NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Blamoure of the Marsh


A knight who owned a white hart that Gawaine pursued on his first adventure.

Gawaine chased the hart into Blamoure’s castle, where Gawaine’s hounds killed it. This induced Blamoure to slay two of Gawaine’s hounds. Enraged, Gawaine engaged Blamoure in combat, defeated him, and prepared to cut off his head.

As Gawaine’s sword fell, Blamoure’s paramour threw herself across her lover’s body and was decapitated. Aghast, Gawaine granted mercy to Blamoure and sent him to Arthur’s court.


Sources
Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin | 1230-1240
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470