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Corrected info and citations in "Legend" section: firstly, King Mark did all that in the Post-Vulgate Quest, not Mort Artu, and secondly, the source cited did not back up the last sentence's claim. |
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{{Short description|A castle featuring in the legend of King Arthur}} |
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[[File:Sir Gawaine Challenges Sir Launcelot.png|thumb|upright|"Sir Gawaine challenges Sir Launcelot", [[Howard Pyle]]'s illustration from ''[[The Story of the Grail and the Passing of King Arthur]]'' (1910)|alt=]] |
[[File:Sir Gawaine Challenges Sir Launcelot.png|thumb|upright|"Sir Gawaine challenges Sir Launcelot", [[Howard Pyle]]'s illustration from ''[[The Story of the Grail and the Passing of King Arthur]]'' (1910)|alt=]] |
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'''Joyous Gard''' ( |
'''Joyous Gard''' (French ''Joyeuse Garde'' and other variants) is a castle featured in the [[Matter of Britain]] literature of the legend of [[King Arthur]]. It was introduced in the 13th-century French [[Prose Lancelot|Prose ''Lancelot'']] as the home and formidable fortress of the hero [[Lancelot]] after his conquest of it from the forces of evil. ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur]]'' identified it with [[Bamburgh Castle]]. |
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==Legend== |
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==Arthurian legend== |
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As told in the [[Vulgate Cycle]]'s ''Lancelot en prose'' and the works based on it, the Joyous Gard is given its name by the young [[Lancelot]] (who had just discovered his own identity) when he sets up his household at the castle after capturing it and ending its evil enchantment during the task to prove his knighthood to [[King Arthur]] (even rescuing [[King Arthur's family|Arthur's illegitimate son]] in the process). Up until then, it had been known as '''Dolorous Gard''' ('' |
As told in the [[Vulgate Cycle]]'s ''Lancelot en prose'' and the works based on it, the Joyous Gard is given its name by the young [[Lancelot]] (who had just discovered his own identity) when he sets up his household at the castle. He does it after single-handedly capturing it against all odds and ending its evil enchantment during the task to prove his knighthood to [[King Arthur]] (even rescuing [[King Arthur's family|Arthur's illegitimate son]] in the process). Up until then, it had been known as '''Dolorous Gard''' (French ''Douloureuse Garde'' and other variants), belonging to the [[Saxon]]-allied king Brandin of the Isles; the various motifs and perceived symbolism of the Dolorous Gard episode were subjects of several analyses by modern scholars.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Jefferson, Lisa|title=The Keys to the Enchantments of Dolorous Guard|year=1989|journal=Medium Ævum|volume=58|issue=1|pages=59–79|doi=10.2307/43632512|jstor=43632512}}</ref> In the prose stories of [[Tristan and Iseult]], the pair later lives in the castle with Lancelot's permission as refugees from [[King Mark of Cornwall]]. |
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Following Lancelot's adulterous and treasonous affair with Arthur's wife [[Queen Guinevere]], Lancelot rescues Guinevere, who is under sentence of death from Arthur, and brings her to the Joyous Gard. In the [[Stanzaic Morte Arthur|Stanzaic ''Morte Arthur'']] and elsewhere, Arthur and [[Gawain]] unsuccessfully besiege the castle. Eventually, Lancelot abandons his castle and goes to an exile in today's France. After his death, Lancelot's body is taken to the Joyous Gard for burial |
Following Lancelot's adulterous and treasonous affair with Arthur's wife [[Queen Guinevere]], Lancelot rescues Guinevere, who is under sentence of death from Arthur, and brings her to the Joyous Gard. In the [[Stanzaic Morte Arthur|Stanzaic ''Morte Arthur'']] and elsewhere, Arthur and [[Gawain]] unsuccessfully besiege the castle. Eventually, Lancelot abandons his castle and goes to an exile in today's France. After his death, Lancelot's body is taken to the Joyous Gard for burial.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lacy |first1=Norris J. |author-link1=Norris J. Lacy |last2=Ashe |first2=Geoffrey |author-link2=Geoffrey Ashe |last3=Mancoff |first3=Debra N. |title=The Arthurian Handbook: Second Edition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9isAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT374 |publisher=Routledge |date=2014 |page=374 |isbn=9781317777441}}</ref> In the French prose cycles, he is laid to rest next to the grave of his dear friend [[Galehaut]] (in the [[Post-Vulgate Cycle|Post-Vulgate ''Queste del Saint Graal'']], their remnants are later dug up and destroyed by King Mark<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lacy |first1=Norris J. |title=Lancelot-Grail: the Old French Arthurian Vulgate and post-Vulgate in translation |date=2010 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer, Ltd. |location=Cambridge |isbn=0859917703 |page=311 |edition=new}}</ref>). |
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==Suggested locations== |
==Suggested locations== |
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[[File:Bamburgh Castle - geograph.org.uk - 590747.jpg|thumb|[[Bamburgh Castle]] in 2008]] |
[[File:Bamburgh Castle - geograph.org.uk - 590747.jpg|thumb|[[Bamburgh Castle]] in 2008]] |
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In his ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur]]'', the late-medieval English writer [[Thomas Malory]] identified the Joyous Gard with [[Bamburgh Castle]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vjEyDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA536|title=The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: Concise Volume A - Third Edition|first= Joseph |last=Black|page=536|publisher=Broadview|year=2016|isbn=978-1554813124}}</ref> a coastal castle in [[Northumberland]] that was built on former location of a [[Celtic Briton]] fort known as Din Guarie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsBritain/BritainBernaccia.htm|title=Bernaccia (Bryneich / Berneich)|publisher=The History Files|access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref> Before writing his work, Malory personally participated in the Yorkist siege of the castle during the [[War of the Roses]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/arthurian-studies-in-honour-of-pjc-field/historicity-of-combat-in-le-morte-darthur/815F2D9E5DE66EED93AD1BEE19F6B0FF|title=The Historicity of Combat in Le Morte Darthur|first=K. S.|last=Whetter|date=June 15, 2004|website=Arthurian Studies in Honour of P.J.C. Field}}</ref> He also proposed the nearby [[Alnwick Castle]]. Joyous Gard is further associated with [[Château de Joyeuse Garde]], an early medieval castle site in [[Brittany]] where the continental Arthurian tradition began. |
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==See also== |
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* [[Castle of Gioiosa Guardia]], a 13th-century Sardinian castle named after the legend |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Arthurian Legend}} |
{{Arthurian Legend}} |
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[[Category:Fictional elements introduced in the 13th century]] |
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[[Category:Fictional |
[[Category:Fictional fortifications]] |
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[[Category:Locations associated with Arthurian legend]] |
[[Category:Locations associated with Arthurian legend]] |
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[[Category:Fictional buildings and structures originating in literature]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:30, 16 November 2024
Joyous Gard (French Joyeuse Garde and other variants) is a castle featured in the Matter of Britain literature of the legend of King Arthur. It was introduced in the 13th-century French Prose Lancelot as the home and formidable fortress of the hero Lancelot after his conquest of it from the forces of evil. Le Morte d'Arthur identified it with Bamburgh Castle.
Legend
[edit]As told in the Vulgate Cycle's Lancelot en prose and the works based on it, the Joyous Gard is given its name by the young Lancelot (who had just discovered his own identity) when he sets up his household at the castle. He does it after single-handedly capturing it against all odds and ending its evil enchantment during the task to prove his knighthood to King Arthur (even rescuing Arthur's illegitimate son in the process). Up until then, it had been known as Dolorous Gard (French Douloureuse Garde and other variants), belonging to the Saxon-allied king Brandin of the Isles; the various motifs and perceived symbolism of the Dolorous Gard episode were subjects of several analyses by modern scholars.[1] In the prose stories of Tristan and Iseult, the pair later lives in the castle with Lancelot's permission as refugees from King Mark of Cornwall.
Following Lancelot's adulterous and treasonous affair with Arthur's wife Queen Guinevere, Lancelot rescues Guinevere, who is under sentence of death from Arthur, and brings her to the Joyous Gard. In the Stanzaic Morte Arthur and elsewhere, Arthur and Gawain unsuccessfully besiege the castle. Eventually, Lancelot abandons his castle and goes to an exile in today's France. After his death, Lancelot's body is taken to the Joyous Gard for burial.[2] In the French prose cycles, he is laid to rest next to the grave of his dear friend Galehaut (in the Post-Vulgate Queste del Saint Graal, their remnants are later dug up and destroyed by King Mark[3]).
Suggested locations
[edit]
In his Le Morte d'Arthur, the late-medieval English writer Thomas Malory identified the Joyous Gard with Bamburgh Castle,[4] a coastal castle in Northumberland that was built on former location of a Celtic Briton fort known as Din Guarie.[5] Before writing his work, Malory personally participated in the Yorkist siege of the castle during the War of the Roses.[6] He also proposed the nearby Alnwick Castle. Joyous Gard is further associated with Château de Joyeuse Garde, an early medieval castle site in Brittany where the continental Arthurian tradition began.
See also
[edit]- Castle of Gioiosa Guardia, a 13th-century Sardinian castle named after the legend
References
[edit]- ^ Jefferson, Lisa (1989). "The Keys to the Enchantments of Dolorous Guard". Medium Ævum. 58 (1): 59–79. doi:10.2307/43632512. JSTOR 43632512.
- ^ Lacy, Norris J.; Ashe, Geoffrey; Mancoff, Debra N. (2014). The Arthurian Handbook: Second Edition. Routledge. p. 374. ISBN 9781317777441.
- ^ Lacy, Norris J. (2010). Lancelot-Grail: the Old French Arthurian Vulgate and post-Vulgate in translation (new ed.). Cambridge: Boydell & Brewer, Ltd. p. 311. ISBN 0859917703.
- ^ Black, Joseph (2016). The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: Concise Volume A - Third Edition. Broadview. p. 536. ISBN 978-1554813124.
- ^ "Bernaccia (Bryneich / Berneich)". The History Files. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- ^ Whetter, K. S. (June 15, 2004). "The Historicity of Combat in Le Morte Darthur". Arthurian Studies in Honour of P.J.C. Field.
External links
[edit]- Doloreuse Chartre and La Joyous Garde at Nightbringer.se
- " Of Joyous Gard", a 19th-century poem
