lands, but the two brothers tell Arthur to go home, since he has much to do in his own land. They say they’ll call upon him if they ever need. Merlin foretells that the eleven kings shall all die in one day by the hand of two great knights, the brothers Balin le Savage and Balan.

The eleven kings, meanwhile, learn of the Saracens’ siege against their lands, and regret that they had turned against Arthur, who could have helped them. They return to their countries, leaving a few kings in Britain to keep watch and prepare for revenge.

Chapter 19 King Arthur leaves King Ban and King Bors and rides to Carlion, where Queen Margawse, the wife of King Lot, comes to see him with her four sons Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravaine, and Gareth. Arthur lusts after her and they sleep together, though he doesn’t know that Margawse is his half-sister—Igraine’s daughter. Margawse conceives a son Mordred. King Arthur then dreams that griffins and serpents have come into his land to do great destruction, though finally he slays them.

To put the dream out of his head, Arthur decides to go hunting with his knights. He sees a great hart (stag deer) and decides to chase him, which takes so long that Arthur’s horse finally falls down dead from exhaustion. Arthur falls into thought about this strange event. Then he thinks he hears the noise of many hounds. He suddenly sees a strange-looking animal, who drinks in front of him and then departs. Lost in thought, Arthur falls asleep. When he wakes up, a knight is asking him if he saw a strange beast: the knight has been on a quest to kill it for a year, and asks Arthur for another horse to achieve this quest.

Chapter 20 Arthur asks the knight, King Pellinore, to entrust the quest to himself for the next year. But Pellinore says that only he or his sons must follow the quest. Arthur sends for a horse. Lost in thought about what he has seen, Arthur sees a 14-year-old child (Merlin disguised) come to him and ask why he is so pensive. Arthur says he’s seen a marvelous sight. The boy says he knows that: he knows everything about Arthur, including that he is the son of Uther and Igraine. Arthur says the boy’s not old enough to know such a thing, and he doesn’t believe him.

Then Merlin returns in the likeness of an 80-year-old man, who seems wise to Arthur. Arthur confides in the man that a child has told him things that he could not have known. But the old man says that the child was right, and would have told him more had Arthur believed him. But God is unhappy with Arthur, he says, because he has slept with his sister and begotten a child that will destroy him and his kingdom’s knights. Arthur asks who the man is: he reveals himself as Merlin, and says that he was the child as well. Merlin says that it is God’s will for Arthur to be punished—but Merlin himself will die a shameful death in the earth, while Arthur will die in glory. The two ride back to Carlion, where Arthur asks Ector about his parents, and confirms his lineage. Arthur asks Merlin to send for his mother Igraine, and she arrives with her beautiful daughter, Morgan le Fay.

Chapter 21 Ulfius arrives and proclaims that Igraine is the greatest traitor in the world, the causer of the great wars, since she never revealed that Arthur was her son, thus leading the other kings to be suspicious and fight against him. Igraine asks that another knight defend her. She tells the story of Ulfius coming to her disguised in Tintagil, and says that Merlin took her son away and she never saw him. Ulfius says that Merlin is thus more to blame. Merlin has Arthur and Igraine meet and embrace, and then they all feast.

Chapter 22 A young squire named Griflet asks Arthur to make him a knight, and Merlin advises him that Griflet will become a strong fighter, so Arthur does. Griflet goes out and sees a beautiful shield lying next to a tree. He strikes it with his sword, and tells the knight who owns it that he wishes to joust with him. The knight says that Griflet is only a child, but agrees to fight, and strikes down Griflet.

Chapter 23 The knight fears that he’s killed Griflet, and he hoists him onto his own horse and brings him to Arthur’s court, where Griflet is tended to and saved. Then twelve knights arrive from the Emperor of Rome asking for truage (a kind of tax) under threat of war. Arthur refuses and pledges to fight. He rides out to find Merlin, and they go to sit by a fountain, where Arthur sees an armed knight in a chair. They agree to joust, and the knight knocks Arthur off his horse. Then Arthur grows angry, and a more serious battle begins. Finally Arthur’s sword is broken in half, and the knight tells Arthur to surrender or he’ll be killed. Arthur leaps upon the knight, who we learn is King Pellinore (the man questing after the strange beast), and Pellinore throws Arthur down.

Chapter 24 Merlin arrives and tells Pellinore not to kill his enemy, revealing that it is Arthur. Merlin casts an enchantment over Pellinore, who falls to the ground asleep. Arthur reproaches Merlin for killing Pellinore, but Merlin says he’s only asleep. He says that Pellinore will have two sons named Percivale and Lamorak, and that Pellinore will tell Arthur the name of his own son—who will destroy his kingdom.

Chapter 25 Arthur goes to a hermit who cures his wounds, then returns to Merlin. Merlin gives Arthur a new sword. They ride together to a clear lake, in the middle of which is a silk-clothed arm grasping a sword. A lady enters the lake: Merlin calls her the Lady of the Lake, and tells Arthur to speak well to her so that she will give him the sword. The Lady tells Arthur that she will give the sword to him if he gives her a gift when she asks for it. He agrees, so the Lady permits him to row out to the lake and take the sword and scabbard: she’ll ask for her gift when she sees fit.

Arthur decides to return to avenge himself against Pellinore, but Merlin tells him not to, as Pellinore is weary of fighting, and besides, he will do Arthur a good service in time. Arthur tells Merlin that he prefers the new sword to its scabbard. Merlin says he’s wrong, since while he has the Lady of the Lake’s scabbard upon him, he cannot be killed. They pass by Pellinore, whom Merlin enchants so that he doesn’t see Arthur, and they return home.

Chapter 26 King Rience, a rival king, sends a messenger to Arthur saying that he has overcome eleven kings, and they have each given Rience homage by cutting off their beards and sending them to him. The messenger asks for Arthur’s beard, but Arthur says he owes Rience no homage, and that this request is shameful. The messenger departs.

Chapter 27 Merlin tells Arthur that he should destroy all children born on May-Day, as this is the birthday of his son who will destroy the kingdom. Arthur sends for all these children and puts them in a ship, which is shipwrecked. All the children die except for Mordred, who is then raised by a stranger. Many lords are upset with Arthur for this, but they tend to blame Merlin more.