Florence
Arthurian knight serving under Arthur in the continental campaigns of Le Morte d'Arthur Book V.
Florence is a knight in the British Arthurian tradition, attested across 4 citations in Le Morte d'Arthur. He appears in Book V during Arthur's continental campaigns, where he serves as a trusted military commander. Arthur personally calls upon Sir Florence when the army lacks provisions, instructing him to lead a foraying expedition into enemy territory: "not far from hence be great forests and woods, wherein be many of mine enemies with much bestial" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book V, Chapter IX). Florence subsequently takes on a battlefield role, being designated to "abide still in this field to keep the stale as a noble knight" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book V, Chapter X) while Gawaine pursues a Saracen adversary. In a later engagement, Florence proves himself in single combat, riding against an opponent and smiting "him in the forehead and brake his neck bone" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book V, Chapter XI).
Florence is identified with Floridas, who frequently appears alongside him in the narrative. Florence calls upon Sir Floridas directly, commanding him "with an hundred knights" to drive forth a herd of beasts (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book V, Chapter XI), suggesting a close military partnership between the two.
Appears in: Beings, Entities in Le Morte d'Arthur, British Tradition