Samsiz of the Black Island

Subject of a unique and darkly comical episode in the Serbo-Russian Povest’ o Tryshchane.

Samsiz was a king who arrived at Arthur’s camp and challenged all of his knights. He defeated thirteen of them, including Palamedes, Lancelot, and Arthur, and took them as prisoners back to his island. Guinevere sought out Tristan’s assistance.

After several adventures, Tristan, Guinevere, and Isolde arrived at the Black Island disguised as Venetians. Tristan was forced to protect the ladies from Samsiz’s lecherous subjects while devising a plan to free the king. Samsiz himself desired Isolde and offered to either fight Tristan or to play a game of chess for her.

Tristan had put on a great show of being a simple merchant, and Samsiz felt he had little to fear. Tristan chose combat, and by the time Samsiz realized his mistake, Tristan had sliced off both of his hands. Tristan freed Samsiz’s prisoners.