NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Maimed Knight

Knight with the Bloody Hands, Knight with the Sword in his Hand

The story of the Knight with the Sword in his Hand is primarily featured in the Prose Tristan, which was written in the 13th century. In this version of the story, the Knight with the Sword in his Hand is a powerful knight who has a sword embedded in his hand, which causes him great pain and suffering. The only way to remove the sword is for a better knight to come along and remove it for him.

This challenge attracts many knights, but none of them are able to remove the sword until Galahad, Lancelot’s son, arrives. He successfully removes the sword and is then given a vision of the Holy Grail. This event is seen as a sign of Galahad’s holiness and purity, and he becomes one of the few knights who is able to find and see the Holy Grail.


Source
Prose Tristan | 1230-1240