Maledisant’s Shield
A black shield bearing a white hand and sword, carried into Arthur's court as the beginning of a mysterious quest.
Introduction#
Maledisant’s Shield is a striking emblem of unfinished chivalric duty. Black in color and marked with a white hand holding a sword, it is brought to King Arthur’s court by the damsel Maledisant, who seeks a knight to complete the quest of its fallen owner. Though the details of that quest remain obscure, the shield serves as a call to adventure – linking memory, honor, and obligation.
The Shield at Arthur’s Court#
The shield appears in Le Morte d’Arthur, where the damsel Maledisant arrives at court carrying it.
She explains that the shield once belonged to a knight who has died before completing his quest. She now seeks another knight willing to take up that burden. Sir La Cote Male Taile accepts the challenge, beginning one of the more unusual and episodic adventures in Malory’s narrative.
Despite its strong introduction, the full nature of the original quest is never clearly explained, adding to the shield’s sense of mystery.
The Damsel Maledisant#
Maledisant herself is a notable figure. Her name – meaning something like “ill-speaking” or “sharp-tounged” – reflects her initially harsh demeanor. Over the course of the story, she is transformed and later known as Beauvivante (“beautiful and lively”), suggesting a narrative of personal change alongside the knightly quest.
Her role as bearer of the shield places her in the tradition of Arthurian damsels who initiate adventures and guide knights toward trials.
Before arriving at Arthur’s court, the shield had already pass through conflict. It was taken by the villainous knight Breuse Sans Pitié, but later recovered by Tristan, who returned it to Maledisant. This episode connects the shield to the wider Arthurian world and reinforces its role as an object of contest and significance.
The Shield and Sir La Cote Male Taile#
Sir La Cote Male Taile (“the knight of the ill-fitting coat”) is an unconventional hero. Mocked at court and lacking the polish of other knights, he nevertheless proves his worth through perseverance.
The shield becomes tied to his journey, symbolizing a quest inherited rather than chosen, the testing of an unlikely knight, and the continuation of another’s unfinished story.
Sources#
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470
