Accolon of Gaul
A Knight of the Round Table and the lover of Morgan le Fay. He unknowingly fought King Arthur while wielding the true Excalibur.
Introduction#
Accolon of Gaul was a Knight of the Round Table and the lover of Morga le Fay. Through his relationship with Arthur’s half-sister, he became entangled in one of the most famous conspiracies of the Arthurian legends – a plot to overthrow King Arthur and place Accolon upon the throne of Britain.
Affiliations | Round Table
Alternative Names | Accalon
Morgan’s Chosen Champion#
Morgan le Fay sought to rid herself of both her husband, King Uriens of Gore, and her brother, King Arthur. In Accolon she found a willing ally and prospective king. To further her scheme, Morgan arranged for Accolon to receive the true Excalibur and its scabbard, while Arthur was left with a counterfeit weapon.
The Enchanted Voyage#
While hunting together, Arthur, Uriens, and Accolon became separated after Morgan worked her magic upon them. Wandering to the shore, they found a mysterious vessel crewed by beautiful women.
After boarding the ship and falling asleep, the three men awoke in different locations.
Uriens found himself safely returned to his bed and wife. Arthur awoke as a prisoner of the knight Damas. Accolon, meanwhile, received Excalibur from a dwarf acting on Morgan’s behalf and soon became involved in a dispute between Damas and his brother Ontzlake.
The Duel with Arthur#
When Damas and Ontzlake agreed to settle their quarrel through champions, Arthur fought for Damas while Accolon fought for Ontzlake.
Neither knight recognized the other. Armed with Excalibur, Accolon quickly gained the advantage. Arthur’s counterfeit sword proved no match for the genuine blade, and the king was nearly defeated.
At the critical moment, Nimue – the Lady of the Lake – or, in some versions, a fairy skilled in magic, intervened. Excalibur slipped from Accolon’s grasp and fell into Arthur’s possession.
The balance of the battle changed at once.
After striking Accolon down, Arthur removed his opponent’s helmet and was shocked to discover the identity of the knight he had fought.
Accolon confessed Morgan’s plot and begged Arthur’s forgiveness. The king, recognizing that Accolon had himself been deceived, granted it. Though mortally wounded, Accolon was spared punishment and died reconciled with Arthur.
Morgan’s Revenge#
Arthur sent Accolon’s body to Morgan as a sign that her conspiracy had failed. The knight was buried, by Arthur, at St. Stephen’s Church in Camelot.
The conflict between Arthur and Morgan did not end there. While Arthur recovered from his wounds in a nunnery, Morgan made further attempts to obtain Excalibur and its scabbard. When she realized Arthur was pursuing her, she cast the scabbard into a lake. The loss was significant, for the scabbard possessed the power to protect its bearer from bleeding to death.
Legacy#
Accolon occupies a unique place in Arthurian tradition. Though often remembered as Arthur’s enemy, he was ultimately a victim of Morgan le Fay’s ambitions.
His story combines enchantment, mistaken identity, betrayal, and tragic reconciliation, making him one of the most memorable figures connected with Morgan’s schemes against Arthur.
Sources#
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470
Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin | 1230-1240
