NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Daniel of the Blossoming Valley


Hero of Der Stricker’s Daniel von dem blühenden Tal.

Equal in prowess to the likes of Gawaine and Perceval, he stands out among other French and German heroes for his cunning, which when paired with his valor made him a potent foe. The son of King Mandogran, Daniel took service with Arthur just before King Matur of Cluse demanded Arthur’s fealty. Matur had two giants with impenetrable skin, but Daniel nonetheless set out ahead of Arthur’s own army to reconnoiter Matur’s lands. Along the way, he liberated the Dark Mountain from an evil dwarf named Juran, and he freed the Bright Fountain from the terror of a demon.

In the former adventure, he won a sword capable of slaying Matur’s giants, which he employed to that end. Arthur killed Matur, and Daniel fought bravely in the ensuing battles with the armies of Cluse, defeating the majority of them by turning their own magical weapon against them. Later, he saved the Maiden of the Green Meadow from a monster and rescued Arthur from the father of the slain giants. Arthur crowned him the King of Cluse, and Daniel married Queen Danise, Matur’s widow.

His character is adapted liberally by Der Pleier as Garel.


See also
Blooming Valley | The Legend of King Arthur


Source
Daniel von dem blühenden Tal | Der Stricker, 1210-1225