Uwaine
Son of King Uriens and Morgan le Fay, a loyal but modest knight of the Round Table.
Sir Uwaine is a knight of the Round Table attested across 44 citations in Le Morte d'Arthur, appearing in eighteen chapters spanning Books IV through XIII. He is the son of King Uriens and Morgan le Fay, a lineage that places him at the intersection of Arthur's court and its most dangerous internal enemy.
Uwaine's defining early episode is his intervention to prevent his mother from murdering his sleeping father. A damosel wakes Uwaine, warning him that Morgan will slay King Uriens in his bed. Uwaine catches his mother with the sword raised, and his reaction is visceral: "Ah, fiend, what wilt thou do?" Morgan begs mercy, claiming she was "tempted with a devil," and Uwaine forgives her on condition she "will never be about to do such deeds" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IV, Chapter XIII). His bitter aside on his parentage is memorable: "Men saith that Merlin was begotten of a devil, but I may say an earthly devil bare me" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IV, Chapter XIII).
Despite his mother's treachery, Uwaine is banished from court when Arthur discovers Morgan's plots. Arthur declares that either Uriens or Uwaine must be "of counsel with her to have me destroyed," and Uwaine is discharged (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IV, Chapter XVI).
Le Morte d'Arthur presents Uwaine through a series of episodic adventures that reveal a knight of consistent modesty and practical wisdom. When he, Gawaine, and Marhaus encounter three damosels at a crossroads, Uwaine deliberately chooses the eldest: "I am the youngest and most weakest of you both, therefore I will have the eldest damosel, for she hath seen much, and can best help me when I have need" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IV, Chapter XIX). This self-awareness contrasts with the bravado typical of Arthurian knights.
His tournament prowess is established when he smotes down thirty knights and wins a gerfalcon and a white steed trapped with cloth of gold (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IV, Chapter XXVI). Guided by the old damosel, he encounters the Lady of the Rock, whose inheritance is being usurped by two brothers, Sir Edward and Sir Hue. Uwaine fights both and carves Sir Edward's helm unto his canel bone, forcing Sir Hue's surrender. He dwells with the lady "nigh half a year, for it was long or he might be whole of his great hurts" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IV, Chapter XXVII).
In the broader narrative of tournaments and encounters, Uwaine appears as a reliable but not invincible figure. He is overthrown by Sir Marhaus, who smites him "so sore that horse and man he bare to the earth, and hurt Sir Uwaine on the left side" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IV, Chapter XVIII). He is defeated by Sir Launcelot, who gives him "such a buffet that he was astonied, that long he wist not where he was" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VI, Chapter XIII). He is smote down by Sir Tristram and by Sir Palomides at various points (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapters I, XIII).
His loyalty to Arthur is consistent. When Arthur is struck down by Tristram, "Sir Uwaine saw his lord Arthur lie on the ground sore wounded, he was passing heavy" and immediately rides to avenge him (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter I). He challenges all the knights of Cornwall when honour demands it (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book IX, Chapter XXXVII). In the Grail quest, he offers fellowship to Galahad and later meets with Gawaine, reporting he has had no adventure since departing the court (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XIII, Chapters X, XVI).
Uwaine's military contribution is quantified when he and his father promise to bring thirty thousand men to Arthur's war against Rome (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book V, Chapter II).
Appears in: Beings, Entities in Le Morte d'Arthur, British Tradition