Meliant

1. Meliant

   A nephew of King Faramon of France in the Prose Tristan. He was accused of theft at the same time that Faramon's daughter, Belide, falsely accused Tristan (Tristram) of rape. Faramon offered Belide a choice of saving either Meliant or Tristan; when she chose Tristan, he knew she was lying about the crime. The same character is named Brano in La Tavola Ritonda.

   
   

2. Meliant
   Melianus

   An ancestor of Gawain, descended from Peter. Meliant inherited the kingdom of Orkney from his father, Herlan, and passed it on to his son, Argistes.

   
   

3. Meliant

   Arthur's lord of Cardueil who led a battalion in the second war against Claudas.

   
   

4. Meliant of Dianarca
   Meleagant, Meliagante, Melyan, Melyant, Melyas

   A young knight from Dianarca, Lyle, or Denmark. He was knighted by Galahad at the beginning of the Grail Quest. He was soon badly wounded because he did not make a full confession before embarking on the Quest, because he proudly took a dangerous road, and because he covetously stole a crown. He recovered, and was present at Corbenic (Carbonek) when Galahad completed the Quest.

   Arthur appointed him to the Round Table, but Meliant pledged his support to Lancelot when the latter's affair with Guenevere was exposed. He helped rescue the queen from the stake, and fought against Arthur at the battles of Joyous Guard and Benoic (Benwick). In return for his support, Lancelot made him the earl of Tursan.

   
   

5. Meliant of Lis
   Melian, Melians, Melianz, Mellianz, Meljanz of Liz, Miljanz

   The King of Lis and one of Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, according to Chrétien de Troyes and Wolfram von Eschenbach. He was raised by a lord named Tiebaut or Lyppaut, and he fell in love with his foster-father's daughter, Obie. When Obie rejected his love, Meliant became enraged and declared war on Lyppaut, summoning many knights - including his uncle Bagdemagus and his cousin Meleagant (Meleagaunce) - to his aid. Gawain joined Lyppaut's defense. Gawain captured Meliant in the battle and made him the prisoner of Obie's sister Obilot. Oblilot, in turn, gave him to her sister. Meliant and Obie reconciled, and the war was ended. Later, as an ally of Arthur, Meliant was captured in a battle at the castle of Logres.

   In Perlevaus, we learn that Meliant's father, the lord of the Waste Manor, was killed by Lancelot. Here, Meliant is presented as an antagonist to Arthur who harbors hate for all of Arthur's court. He joined forces with Brien of the Isles and Kay, who were at war with Arthur. Meliant was mortally wounded by Lancelot at the battle of Pennevoiseuse.

   The Prose Lancelot credits him with being one of only five men to ever cross the perilous North Wales Bridge into Sorelois. In the Livre d'Artus, he marries Florée, daughter of King Alain of Escavalon.

   Meliant of Lis could easily be the origin of any of the other Melaints. A character similar to Wolfram's Meliant appear in Heinrich von dem Türlin as Fiers of Arramis.

   
   

6. Meliant of Meliadel

   A knight whose sister, Melie, was assisted by Arthur's Sir Meriadeuc.