Turquine
Turquine is a knight in the British tradition attested in Le Morte d'Arthur, where he serves as Sir Launcelot's most significant antagonist in Book VI.
Turquine is a knight in the British tradition attested in Le Morte d'Arthur, where he serves as Sir Launcelot's most significant antagonist in Book VI. A captor of knights and a figure of considerable martial prowess, Turquine's defining trait is his implacable hatred of Launcelot, rooted in blood vengeance: "his name is Sir Launcelot du Lake, for he slew my brother, Sir Carados, at the dolorous tower, that was one of the best knights alive; and therefore him I except of all knights, for may I once meet with him, the one of us shall make an end of other" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Ch. VIII).
The 13 attestations trace a complete narrative arc across six chapters. Turquine first appears as a knight who captures Sir Ector (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Ch. II), and his reputation precedes his encounter with Launcelot -- "hereby dwelleth a knight that will not be overmatched for no man I know but ye overmatch him, and his name is Sir Turquine" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Ch. VII). When they meet, Turquine is leading Sir Gaheris as prisoner, and his defiance is immediate: "An thou be of the Table Round, I defy thee and all thy fellowship" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Ch. VII).
Their combat is extraordinary in its duration and violence. Turquine acknowledges Launcelot's quality before knowing his identity: "Thou art the biggest man that ever I met withal, and the best breathed, and like one knight that I hate above all other knights" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Ch. VIII). The fight lasts "two hours and more" with neither resting, the ground "all bespeckled with blood" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Ch. VIII). When Turquine finally weakens, Launcelot strikes the killing blow (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Ch. IX).
After Turquine's death, he is remembered through comparison: "like as Sir Turquine watched to destroy knights, so did this knight attend to destroy and distress ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen, and his name was Sir Peris de Forest Savage" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Ch. X). His prisoners, once freed, "all honoured and worshipped Sir Launcelot" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Ch. XVIII).
Appears in: Beings, Entities in Le Morte d'Arthur, British Tradition