Pellam
Encyclopedia
King Pellam of Listeneise is the name that Malory gives to the Maimed King in his rendition of the tale of Sir Balin
, at whose hands Pellam suffers the Dolorous Stroke
. In the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles, Malory's source for these episodes, the character is called Pellehan.
The Dolorous Stroke is typically represented as divine vengeance for a sin on the part its recipient. The nature of Pellam's sin is not stated explicitly, though he at least tolerates his murderous brother Garlon, who slays knights while under cover of invisibility, apparently at random. Pellam also holds feasts to which "no knight may come there but if he bring his wife with him, or his paramour": this seems at odds with the adulation of chastity commonly associated with the Holy Grail
. Pellam is eventually healed when Galahad
, Bors
, and Percival
achieve the Grail.
At one point, Malory unambiguously identifies Pellam with Pelles, another Maimed King and the grandfather of Galahad
(Le Morte d'Arthur
, book 18, chapter 5). This may be the result of Malory's confusion of two different sources; he used the Post-Vulgate Cycle for the story of Balin, and the earlier Vulgate Cycle for his account of the Quest for the Holy Grail. In the Vulgate's (somewhat) clearer Grail lineage, Pelles is the son of Pellehan and is wounded in a separate accident, while in the Post-Vulgate Pelles and Pellehan are brothers. The further step of mistaking them as the same character would be understandable; he makes a similar confusion between the brothers Ywain
and Ywain the Bastard
, whom he eventually regards as the same character, though he had initially treated as separate.
Sir Balin
Sir Balin le Savage , also known as the Knight with the Two Swords, is a character in the Arthurian legend. Merlin told King Arthur he would have been his best and bravest knight. A knight before the Round Table was formed, Sir Balin hails from Northumberland, and is associated with Sir Balan, his...
, at whose hands Pellam suffers the Dolorous Stroke
Dolorous Stroke
The Dolorous Stroke is a trope in Arthurian legend and some other stories of Celtic origin.In its fullest form, it concerns the Fisher King , the guardian of the Holy Grail, who falls into sin and consequently suffers a wound from a mystical weapon...
. In the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate Cycles, Malory's source for these episodes, the character is called Pellehan.
The Dolorous Stroke is typically represented as divine vengeance for a sin on the part its recipient. The nature of Pellam's sin is not stated explicitly, though he at least tolerates his murderous brother Garlon, who slays knights while under cover of invisibility, apparently at random. Pellam also holds feasts to which "no knight may come there but if he bring his wife with him, or his paramour": this seems at odds with the adulation of chastity commonly associated with the Holy Grail
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
. Pellam is eventually healed when Galahad
Galahad
Sir Galahad |Round Table]] and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend. He is the illegitimate son of Lancelot and Elaine of Corbenic, and is renowned for his gallantry and purity. Emerging quite late in the medieval Arthurian tradition, he is perhaps the knightly...
, Bors
Bors
Bors circa 540s-580s, is the name of two knights in the Arthurian legend, one the father and one the son. Bors the Elder is the King of Gaunnes or Gaul during the early period of King Arthur's reign, and is the brother of King Ban of Benoic. Gaunnes is the Fredemundian dynastic kingdom of Neustria...
, and Percival
Percival
Percival or Perceval is one of King Arthur's legendary Knights of the Round Table. In Welsh literature his story is allotted to the historical Peredur...
achieve the Grail.
At one point, Malory unambiguously identifies Pellam with Pelles, another Maimed King and the grandfather of Galahad
Galahad
Sir Galahad |Round Table]] and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend. He is the illegitimate son of Lancelot and Elaine of Corbenic, and is renowned for his gallantry and purity. Emerging quite late in the medieval Arthurian tradition, he is perhaps the knightly...
(Le Morte d'Arthur
Le Morte d'Arthur
Le Morte d'Arthur is a compilation by Sir Thomas Malory of Romance tales about the legendary King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table...
, book 18, chapter 5). This may be the result of Malory's confusion of two different sources; he used the Post-Vulgate Cycle for the story of Balin, and the earlier Vulgate Cycle for his account of the Quest for the Holy Grail. In the Vulgate's (somewhat) clearer Grail lineage, Pelles is the son of Pellehan and is wounded in a separate accident, while in the Post-Vulgate Pelles and Pellehan are brothers. The further step of mistaking them as the same character would be understandable; he makes a similar confusion between the brothers Ywain
Ywain
Sir Ywain is a Knight of the Round Table and the son of King Urien in Arthurian legend...
and Ywain the Bastard
Ywain the Bastard
Ywain the Bastard, also called Ywain the Adventurous, is a son of King Urien of Gore and is a Knight of the Round Table in later Arthurian legend. He is often confused with his half brother Sir Ywain, after whom he was named. While the older Ywain is the child of Urien and his wife Morgan le Fay,...
, whom he eventually regards as the same character, though he had initially treated as separate.