Bleoberis

Bleoberis is a prominent knight of the Round Table in Le Morte d'Arthur, brother to Blamore and kinsman to Sir Launcelot. Across 40 citations from a single source, Bleoberis appears as a formidable combatant, a bold speaker, and a figure of courtly honor.

His most developed episode begins when he demands "the fairest lady in your court that me list to choose" from King Mark and selects Sir Segwarides' wife, taking her away (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XV). "Sir Bleoberis did choose Sir Segwarides' wife, and took her by the hand, and so went his way with her" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XV). Sir Tristram pursues: "then was he ware before him in a valley where rode Sir Bleoberis, with Sir Segwarides' lady" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XVI). Bleoberis offers terms of courtesy rather than immediate combat: "as for me I will be loath to fight with you; but sithen ye follow me here to have this lady, I shall proffer you kindness, courtesy, and gentleness right here upon this ground" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XVII). He identifies himself as "Sir Bleoberis de Ganis" and names his brother Sir Blamore, noting that "we be sister's children unto my lord Sir Launcelot du Lake, that we call one of the best knights of the world" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XVII). After the fight, "she went unto Sir Bleoberis" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XVIII), the lady choosing Bleoberis over Tristram.

In the appeal against King Anguish of Ireland, "Sir Bleoberis and Sir Blamore de Ganis, that were brethren, they had summoned the King Anguish of Ireland to come to Arthur's court" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XX). Bleoberis encourages his brother before the combat: "Fair dear brother, remember of what kin we be come of, and what a man is Sir Launcelot du Lake, neither farther nor nearer but brother's children, and there was never none of our kin that ever was shamed in battle" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XXII). He warns Blamore of Tristram's prowess: "I know him, for I have had ado with him" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XXII). After Blamore's defeat, "the kings that were judges called Sir Bleoberis to them, and asked him his advice" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XXIII), and he accepts gracefully: "I will right well as ye will" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XXIII).

Bleoberis is recognized as both a skilled jouster and a shrewd judge of fighting ability. He and Palomides are described as "wily men of arms, and anon they know when they see a young knight by his riding, how they are sure to give him a fall from his horse or a great buffet" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter IV). "Sir Bleoberis brake his spear upon Sir Gareth, but of that stroke Sir Bleoberis fell to the earth" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VII, Chapter XXVIII). In tournaments he repeatedly "did great deeds of arms" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXIX), and on one occasion "was Sir Bleoberis wroth, and gat a spear and rode against Sir Tristram in great ire; and there Sir Tristram met with him, and smote Sir Bleoberis from his horse" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXIX). He contends on foot alongside Safere and Ector: "fought Palomides, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Safere, Sir Ector on foot; never were there four knights evener matched" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XLV).

Bleoberis also appears as a pursuer of justice, crying out against the treacherous Breuse Saunce Pite: "Make thee ready thou false traitor knight, Breuse Saunce Pite, for wit thou certainly I will have ado with thee to the utterance for the noble knights and ladies that thou hast falsely betrayed" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LIII). He challenges Palomides' companions after being run over: "Ah, fair knights, why have ye succoured that false knight and traitor?" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LIII). La Beale Isoud praises him as "the good knight Sir Bleoberis, that fought with three knights at once for a damosel's sake, and he won her afore the King of Northumberland" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LVI).

After the Grail quest, Bleoberis and Sir Ector visit Tristram and La Beale Isoud: "at the seven nights' end Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector departed from Sir Tristram and from the queen; and these two good knights had great gifts" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXXXI). They report to Guenever at "a castle by the seaside" on Isoud's beauty (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter LXXXI). In the final conflicts, even Launcelot in disguise strikes Bleoberis down -- "such a buffet on the helm that he fell down to the earth in a swoon" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVIII, Chapter XI).