Leodegrance of Carmelide
Ladugan, Laudugan, Leodagan, Leodegan, Leodegance, Leodeganes, Leodegans, Leodegant, Leodegar, Leodegon, Leodegran, Leodegrance, Leodegreaunce, Lodegreance
King of Cameliard, father of Guenevere and Genievre.
His earliest existing mention is in the Prose Lancelot, though he may be identical to Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Leodegar. At the beginning of Arthur’s regin, Leodegan was attacked by the forces of King Rions, a Saxon giant. Arthur, Merlin, King Ban of Benoic, and King Bors of Gannes journeyed to Carmelide and, incognito, offered their assistance to Leodegan. The combined forces of the kings led to the defeat of Rions at Carhaix and Aneblayse, two of Leodegan’s cities.
Arthur revealed his identity to Leodegan, who offered him Guinevere. Leodegan had also fathered the False Guinevere on the wife of his seneschal, Cleodalis, and he had a son who was killed in combat. Leodegan’s enemies tried to replace Guinevere with the False Guinevere on Arthur’s wedding night, but Arthur’s knights thwarted the plot.
Casting about in his mind for a wedding present that would please his new son-in-law, Leodegan reasoned that
he hath lands enow, him needeth none; but I shall send him a gift shall please him much more, for I shall give him the Table Round,
together with a hundred knights. He died soon after his daughter’s marriage.
In Tennyson, he is named as the brother of Urien, who besieges his kingdom in place Rions.
King Leodegrance’s Family and Retainers
Daughter
Guenevere
Daughter (by wife of seneschal)
Genievre
Son-in-law
King Arthur
Seneschal
Cleodalis
Knights
Bertholai, Garaunt, Guy (Guenevere’s cousins)
See also
Round Table | The Legend of King Arthur
Sources
Lancelot do Lac | 1215-1220
Vulgate Lancelot | 1215-1230
Vulgate Merlin | 1220-1235
Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin | 1230-1240
Palamedes | c. 1240
Arthour and Merlin | Late 13th century
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470
Idylls of the King | Lord Alfred Tennyson, 1859-1886