NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Belisent

Bellicent

Mother of GawaineMordredGarethGaheris, and Agravain in Arthour and Merlin (a thirteenth-century English poem) and in Tennyson’s Idylls of the King. She was the daughter of Hoel or Gorlois and Igerne (Igraine), and the wife of King Lot of Orkney.

She encouraged her sons to take service with Arthur. During the Saxon (or Saracen) wars, she was captured by King Taurus, but was rescued by Gawain.

A number of other sources name the same character as Morgause, though unlike her counterpart, Belisent is generally portrayed as Arthur’s kind and loving sister.


See also
Blasine | The Legend of King Arthur
Hermesent | The Legend of King Arthur


Sources
Arthour and Merlin | Late 13th century
Idylls of the King | Lord Alfred Tennyson, 1859-1886