NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Una


A lovely maiden whose parents’ land was attacked by a dragon.

Gloriana assigned the Red Cross Knight to go with Una to her land and free it from the dragon. On the way, the Red Cross Knight was tricked by the evil magician Archimago into thinking that Una was a wanton. The Red Cross Knight abandoned her and was thrown in prison by the giant Orgoglio.

Una was protected by a lion, satyrs, and the knight Satyrane. They encountered Prince Arthur and convinced him to help. Arthur freed the Red Cross Knight and reconciled him with Una. They continued to Una’s lands, the Red Cross Knight killed the dragon, and Una and the Red Cross Knight were married.

In Spenser’s allegory, Una, meaning “one”, stands for the Church of England, the “one” true church.


See also
Satyrs | Myths and Legends


Source
The Faerie Queene | Edmund Spenser, 1570-1599