Twelve

1. Twelve Peers

   A table in King Brandegorre of Estrangorre’s hall. The twelve knights who performed best at one of Brandegorre’s tournaments could sit at the table.

   On one occasion, these twelve included:

   1. Agoyer the Cruel
   2. Agricol the Well-Spoken
   3. Arfusat the Fat
   4. Calcas the Short
   5. Garengaus the Strong
   6. Malaquin the Welshman
   7. Mallias of the Thorn
   8. Melidan the Merry
   9. Patrides of the Golden Circle
   10. Sabilor the Hard-Handed
   11. Sarduc the Blond
   12. Ugly Hero.

   These twelve knights swore fealty to Brandegorre’s daughter (Brandegoris).

   
   

2. Twelve Peers of the Gauls

   A group of twelve knights who Guerin of Chartres brought to pay homage to Arthur at his coronation feast in Caerleon. They also joined Arthur for the Roman War. Geoffrey’s allusion to the Twelve Peers seems to be an attempt to compare the greatness of Arthur’s court to that of Charlemagne in continental romance.

   
   

3. Twelve Rules of the Round Table

   Giovanni Boccaccio’s De Casibus Virorum Illustrium enumerates twelve basic rules that formed the Round Table’s code of honor and service.

   1. To never lay down arms
   2. To seek after wonders
   3. When called upon, to defend the rights of the weak with all one’s strength
   4. To injure no one
   5. Not to attack one another
   6. To fight for the safety of one’s friends
   7. To give one’s life for one’s country
   8. To seek nothing before honor
   9. Never to break faith for any reason
   10. To practice religion most diligently
   11. To grant hospitality to anyone, each according to his ability
   12. Whether in honor or disgrace, to make a report with the greatest fidelity to truth to those who keep the annals