La Cote
Young Arthurian knight who proved himself through adversity and was patronized by Launcelot.
La Cote Male Taile is a knight attested across multiple chapters of Le Morte d'Arthur, principally in Book IX. When a damosel came to court seeking a knight for a quest, La Cote accepted the challenge, declaring "when I am so hewn I will ask you no salve to heal me withal" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter II). He overthrew Sir Dagonet, the king's fool, by smiting him over his horse's croup (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter III), and fought his way into Castle Orgulous, where he slew an opponent (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter III).
La Cote's adventures took him through a series of increasingly dangerous encounters. He fought against overwhelming numbers -- the Castle Orgulous episodes span multiple chapters (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapters III-IV) -- and eventually faced the brothers Plaine de Force and Plaine de Amours, smiting both down before taking the best horse of the three and riding forth (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter VII). At one point he "sank right down upon the earth, what for-wounded and what for-bled he might not stand" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter VIII), requiring rescue by Sir Launcelot.
After his rescue, Launcelot offered La Cote all the fortresses and bridges he had won, though the narrative records that "as the French book maketh mention, Sir La Cote Male Taile avenged his father's death" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter IX). The narrative then moves on: "Now leave we here Sir La Cote Male Taile, and turn we unto Sir Tristram de Liones" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter X).
The fourteen citations from Le Morte d'Arthur present La Cote Male Taile as a young knight whose career follows the established Malorian pattern of proving through adversity. His initial reception at court mirrors other young arrivals -- many knights were sorry when he departed on his quest (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter V). The relationship with Launcelot provides the narrative's structural arc: Launcelot follows after him, rescues him, and ultimately validates him by offering material reward (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter VIII).
The detail about avenging his father's death, attributed to "the French book," arrives almost as an afterthought (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter IX). This sourcing gesture -- common in Malory -- distances the most dramatic claim from direct narration, leaving La Cote's filial vengeance attested but unexpanded. His "knightly prowess" is consistently praised in combat, particularly his ability to handle multiple opponents through "fine force" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter VII).
Appears in: Beings, Entities in Le Morte d'Arthur, British Tradition