Plenorius
Sir Plenorius is a knight attested in Le Morte d'Arthur, appearing in the tale of La Cote Male Taile .
Sir Plenorius is a knight attested in Le Morte d'Arthur, appearing in the tale of La Cote Male Taile (Book IX, Chapters VIII-IX). He holds a castle and tower where he imprisons knights, and is described as "this noble knight" who "took him up in his arms, and led him into his tower" when tending to La Cote Male Taile after battle (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter VIII).
When Sir Launcelot arrives to rescue La Cote Male Taile, Plenorius hears the challenge and surrenders completely: "Sir Plenorius yielded him, and his tower, and all his prisoners at his will" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter VIII). The resolution demonstrates La Cote Male Taile's generosity, as the young knight refuses to take Plenorius's livelihood, instead asking Launcelot to bring Plenorius to King Arthur's court: "I will not have Sir Plenorius' livelihood; with that he will grant you, my lord Sir Launcelot, to come unto King Arthur's court, and to be his knight" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter VIII).
Launcelot personally vouches for Plenorius's future: "as for you, Sir Plenorius, I will undertake, at the next feast, so there be a place voided, that ye shall be Knight of the Round Table" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter VIII). This promise is fulfilled: "at Pentecost next following there was Sir Plenorius and Sir La Cote Male Taile, called otherwise by right Sir Breunor le Noire, both made Knights of the Table Round; and great lands King Arthur gave them" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter IX).
Plenorius follows the recurrent Malorian pattern in which a custodial knight who holds prisoners is defeated, shows good character, and is subsequently elevated to Round Table membership. The episode is notable for La Cote Male Taile's magnanimity in refusing to dispossess Plenorius, which serves as a test of the young knight's character as much as the combat itself does. Launcelot's willingness to sponsor Plenorius at court underscores the elder knight's role as arbiter of who merits Round Table fellowship.
Appears in: Beings, Entities in Le Morte d'Arthur, British Tradition