Pellinore facts for kids
King Pellinore (also called Pellinor or Pellynore) is a famous king in the stories of King Arthur. He ruled over a place called Listenoise, which might have been the Lake District in England. Sometimes, he is said to be the king of "the Isles," possibly Anglesey. Pellinore is well-known for his never-ending hunt for a strange creature called the Questing Beast. He also fought and killed King Lot. Pellinore had many children, including his sons Aglovale, Lamorak, and Percival, and his daughter Dindrane.
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King Pellinore's Story
King Pellinore is an important character in the old stories about King Arthur. These stories were written in the 1200s and later collected by Thomas Malory in his book Le Morte d'Arthur. In these tales, Pellinore is the son of King Pellam. He is also the brother of Kings Pelles and Alain. Pelles is known as the Fisher King, a guardian of the Holy Grail.
Pellinore is most famous for chasing the Questing Beast. This strange monster made a noise like many different animals. Pellinore believed his family was meant to hunt this beast forever. However, another knight, Sir Palamedes, later took up the quest. Some stories say Palamedes eventually killed the beast.
His Adventures with Arthur
When King Arthur first met Pellinore, Pellinore was busy hunting the Questing Beast. Pellinore was a very strong knight. He even defeated King Arthur in a jousting match. During their fight, Pellinore broke Arthur's sword. This was the sword Arthur had pulled from the stone.
Merlin, the famous wizard, had to use a magic spell to save Arthur's life. Arthur was very impressed by Pellinore's fighting skills. Soon, they became good friends. Arthur invited Pellinore to join his famous Round Table. Pellinore then helped Arthur fight against other kings who rebelled against him.
A Family Feud
During a battle called Tarabel, Pellinore killed King Lot of Orkney. This act started a terrible family feud. A feud is a long and bitter quarrel, often between families. Because of this feud, King Lot's sons, especially Gawain and his brothers, later killed Pellinore. This feud also led to the deaths of many other knights and family members.
Some stories say that Pellinore was from the royal family of Joseph of Arimathea. This family was believed to guard the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail is a very important and mystical object in Arthurian legends. In one old book, Pellinore is called the "Maimed King." This was after he was hurt by a holy spear. He was wounded because he had doubted the powers of the Grail.
Pellinore's Children
King Pellinore had many children, both inside and outside of marriage. Several of his sons also became knights of the Round Table. These included Tor, Aglovale, Lamorak, Dornar, and Percival.
His son Percival was one of the first knights to search for the Holy Grail. Later, Percival and his grand-nephew, Galahad, were the ones who finally found the Grail. Pellinore's daughter, Percival's sister, sometimes known as Dindrane, also helped in the Grail quest. She became a servant of the Grail.
Sadly, another of his daughters, Alyne, died because Pellinore did not help her. He was too busy chasing the Questing Beast and did not realize her pleas for help were serious.
In Modern Stories
King Pellinore appears in many modern books and movies.
- In T. H. White's book The Once and Future King, Pellinore is a funny but lovable old man. He cannot stop searching for the "Questin' Beast." He believes the beast would be lonely without him. In this book, Sir Gawain and his brothers kill Pellinore. They do this to get revenge for Pellinore accidentally killing their father, King Lot, in a jousting match.
- Pellinore is also in the 1963 Walt Disney Studios movie The Sword in the Stone. He is voiced by actor Alan Napier. In the movie, Pellinore is a friend of Sir Ector. He announces the jousting tournament in London. The winner of this tournament would become king. Pellinore is kind and wise. He thinks Kay would be a bad king because Kay is bitter. Pellinore is one of the first to see that Arthur pulled the sword from the stone. He and another knight, Sir Bart, stand up for Arthur. They encourage Arthur to pull the sword out again.
- In the musical Camelot, Pellinore (often called "Pelly" by Arthur) is a funny and much-loved guest. He lives with Arthur and Guinevere. He is not sure about Arthur's new ideas for the Round Table. He is against "any new ideas" in general. Pellinore is still with Arthur before Arthur's final battle. He is there when Arthur knights a young boy named "Tom of Warwick."
- In Bernard Cornwell's The Warlord Chronicles, Pellinore is shown as an old, mad man. He is kept in a cage and commands imaginary armies. After King Gundleus attacks the Tor at Ynys Wydryn (Avalon), Arthur's men rescue Pellinore. He is taken to Caer Cadarn and locked in a room. Later, Arthur decides to rebuild the Tor. Pellinore is sent back with Nimue and Morgan to live as he did before.
