NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Guenevere’s Sleeve


Guenevere gave Lancelot a sleeve of gold to wear on his helmet at tournaments so that his kinsmen would know him. Lancelot apparently wore it from then on.

What else could he do, after not only wearing Elaine of Astolat’s sleeve at the tournament of Winchester, but being grievously wounded by his cousin Sir Bors, who did not know him, in the same tourney? All of this had caused Guenevere to insist he now take her token.