Maydenland
The enchanted land of fairies where, in Ulrich’s Lanzelet, Lancelot was raised by his foster-mother, a fairy. It had no men, but Lancelot was able to learn skill with arms from visiting mermen. It is comparable to the island or valley in later legends ruled by the Lady of the Lake.
In the Middle English Sir Perceval of Galles, Maidenland is the fairy land ruled by the Lady Lufamour. It was attacked by the Saracen Sultan Golrotherame, who wanted to wed Lufamour. Perceval saved Maidenland and married the queen. In this role, its counterpart in earlier Perceval romances is Beaurepaire.
Another “Maidenland” appears in Ywain and Gawain, taking the place of the Island of Maidens in Chrétien’s Yvain.
It parallels the Irish Celtic Otherworld land called Tír na mBan (“Land of Women”).
See also
Johfritz de Liez | The Legend of King Arthur
Sources
Lanzelet | Ulrich von Zatzikhoven, c. 1200
Sir Perceval of Galles | Early 14th century
Ywain and Gawain | 1310–1340