Brunor facts for kids
Brunor, also spelled Breunor or Branor, is a name used for several characters in the stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. The most famous one is Sir Brunor le Noir, also known as "the Black Knight." His father and other knights also share this name.
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Brunor le Noir
Sir Brunor le Noir (pronounced BROO-nor luh NWAHR) is a young knight. He gets the funny nickname La Cote Male Taile (which means "the badly cut coat" in French) from Sir Kay. This happens when Brunor arrives at King Arthur's court wearing his dead father's old, torn armor and coat. He is not the same person as his father, who was also named Brunor the Black but was better known as "The Good Knight Without Fear."
Brunor's adventures first appeared in old stories like the Prose Tristan. Later, they were expanded in famous books like Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory. Brunor is not very good at jousting (fighting on horseback with a lance), but he is almost unbeatable when fighting on foot. His older brother is always Sir Dinadan. In some stories, he has another brother named Sir Daniel. Brunor eventually marries a lady who, at first, makes fun of him, much like Lynette did to Gareth. They go on a long journey together, facing many challenges.
The Story of La Cote Male Taile (Malory's Version)
Brunor's story is similar to other tales from the Middle Ages about a "Fair Unknown." These stories are about a young hero who is not recognized at first but proves his worth. Other knights like Gareth and Percival have similar tales. Like Gareth, Brunor is given an insulting name by Kay when he arrives at Camelot. He also has to prove himself to a lady who constantly teases him.
The story begins when Brunor arrives at Camelot. He is wearing his dead father's bloody coat because he has promised not to take it off until he avenges his father's death. People make fun of him, and his outfit earns him the nickname La Cote Male Taile. At first, King Arthur doesn't want him to join his knights. But Sir Gawain speaks up for him. After Brunor returns to court, Kay keeps trying to embarrass him. However, Brunor soon shows his bravery by saving Queen Guinevere from an escaped lion. After this, King Arthur makes him a knight.
A young lady arrives at court carrying a large black shield with a white hand holding a sword on it. She explains that the knight who used to carry this shield died on a quest. Now, she is looking for a brave knight to continue the quest. Brunor agrees to go with her. But the lady constantly teases him about his clothing and looks. Because of this, she gets the nickname Maledisant, which means "Evil-speaking."
After they leave the castle, Brunor meets Dagonet, King Arthur's court jester. Kay had sent Dagonet to joust with the new knight. Brunor quickly defeats Dagonet. But Maledisant's teasing only gets worse. She says it's an insult that the court sent a jester instead of a real knight to challenge Brunor. Later, Brunor meets two other Knights of the Round Table, Sir Bleoberis and Sir Palomides. They challenge him, and he is knocked off his horse by both of them. They refuse to fight him on foot and just leave. This brings even more sharp criticism from Maledisant.
Brunor later travels with the young Mordred to Castle Orgulous, which means "Proud Castle." The knights have to fight their way into the castle. After Mordred gets hurt, Brunor continues alone. Inside the castle, he finds a hundred knights in a lady's room. The knights attack him, but Brunor manages to escape with the help of his black shield. He gets on his horse and rides away. Maledisant doubts his story and sends someone to check. The witness returns and proves Maledisant was wrong. Brunor remains calm and doesn't scold her.
They continue their journey after Mordred leaves, and Lancelot joins them. But Lancelot also leaves after Maledisant starts teasing him too. They arrive at Pendragon Castle, which belongs to King Arthur's enemy, Sir Brian of the Isles. There, one of six knights challenges Brunor to a joust. Brunor wins, but then the other five knights unfairly attack him. They take him and Maledisant as prisoners into the castle. Lancelot comes to rescue them. He fights Brian until Brian gives up. Lancelot frees Brunor and Maledisant, along with many other knights and ladies. Lancelot then agrees to ride with them only if Maledisant stops saying mean things to Brunor and himself. Maledisant then admits that she was only teasing them to test how strong and patient the knights were.
Later, they come to a castle near the country of Sorelais. Brunor enters the castle alone and defeats two brothers who challenge him. Finally, he arrives at another castle, where he meets Sir Plenorius. Brunor is too wounded to fight anymore. So, out of pity, Plenorius carries him into a tower as a prisoner. When Lancelot hears about this, he challenges Plenorius to a long battle. Plenorius eventually gives up. Brunor stays at the castle to heal from his wounds. Afterward, he returns to King Arthur's court with Lancelot and Maledisant.
Brunor becomes a Knight of the Round Table at the next Pentecost celebration. He marries the "Ill-Speaking Maiden," who is now called Beauvivante ("Well-living") or Bienpensant ("Well-thinking") because her attitude has changed. Lancelot gives them Castle Pendragon, which he won from Brian. It is said that Brunor eventually succeeded in avenging his father's death.
Other Characters Named Brunor
Branor the Brown, the Dragon Knight
Sir Branor the Brown is a knight from King Uther's original Round Table. He appears in old French stories. His famous family from Vallebrun (the Brown Valley) also includes his nephew Seguran the Brown. Seguran was known as a great warrior during Uther's time.
In his story, Branor le Brun, also called the Knight of the Dragon, visits King Arthur's court when he is 120 years old! He then defeats King Arthur and many of his famous knights, including Gawain, Lancelot, Palamedes, and Tristan, in jousting matches.
Brunor the Black, the Good Knight Without Fear
Sir Brunor the Black is the father of the younger Brunor le Noir and Dinadan. He was a very brave knight during King Uther's reign. Uther even made him the King of Estrangore. He was also known as the Good Knight Without Fear.
Stories tell how Brunor went on a journey to rescue his old friend, Ludinas, from a cruel giant named Nabon the Black. Brunor defeats Nabon's son, Nathan, in a duel. But then Brunor is captured and kept in the giant's castle dungeon for several years. He becomes very sad and confused. Eventually, he is freed by Tristan and gets his mind back with the help of a doctor. Two years later, when he is old and unarmed, Brunor is attacked and badly wounded by two evil knights. Another story tells how he was surprisingly rescued by his enemy, Tristan's father, King Meliadus.
Brunor of Castle Pluere
Sir Brunor is an Irish knight who is the father of the famous knight Galehaut. He appears in several Tristan stories. He takes over Castle Pluere, also called the Castle of Tears. He marries the giantess who was the widow of the castle's previous owner. They have a son, Galehaut, and a daughter. Brunor follows the castle's old customs. These customs involve challenging visiting knights to prove they are stronger than him, and their ladies to prove they are more beautiful than his wife. Eventually, Tristan defeats and kills Brunor, following these same customs, and becomes the new lord of the castle.
See also
In Spanish: Sir Breunor le Noire para niños
- Black Knight
