Jaiant, Jaians, Jaianz
Many giants are to be found in Celtic mythology and legend. Britain was said to have been ruled by a race of giants before the arrival of Brutus, who defeated them, though even he was accompanied by a ‘giant’, Corineus. Later giants tended to be portrayed as clumsy, greedy cannibals who dominated whole districts.
Traditionally, a giant could not be overcome by sheer strength but could be defeated by trickery and cunning. One of the best known of all children’s fairy tales is ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, in which a giant is defeated by Jack the Giant-killer. This giant is none other than the Cornish giant Cormoran.
Here are a few giants from Sommer’s list.
- Jaians, les deux
Whom Lancelot killed near Camaalot. - Jaians, les deux, de Tinaguel
Whom Lancelot killed before he is deceived by one of Morgan’s damsels. - Jaianz, les trois
Whom Gawain kills near the Enchanted Orchard.
Giants in the Arthurian legends
In the list there are giants, giantesses as well as characters “built like a giant”.
Alchendic
Amoroldo
Argante
Ascanior the Fierce
Assiles
Asue
Aupatris
Bagota
Baingranz of Ainsgalt
Balar of the Dreadful
Beautiful Giantess
Belagog
Beliagog
Bendigeid Vran
Black Man
Blunderboar
Bran the Blessed
Brien
Brun
Bullherd of Broceliande
Caradoc the Thirteenth
Carados of the Dolorous Tower
Carl of Carlisle
Carone the Great of Granchole
Ceimiad
Ceron
Colbrand
Corineus
Cormoran
Curoi
Demons of Pesme Avanture
Dialetes
Dinabuc
Diwrnach
Durkan
Esclamor
Esealt the Tall
Faran
Farasan
Federiel
Fidegart
Fjallsharfir
Galaas the Mighty
Galangelle of Klumester
Galapas
Gargamelle
Gargantua
Giant of Mont Saint Michel
Giant of the Black Lowe
Giant of the Mount Araby
Giant Without a Name
Glumdalca
Goemagot
Gog and Magog
Gogfran the Giant
Gogulor
Gourmaillon
Grandgousier
Grantorto
Harpin of the Mountain
Hebusan
Hellekin
Herne the Hunter
Jolyan
Jonap
Karabin
Karedos of Malmontan
Knight-Giant
Logrin
Lucanor
Luce
Mabonagrain
Mago
Magog
Mahaglant
Malduit
Malseron
Margan
Margon
Mauduit the Wicked Giant
Moldagog
Morin
Giants in the Arthurian legends
In the list there are characters, locations and items connected to giants.
Abbey of Gannes
Agloans
Aladuke
Alain of Escavalon
Albewin
Albine
Albion
Alchino of Logres
Aliban of the Waste City
Alienor
Allebran
Alteria
Alverne
Amathaon
Amelide
Amercile
Amurat of Turtus
Anchises
Antore
Anzansnuse
Arbrun
Argentin
Argretta
Arondiel
Arquais
Artegall
Bedivere
Behalim of Zadas
Bertelais
Bilis
Black Hag
Blancheflor
Blandukors
Blathnat
Bliandois
Bramante
Branwen
Brent Knoll
Briestoc
Bright Fountain
Britain
Brittany
Brown Rock
Brun of the Savage Realm
Brunor
Brutus
Bwlch-y-Groes
Cadoc of Tabriol
Castel de La Blanche Espine
Castel del Trespas
Castle of Nestor
Castle of Tears
Castle Rushen
Cave of Lovers
Caw
Cei
Celidoine
Chastity Test
Clarie
Club of Iron
Cluse
Coat of the Giant of Mont Saint Michel
Conon of Cornwall
Constantine
Corineus
Count del Parc
Countess of Orofoise and Her Sister
Culhwch
Cynddylig the Guide
Daniel of the Blossoming Valley
Giant of the Black Lowe
Dianfer
Dillus the Bearded
Distant Isles
Dolorous Stroke
Dolorous Tower
Duessa
Duzabel
Dynaunt
Eden
Edolanz
Effin
Eigrun
Einion
Ekunaver of Kanadic
Elfar
Elimar of Argentin
Enide
Erec
Ernant
Errant’s Hermitage
Eryri
Escanor Le Grand
Escu Blanc
Fairy Land
Favida
Fergus of Cornwall
Fermoracco della Piemontana
Flois of the Green Island
Floree
Floriant
Foreign Port
Forestier
Gabrionello
Gaheris of Orkney
Galabes
Galeguinant
Galeholt of Sorelois
Galyhud
Garel
Gaudin the Brown of the Mountain
Gawain
Gawaine’s Wife
Genoa
Geraint
Gerard
Giant’s Isle
Gilan of Swales
Gismirante
Giwanet
Gloriana
Glythfyr Ledewig
Godonas
Gofannon
Golrotherame
Good Knight Without Fear
Goreu
Grail Sword
Green Island
Gromer
Guinglain
Guiron the Courteous
Gurgurant
Guy of Warwick
Gwenhwyfar
Gwyddno Garanhir
Gwythr
Hall of Statues
Hela
Helena
Hermit
Hill Castle
Hoel of Brittany
Howel of Brittany
Ignaro
Irena
Isle of Man
Isle of Servage
Isoud La Blanche Mains
Jack the Giant-Killer
Juran
Kalviel of Folkburg
Karinlisborg
Kay the Seneschal
King David’s Sword and Scabbard
Klarine of Argentin
Klarine of Turtus
Klaris of Argentin
Knight of the Sleeve
Land of Pastures and Giants
Land that Tristan Freed
Linier
Lionel de Nantoel
Lionferfo
Llwyr
Loholt
Lombardy
Lothan
Low Spring
Ludinas
Malduc
Mallerstang
Malmontan
Malvern
Marboar
Marhaus
Marmyadose
Matur of Cluse
Meleranz
Mennon the Small
Mermin
Misty Lake
Mitridés of the Dolorous Tower
Mont Saint Michel
Mormonda
Mount Aravius
Mount Snowdon
Nabor
Nascien d’Orberique
Nathan
Nestor of Gannes
Niece of Lionel de Nantoel
Niwalen
Noble Maiden
Old Lady
Olwen
Orsl
Ozana le Cure Hardy
Palades
Passbruel
Passing
Pen Oyle
Pendeen
Perilous Valley
Petitcrieu
Piantagiorno
Printemps, Eté and Automne
Red Cross Knight
Redoubted Island
Reinion of Hungary
Rhymhi
Rience
Rocher Merlin
Ryons
Ryons’ Mantle and Sword
Saint Bernard’s Mount
Saint Michael’s Mount
Saint Michel’s Mont
Salmanide
Sanza Avventura
Satyrane
Savage Valley
Segwarides
Severauce le Breuse
Sgaipegaz
Sidravalle
Stone of the Giant
Stonehenge
Straits of Sorelois
Sword with the Strange Hangings
Tandareis
Taraquin
Templars
Terraguel
Thirteen Treasures of Britain
Three Great Queens of King Arthur
Three Principal Enchanters
Tintagil Castle
Tom Thumb
Towers of Judgement
Triamour of Wales
Tridan
Turtus
Tweedsmuir
Twrch Trwyth
Ubbi of Buderisborg
Una
Vyolette
White Abbey
White Castle
Wicked Pass
Wigalois
Yder
Ysgithyrwyn
Ywaine
Ywaine’s Lion
See also
Topography and Local Legends | The Legend of King Arthur
Giants | Myths and Legends