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Description
Sir Yvain is one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table. He appeared in quite a few stories associated with the Matter of Britain, although almost never as a major character. He was typically portrayed as a loyal supporter and knight of his king. He was also one of the few Arthurian characters seemingly based on a real individual, Owain, a Brythonic king of Rheged; he was engaged in warfare against the Picts, and maybe the early Anglo-Saxon migrations in the late 6th century.1 By examining his martial abilities, his bond with his lion companion, his noble origins, and his chivalric code, Yvain is best described as a Human Beast Master Ranger of Noble background and Lawful Good alignment.
Publication Date
Spring 2026
Publisher
Providence College
Disciplines
Medieval Studies
Recommended Citation
Schwartz, Paul J., "Sir Yvain, Knight of the Lion" (2026). Arthurian Hero Character Design Project. 2.
https://digitalcommons.providence.edu/dwc-arthurian-hero/2
