Kings of Fairy Land
The legendary rulers of Fairy Land in Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene.
Introduction#
The Kings of Fairy Land are the legendary rulers described by Edmund Spenser in The Faerie Queene. Their genealogy provides Fairy Land with an ancient royal history comparable to the legendary kings of Britain found in medieval chronicles.
The Royal Dynasty#
Beginning with Elfin, the son of Elf, these rulers founded cities, built magnificent works, defeated giants and goblins, and established the kingdom that would eventually be ruled by Gloriana, the Fairy Queen.
Prometheus — Fairy of the Gardens of Adonis
Elf
Elfin
Elfinan
Elfiline
Elfinell
Elfant
Elfar
Elferon
Elficleos
Elfinor
[…]
Gloriana
Elfin#
The son of Elf, Elfin succeeded his father as ruler of Fairy Land. Spenser credits him with ruling not only Fairy Land but also England and America, reflecting the expansive and mythical nature of the kingdom’s earliest history.
Elfinan#
Elfin’s successor, Elfinan, founded the magnificent city of Cleopolis, which later became the seat of Gloriana’s court.
Elfiline#
Elfiline surrounded Cleopolis with a magnificent golden wall, further embellishing the capital of Fairy Land.
Elfinell#
According to Spenser, Elfinell won a great victory over the goblins, securing the kingdom against its enemies.
Elfant#
Little is recorded of Elfant, who succeeded Elfinell as one of Fairy Land’s legendary kings.
Elfar#
Spenser attributes two remarkable victories to Elfar, who slew one giant with two heads and another with three, continuing the heroic traditions of his ancestors.
Elferon#
Elferon appears in the royal genealogy of Fairy Land, although Spenser records no notable deeds during his reign.
Elficleos#
Like several of his predecessors, Elficleos is known chiefly through the genealogy preserved in The Faerie Queene.
Elfinor#
Elfinor constructed a great brazen bridge across the sea, one of the most impressive engineering feats attributed to the early kings of Fairy Land.
Legacy#
Although many of the early kings receive only brief mention, together they establish the antiquity and legitimacy of Fairy Land’s monarchy. Their deeds create a legendary past that parallels Britain’s own mythical history and prepares the way for the reign of Gloriana, under whom the principal events of The Faerie Queene unfold.
In the Arthurian Tradition#
The genealogy of Fairy Land is unique to Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene. By giving Gloriana an ancient royal lineage, Spenser elevated Fairy Land into a kingdom with a history equal to that of Arthur’s Britain, blending classical mythology, medieval romance, and Renaissance political ideals into a single legendary tradition.
Sources#
The Faerie Queene | Edmund Spenser, 1570-1599
