Ugly


    1. Ugly Appearance
      Laide Semblance

      An adventure established by Judas Maccabeus.

      It is found in the Livre d’Artus. The "Ugly Appearance" was the image of a fierce creature whose gaze could turn a man to stone. Arthur’s knight Greu delivered the realm of the Wise Lady from its terror, and Merlin dumped it into the gulf of Satellie.

      In Der Pleier’s German romances, its counterpart is the head belonging to the demon Vulganus.


    2. Ugly Brave

      Sixth best of Arthur's knights, according to the list Chrétien de Troyes begins in line 1691 of Erec and Enide.

      I regret being unable to give the original French of this interesting appellation, English translations of which may vary.


    3. Ugly Hero
      The Black Knight
      Alait Hardi; Lai Hardis, Lais Hardi, - Hardis, - of Lardis; Lait Hardi, Laiz Hardiz, the Lays Hardy, Layz Hardy, Lez Hardiz, Lylais the Hardy

      A Knight of the Round Table first mentioned in the catalogues of Chrétien de Troyes, next to the Handsome Coward.

      The Vulgate Cycle provides his biography: a Black Knight from the castle of Amalvi, the Ugly Hero was properly named Acanor. Although the Ugly Hero and his father were both Christians, Acanor’s dark skin lent him the common nickname.

      He participated in Arthur’s wars against King Rions and King Claudas, and in several quests to find a missing Lancelot. After a tournament in Estrangorre, the Ugly Hero swore fealty to King Brandegorre’s daughter.

      Lancelot freed him from an imprisonment at the Forbidden Hill (Le Tertre Deuee). Erec defeated him in combat during the Grail Quest. Aside from his deeds in the Vulgate Cycle, he also undergoes a series of knightly adventures in Claris et Laris.

      See also
      Twelve Peers | The Legend of King Arthur


    4. Ugly Maid
      Loathly Damsel

      A damsel, of extreme ugliness, rode a mule into Caerleon. [More]


    5. Ugly Squire

      He had a long chest, short neck, stiff red hair in tangles, and a face that must have been hirsute as any beast's, what with bushy forked beard, twisted mustache, and eyebrows so thick they covered his forehead and nose.

      As Gawaine ministered to the wounded Greoreas at the Galloway border, this squire rode by on a wretched packhorse, for which Greoreas asked. When Gawaine went to request it, the squire proved as surly as he was ugly, actually goading the normally courteous Gawaine into giving him a slap that knocked him out of the saddle. The squire threatened the knight with dire consequences, but Greoreas assured Gawaine that the fellow never said a civil word to anyone.

      It might be suggested, however, that the squire's threat came true when Greoreas stole Gringolet, leaving Gawaine the sorry nag.