Sir Gareth
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Sir Gareth |
| Occupation: | Knight |
| Relationships: | Married to Lyonesse, son of Lot and Morgause, brother to Gawain, Agravaine, Gaheris, Mordred, and/or others |
| Fandom: | Arthuriana |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Sir Gareth is one of the Orkneys, most commonly the youngest son of King Lot and second-youngest son of Queen Morgause; a friend of many, including Lancelot; and the husband of Lyonesse. He is one of the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian Legend.
In Literature
Medieval
Gareth is generally the fourth of the Orkney brothers. In the Vulgate cycle, he is sometimes indistinguishable from Gaheris because their names were mixed up by the scribes: both are referred to as Guerrehet and Gahereit at different times. In Le Morte D'Arthur, he disguises himself, works as a kitchen-boy under Kay's supervision, goes on a quest with Lynette to save Lyonesse, and only then reveals his identity, since he wants to prove his worth and be knighted on his own merit, not his brothers'. He is accidentally killed by his friend Lancelot.
Modern
In T.H. White's controversial novel The Once and Future King, Gareth is characterized much as he is in Le Morte D'Arthur. He is described as "the beautiful Gareth", tries to keep away from the violence wrought by his brothers, and befriends Aglovale, one of the Pellispawn, before being killed by Lancelot.
In Exiled from Camelot by Cherith Baldry, Gareth is a major character, married to Lyonesse and fiercely devoted to his friend Kay.
Vera Chapman's novel The King's Damosel (1976) gives a complete version of Lynette's life.
In the novel Queen of Camelot (2002) by Nancy McKenzie, Gareth's love interest is Lynette, who he became betrothed to when he first arrived in Camelot.
In Other Media
Film
- Gareth is played by Anthony Forwood in Knights of the Round Table, a film from 1953.
- Gareth is played by Richard Thorp in the British film Lancelot and Guinevere (1963).
- Gareth is played by Jonathan Cake in the film First Knight (1995).
Video Games
- Gareth appears as a female knight in the Fate franchise but retains some characteristics and plot points, including being killed by Lancelot. Another version of Gareth is featured in Fate/Grand Order in the "Lostbelt 6: Avalon le Fae" scenario. [1]
- Gareth appears as a knightlike android servant of Berkana the witch in the 2001 video game Mega Man Xtreme 2. [2]
- Gareth appears as a Six-Star Hero bonded to both Lynette and Lyonesse in King's Throne: Game of Lusts. [3]
In Fandom
Gareth is a popular character in the Arthuriana fandom. He is generally regarded as the nicest and gentlest of the otherwise oft-unstable Orkney siblings. He is often characterized as being affectionate, [4] perhaps somewhat naïve, and an altruistic soul who is a victim of circumstance. Fics about Gareth most often revolve around his interactions with Kay, Lancelot, and/or his brothers. In terms of shipping, the fandom is divided between shipping him with Lyonesse, who is his wife in Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, and shipping him with her sister Lynette, who he is friends with in Malory and married to in Tennnyson's Idylls of the King. On Ao3, there are also fics shipping him with Lancelot, Kay, OCs, and others.
Fan Works
Fanfic
- Beaumains by invaders_forever
Fan Art
- Sir Gareth of Orkney, nicknamed Beaumains by @mimsylost
- Sir Gareth, or the Knight of the Kitchen by @laurellerual
- Washer boy by kulttuurinkurittama
- And then they took their horses... by @mortiscausca
- Gareth and Lynette by @merilles
- Gareth and the undead knight by @oneshoulderangel
- NOT NORMAL ABOUT HIM by @caer-gai
- A true picture of knightly chivalry by @caitdrawsthings
- The whole story of Sir Gareth of Orkney be like by @daliathewitch
- I'm so glad I decided to draw Gareth 'cause I get the hype now by @gaheris-kinnie
- The Gareth-centric first chapter of Pendragon High by @pendragonhighcomics
Archives and Links
- Gareth (Arthurian) tag on Ao3
- #sir gareth on Tumblr