Nightbringer | The Arthurian Online Encyclopedia

Mariadoc

Cariado, Mariadoco, Maríadokk, Marjadoc, Marjodoc, Meriadok

King Mark’s steward of Cornwall.

He began as a friend of Tristan, but became jealous and angry upon learning that Tristan and Mark’s wife Isolde – both of whom he held in high regard – were having an affair. He began a campaign to expose the lovers to Mark, allying himself with the evil dwarf Melot, which was somewhat successful.

In the traditional legend, he falsely accuses Kahedins, Tristan’s brother-in-law, of cowardice, for which Kahedins slays him. In La Tavola Ritonda, Mark, discovering he is lonely without his wife and best knight, kills Mariadoc for suggesting their exile.


Sources
Tristan | Thomas of England, 1170-1175
La Folie Tristan d’Oxford | 12th century
Tristan | Gottfried von Strassburg, early 13th century
Sir Tristrem | c. 1300
Tristrams Saga ok Ísöndar | 1226
La Tavola Ritonda | 1325–1350