NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Urgan the Hairy

Urgano

A troublesome giant who terrorized one of Tristan’s friends – Duke Gilan in Gottfried’s TristanKing Triamour in the Middle-English Sir Tristrem, and Duke Bramante in the Italian La Tavola Ritonda.

Tristan, visiting his friend, decided to rid him of Urgan’s malicious presence in order to claim his friend’s magical dog as a present for Isolde. Tristan’s battle with Urgan was difficult, but after blinding him in both eyes and cutting off one hand, Tristan was able to kill Urgan by shoving him off of a bridge into a river. Tristan was also said to have killed a number of Urgan’s brothers, including Lucano the Great.


Sources
La Folie Tristan d’Oxford | 12th century
Tristan | Gottfried von Strassburg, early 13th century
Tristrams Saga ok Ísöndar | 1226
Sir Tristrem | c. 1300
La Tavola Ritonda | 1325–1350