Redcrosse Knight
The Knight of Holiness in Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene.
Introduction#
The Redcrosse Knight is the hero of Book I of Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene. As the Knight of Holiness, he serves Gloriana, the Fairy Queen, and later proves to be Saint George, the patron saint of England.
Titles | Knight of Holiness, Saint George
Affiliations | Order of Maidenhead, Court of Fairy Land
Heraldry | Shield emblazoned with a red cross
Alternative Names | Redcrosse, Red Cross Knight (modernized form)
The Quest with Una#
His adventures trace a spiritual journey from innocence and error to faith and redemption, culminating in his victory over a mighty dragon and his revelation as Saint George, the patron saint of England.
At Gloriana’s command, Redcrosse accompanies Una to the kingdom of her parents, whose land is ravaged by a fearsome dragon.
Along the journey, the sorcerer Archimago deceives Redcrosse into believing that Una has been unfaithful, causing the knight to abandon his faithful companion and stray from the path of holiness.
Duessa and Orgoglio#
Separated from Una, Redcrosse falls under the influence of Duessa, who disguises herself as the beautiful maiden Fidessa. Through her deception, he drinks from an enchanted fountain that robs him of his strength.
In his weakened state, Redcrosse is defeated by the giant Orgoglio and imprisoned in a dungeon.
Una eventually finds Prince Arthur, who defeats Orgoglio, exposes Duessa’s true nature, and rescues Redcrosse from captivity.
The Dragon#
After being restored both physically and spiritually, Redcrosse resumes his quest with Una.
Reaching her parents’ kingdom, he confronts the dragon in a battle lasting three days. Despite suffering terrible wounds, he ultimately slays the beast and delivers the kingdom from its oppression.
Following the victory, Redcrosse and Una become betrothed, although their marriage must await the completion of his service to Gloriana.
Saint George#
Near the conclusion of Book I, Spenser reveals that Redcrosse is in fact Saint George, the patron saint of England.
This revelation unites the poem’s Arthurian romance with England’s national saint, reinforcing the religious and patriotic themes that lie at the heart of The Faerie Queene.
Allegorical Significance#
Redcrosse personifies the virtue of Holiness. His encounters with deception, temptation, despair, and evil represent the spiritual struggles faced by every Christian believer.
His eventual triumph is achieved not through physical strength alone but through faith, perseverance, and divine grace, making his journey one of the central moral allegories of Spenser’s poem.
In the Arthurian Tradition#
Although Redcrosse is Spenser’s own creation, he belongs to the wider Arthurian tradition through The Faerie Queene. His service to Gloriana and his encounters with Prince Arthur place him within Spenser’s reimagined Arthurian world, where chivalric adventure serves as a vehicle for moral and spiritual instruction.
Sources#
The Faerie Queene | Edmund Spenser, 1570-1599
