Sons of Mordred
Encyclopedia
The sons of Mordred appear in several works of Arthurian
literature. The stories always number them as two, though they are usually not named. They generally figure as the heirs to their father's traitorous aims and enemies of King Arthur
's successors. Their first appearance is in Geoffrey of Monmouth
's fanciful Historia Regum Britanniae
, the earliest work to describe Mordred
as a usurper.
In Geoffrey's version, after Arthur and Mordred had died at the Battle of Camlann
, Constantine III
is appointed Arthur's successor. However, Mordred's two sons and their Saxon
allies rise against him. He defeats them, and one of them flees to sanctuary in the Church of Amphibalus
in Winchester
while the other hides in a London
friary. Constantine tracks them down, and executes them before the altars in their respective hiding places. This act invokes the vengeance of God, and three years later Constantine is killed by his nephew Aurelius Conanus
. Early in the Historia Geoffrey states that Mordred has married Arthur's wife Guanhumara
, but does not indicate whether Mordred's sons were the product of this union. Geoffrey's account of the episode is based on Constantine's murder of two "royal youths" as mentioned by the 6th-century writer Gildas
.
The elder of Mordred's sons is named Melehan or some derivation in the Lancelot-Grail
and Post-Vulgate Cycle
s. In these texts, Lancelot
and his men return to Britain to dispatch Melehan and his brother after receiving a letter from the dying Gawain
. In the ensuing battle Melehan slays Lionel
, son of King Bors the Elder and brother to Sir Bors
the Younger. Bors kills him to avenge his brother's death, while Lancelot slays the unnamed younger brother.
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
literature. The stories always number them as two, though they are usually not named. They generally figure as the heirs to their father's traitorous aims and enemies of King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
's successors. Their first appearance is in Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a cleric and one of the major figures in the development of British historiography and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
's fanciful Historia Regum Britanniae
Historia Regum Britanniae
The Historia Regum Britanniae is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written c. 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons in a chronological narrative spanning a time of two thousand years, beginning with the Trojans founding the British nation...
, the earliest work to describe Mordred
Mordred
Mordred or Modred is a character in the Arthurian legend, known as a notorious traitor who fought King Arthur at the Battle of Camlann, where he was killed and Arthur fatally wounded. Tradition varies on his relationship to Arthur, but he is best known today as Arthur's illegitimate son by his...
as a usurper.
In Geoffrey's version, after Arthur and Mordred had died at the Battle of Camlann
Battle of Camlann
The Battle of Camlann is best known as the final battle of King Arthur, where he either died in battle, or was fatally wounded fighting his enemy Mordred.-Historicity:...
, Constantine III
Constantine (Briton)
Constantine was a minor king in 6th-century sub-Roman Britain, who was remembered in later British tradition as a legendary King of Britain. The only contemporary information about him comes from Gildas, who calls him king of Damnonia and castigates him for his various sins, including the murder...
is appointed Arthur's successor. However, Mordred's two sons and their Saxon
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
allies rise against him. He defeats them, and one of them flees to sanctuary in the Church of Amphibalus
Amphibalus
Saint Amphibalus was formerly venerated as the Christian priest traditionally sheltered by Saint Alban, who was converted by him, as a consequence of which Alban was martyred....
in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
while the other hides in a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
friary. Constantine tracks them down, and executes them before the altars in their respective hiding places. This act invokes the vengeance of God, and three years later Constantine is killed by his nephew Aurelius Conanus
Aurelius Conanus
Aurelius Conanus or Aurelius Caninus was a Brythonic king in 6th-century sub-Roman Britain. The only certain historical record of him is in the writings of his contemporary Gildas, who excoriates him as a tyrant. However, he may be identified with one of the several similarly named figures active...
. Early in the Historia Geoffrey states that Mordred has married Arthur's wife Guanhumara
Guinevere
Guinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot...
, but does not indicate whether Mordred's sons were the product of this union. Geoffrey's account of the episode is based on Constantine's murder of two "royal youths" as mentioned by the 6th-century writer Gildas
Gildas
Gildas was a 6th-century British cleric. He is one of the best-documented figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during this period. His renowned learning and literary style earned him the designation Gildas Sapiens...
.
The elder of Mordred's sons is named Melehan or some derivation in the Lancelot-Grail
Lancelot-Grail
The Lancelot–Grail, also known as the Prose Lancelot, the Vulgate Cycle, or the Pseudo-Map Cycle, is a major source of Arthurian legend written in French. It is a series of five prose volumes that tell the story of the quest for the Holy Grail and the romance of Lancelot and Guinevere...
and Post-Vulgate Cycle
Post-Vulgate Cycle
The Post-Vulgate Cycle is one of the major Old French prose cycles of Arthurian literature. It is essentially a rehandling of the earlier Vulgate Cycle , with much left out and much added, including characters and scenes from the Prose Tristan.The Post-Vulgate, written probably between 1230 and...
s. In these texts, Lancelot
Lancelot
Sir Lancelot du Lac is one of the Knights of the Round Table in the Arthurian legend. He is the most trusted of King Arthur's knights and plays a part in many of Arthur's victories...
and his men return to Britain to dispatch Melehan and his brother after receiving a letter from the dying Gawain
Gawain
Gawain is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table who appears very early in the Arthurian legend's development. He is one of a select number of Round Table members to be referred to as the greatest knight, most notably in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight...
. In the ensuing battle Melehan slays Lionel
Sir Lionel
Sir Lionel is the younger son of King Bors of Gaunnes and Evaine and brother of Bors the Younger in Arthurian legend. He is a double cousin of Lancelot and cousin of Lancelot's younger half-brother Ector de Maris...
, son of King Bors the Elder and brother to Sir 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...
the Younger. Bors kills him to avenge his brother's death, while Lancelot slays the unnamed younger brother.