The question of whether there were 12 knights of the round table is a matter of some debate and depends on how one defines a “knight of the round table.”
The concept of the round table is most commonly associated with the legend of King Arthur and his knights. According to legend, King Arthur gathered his knights around a round table to symbolize their equality and to promote unity among them. The exact number of knights who sat at the round table is not specified in most versions of the legend, and different sources provide different lists of knights.
One of the earliest and most influential accounts of King Arthur and his knights is the 12th-century work Historia Regum Britanniae (“History of the Kings of Britain”) by Geoffrey of Monmouth. In this work, Geoffrey lists 12 knights who were said to have been present at the round table. These knights were:
- Sir Kay
- Sir Bedevere
- Sir Gawain
- Sir Galahad
- Sir Lancelot
- Sir Gareth
- Sir Geraint
- Sir Bors
- Sir Percival
- Sir Tristan
- Sir Lamorak
- Sir Palamedes
However, other sources provide different lists of knights. For example, the 13th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes, who is credited with introducing the character of Lancelot to the Arthurian legend, does not provide a definitive list of knights who sat at the round table. Instead, he mentions various knights throughout his works, including Lancelot, Gawain, Yvain, and Perceval.
Later works, such as Sir Thomas Malory’s 15th-century Le Morte d’Arthur, also provide different lists of knights. In Malory’s version, there are 25 knights who are specifically named as sitting at the round table, but he also mentions other knights who are not listed. Some of the knights who are specifically named in Malory’s work include:
- Sir Lancelot
- Sir Gawain
- Sir Galahad
- Sir Gareth
- Sir Geraint
- Sir Bors
- Sir Percival
- Sir Tristram
- Sir Lamorak
- Sir Palomides
- Sir Kay
- Sir Bedevere
- Sir Dagonet
- Sir Bleoberis
- Sir Lucan
- Sir Ector
- Sir Bohors
- Sir Lionel
- Sir Launcelot de Lake
- Sir Belias
- Sir Ironside
- Sir Brandiles
- Sir Sagramore
- Sir Dodinas
- Sir Ozanna
It is worth noting that the concept of the round table was likely not historically accurate, as it is unlikely that medieval knights would have sat around a table in this way. The idea of the round table was likely a literary invention meant to symbolize the ideals of unity and equality among King Arthur’s knights.
In conclusion, while some sources provide a list of 12 knights who sat at the round table, other sources provide different lists, and the exact number of knights is not definitively established in the Arthurian legend. However, the concept of the round table was a powerful symbol of unity and equality among King Arthur’s knights, and remains a beloved part of the Arthurian legend to this day.
Related
- Are there 12 knights of the round table?
- Elegant Christmas Table Settings for Round Tables
- Elegant Christmas Table Settings for Round Tables
- Elegant Round Christmas Table Settings