Sir Cligés
Sir Cligés was a Knight of the Round Table who appears in several Arthurian romances. Although he shares his name with Chrétien's Cligés, the two are generally regarded as separate characters.
Introduction#
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Sir Cligés was a Knight of the Round Table who appears in a number of Arthurian romances, including the First Continuation of Perceval, Yder, Les Merveilles de Rigomer, and Claris et Laris. Across his various appearances, Sir Cligés is portrayed as a capable knight who serves Arthur with loyalty, though his role and background differ from one romance to another.
Although he shares his name with the hero of Chrétien de Troyes’ Cligés, medieval romances generally treat the two as distinct characters with separate histories.
Affiliations | Round Table
Alternative Names | Clicés, Clies, Clygés
In the First Continuation of Perceval#
The First Continuation of Perceval identifies Sir Cligés as the son of King Lac. Beyond this brief genealogical notice, the romance offers little information about his life.
In Yder#
In the romance Yder, Sir Cligés serves Queen Guenloie of Carvain. His outspoken criticism of the queen’s obvious affection for Sir Yder earns her displeasure, and he is banished from her court.
Later, Cligés encounters Yder himself, who promises to reconcile the knight with the queen, restoring him to her favour.
In Les Merveilles de Rigomer#
Sir Cligés joins Arthur’s knights in the expedition to conquer the mysterious Castle of Rigomer. During the journey, he brings an end to the sinister customs of the Accursed Cemetery, one of the many marvels encountered during the adventure.
Rigomer also describes him as being from Greece, a detail that may reflect the influence of Chrétien de Troyes’ more famous Cligés, though the romances otherwise treat the two as separate characters.
In Claris et Laris#
In Claris et Laris, Sir Cligés carries King Arthur’s standard during battle, a role that reflects the king’s trust in his courage and loyalty.
In the Arthurian Tradition#
Sir Cligés appears across several independent romances without forming a single, continuous biography. While later authors may have borrowed his name from Chrétien de Troyes’ celebrated hero, they generally portray him as a distinct Knight of the Round Table whose adventures belong to Arthur’s court rather than to the imperial world of Constantinople.
His appearances illustrate how medieval authors frequently reused familiar names, adapting them to new stories and characters without intending them to represent the same individual.
Sources#
First Continuation of Chrétien’s Perceval | Attributed to Wauchier of Denain, c. 1200
Yder | Early 13th century
Les Merveilles de Rigomer | Jehan, mid to late 13th century
Claris et Laris | 1268
