Circle of Gold

A Vallet of the Circle of Gold and a Maiden of the Circle of Gold appear in French verse romance, though their names are not explained.

The Maiden, appearing in the Fourth Continuation of Chrétien’s Perlesvaus, is besieged by a Knight of the Dragon whose appearance and activities mirror the Knight of the Burning Dragon. Perceval left the Circle in Elyza’s stewardship. It was later stolen by Nabigan of the Rock but recovered by Gawaine. For a time, Perceval was known as the Knight of the Circle of Gold.

Interestingly, the author of the Vulgate Estoire del Saint Graal, describing the adventure that provided him with the Estoire, relates how he came across a messenger who said,

My lord, my lady greets you, she who was rescued by the Knight of the Circle of Gold on the day that the person you know saw the great marvel.

These allusions are not otherwise explained.

Part of the narrative of Jacob van Maerlant’s Torec involves the recovery of a magical golden circlet stolen from its owners, and both Pelleas and Morholt are awarded circlets of gold as a tournament prize in Malory’s Le Morte Darthur.