NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Lancelor of Ireland

Lanceor, Launceor

Son of one of the kings of Ireland (Malory does not specify which), Lanceor was “an orgulous [haughty] knight” of Arthur’s court, but not, apparently, of the Round Table, early in Arthur’s reign.

Jealous of Balin’s success in drawing the sword worn by “Malvis“, Lanceor pursued Balin, jousted with him, and was killed. Another source says Arthur sent Lanceor to inflict retribution on Balin for beheading the Lady of the Lake. Balin killed him in joust and his distraught lover, Lione or Colombe, committed suicide in sorrow. King Mark of Cornwall rode by, saw their bodies, had them entomed, and erected a monument to their tragic tale.

Lanceor is mainly memorable for being one of the comparatively few knights with a lady who is named Colombe, and because their tomb became a kind of landmark when Merlin accurately predicted that Lancelot and Tristram would someday fight each other there.


Sources
Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin | 1230-1240
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470