Bors de Ganis

Bors de Ganis is a knight of the Round Table in Le Morte d'Arthur, identified by his full patronymic as nephew to Sir Launcelot. He appears across 17 citations from a single source, functioning as Launcelot's closest kinsman and one of his most loyal supporters.

Bors de Ganis first distinguishes himself at a tournament, praising Sir Tristram's prowess: "I wist never Cornish knight of so great valour nor so valiant as that knight that beareth the trappings embroidered with crowns" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXII). He and his companions witness a battle from nearby and recognize the fighter: "All this battle saw Sir Bors de Ganis and his three fellows, and then they saw well it was the same knight that jousted with them at the bridge" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXII).

In the Grail narrative, Bors de Ganis visits Dame Elaine and encounters Sir Bromel at a bridge, defeating him soundly: "Sir Bors de Ganis smote Sir Bromel such a buffet that he bare him over his horse's croup" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XI, Chapter IV). When Launcelot goes mad after Queen Guenever discovers his night with Elaine, "by the way she told Sir Bors de Ganis all how it betid that same night, and how Sir Launcelot leapt out at a window, araged out of his wit" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XI, Chapter IX). The grief is mutual: "Then wept Dame Elaine, and so did Sir Bors de Ganis" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XI, Chapter IX).

Bors de Ganis restores a dispossessed lady to her lands "by the mighty prowess of Sir Bors de Ganis" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVI, Chapter IX). He counsels Launcelot against leaving court: "ye shall not depart out of this land by mine advice" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVIII, Chapter II). When the queen is accused of poisoning, he stands ready as her champion: "That as for Queen Guenever she is in the right, and that will I make good with my hands that she is not culpable of this treason" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XVIII, Chapter VI).

In the wars following Launcelot's breach with Arthur, Bors de Ganis rallies Launcelot's kinsmen alongside Palomides, Safere, and Lavaine (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XX, Chapter XII). After Arthur's death, he urges Launcelot: "what think ye for to do, now to ride in this realm?" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XXI, Chapter IX). He later "made the great host for to go home again" and with Ector de Maris, Blamore, and Bleoberis rode across England to seek Launcelot (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XXI, Chapter X). In the final chapter, Bors de Ganis and the other surviving knights "drew them to their countries" and eventually went into the Holy Land (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XXI, Chapter XIII).