Guinevere

Guinevere was the daughter of King Leodegrance, who had served under Arthur’s father Uther Pendragon. After a chance meeting, Arthur was entranced by Guinevere and determined to marry her. He would now have someone with which to share his life and kingdom. 

 

Arthur’s adviser Merlin warned him against the marriage informing Arthur that he believed Guinevere would bring misery to his life and be unfaithful to him, however Arthur was captivated by Guinevere’s beauty and could do nothing but marry her, but Merlin’s warning would come back to haunt him. 

 

Sir Lancelot was one of Arthur’s most loyal and wise Knights and his confidante, however this loyalty was to fail him as Lancelot was to fall in love with Queen Guinevere. 

 

The romance developed over time with Guinevere and Lancelot forming a closeness that finally developed into a love affair. They tried to keep the affair secret, but both speculation and suspicion developed. 

 

Sir Meliagrance, a Knight himself accused Lancelot of having an affair with Queen Guinevere. Lancelot denied this and to restore both his and the Queen’s reputation, he fought and killed Sir Meliagrance, cutting his head in half. 

 

Even after this bloody and fatal confrontation, rumours of an affair continued. 

 

Finally, Arthur stormed Lancelot’s castle, confronting him about his affair with Guinevere and exiling him to France, where he lived out the remainder of his life as a hermit monk 

 

Although Arthur’s love for Guinevere was great, he sentenced her to be burned at the stake for adultery, her betrayal was more than he could bear. This burning did not however take place and Guinevere was to live out the rest of her life as a nun.