The Orkneys

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Character Group
Name: The Orkneys
Type: Royal Family
Fandom: Arthuriana, Arthurian Legend
Members: King Lot, Queen Morgause, Sir Gawain, Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Gareth, Sir Mordred, Clarissant, and/or others
Other:
Related:
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The Orkneys are a family in Arthurian Legend, thus referred to in the Arthuriana fandom because they are the royal family of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Despite or because of their frequent violence and dysfunctionality, the Orkney siblings are beloved by the fandom at large. Fans also often reference the Orkney brothers specifically.

Parents

King Lot is best known for being one of the kings who opposes King Arthur Pendragon in the early days of Arthur's reign, for being the father of the Orkney brothers, and for being accidentally killed by King Pellinore. In medieval texts, he is sometimes portrayed as a caring father but can be abusive to his sons to the point of asking Gawain to kill Agravain for him (which Gawain will not).

Queen Morgause is King Arthur's sister, though she and he are not always initially aware of this, and she has her older sons fight on Arthur's side rather than Lot's, which proves advantageous for them in the long run. In some texts, she and Arthur commit incest, with or without realizing it. In texts featuring this plotline, Mordred is the product of their tryst.

Children

Main

Five Orkney brothers appear most frequently.

  • Sir Gawain is generally the oldest brother and one of the most esteemed Knights of the Round Table. He kills King Pellinore to avenge his father. After Lancelot kills Gareth and Gaheris, Gawain swears vengeance on him.
  • Sir Agravaine is a strong knight but less well-regarded than Gawain. In Le Morte D'Arthur, he kills Sir Lamorak, one of the Pellispawn, for sleeping with the widowed Morgause. He is killed by Lancelot.
  • Sir Gaheris is often the middle brother. Though generally portrayed as a good knight, in the Post-Vulgate and texts based on it, like Morte, he finds murders Morgause upon finding her in bed with Lamorak. Either he or Gareth is Gawain's favorite brother whose death at Lancelot's hands prompts Gawain to seek revenge at any cost.
  • Sir Gareth is often considered the gentlest of the Orkneys. He sometimes sides with Lancelot against his brothers. Like Gaheris, he is accidentally killed while unarmed and armorless.
  • Sir Mordred is generally the youngest of the Orkneys and often the son of Arthur rather than Lot.

Occasional

It is fairly common for Gawain to have a sister but less common for her to appear in multiple texts.

  • Clarissant is perhaps the most fandom-popular Orkney sister. She is mentioned in at least two texts.
  • Elaine appears in the Didot Percival, where she falls in love with Sir Percival and flirts by giving him armor.
  • Soredamors
  • Cundrie
  • Itonjie
  • Gwalcheved ap Gwyar is Gawain (Gwalchmai)'s brother's name in Cullwch and Olwen.

Fan Works

Writing

Art

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