Elaine of Corbenic facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elaine of Corbenic
Matter of Britain character
A 1917 illustration from The Romance of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, abridged from Le Morte d'Arthur by Alfred W. Pollard, depicting Lady Elaine carrying the Grail through the halls of King Pelles' palace
First appearance	Vulgate Cycle
Information
Occupation	Princess
Children	Galahad
Relatives	King Pelles
Home	Corbenic

Elaine of Corbenic is a legendary character in the King Arthur stories. She is the daughter of the Fisher King, King Pelles of Corbenic (Corbenek, Corbin, etc.), and the mother of Galahad. She should not be confused with Elaine of Astolat, a different woman who too fell in love with Lancelot.

Legend

She first appears in the Prose Lancelot as an incredibly beautiful woman named Heliabel but known as Amite.

The sorceress Morgan le Fay is jealous of Elaine's beauty, and magically traps her in a boiling bath. After Lancelot rescues her, Elaine falls in love with him, only to find he is already in love with Queen Guinevere. In order to make Lancelot reciprocate her love, Elaine goes to the sorceress Dame Brusen for help. Dame Brusen gives Lancelot wine and Elaine a ring of Guinevere's in order to trick Lancelot into thinking Elaine is Guinevere. When Lancelot discovers he's been deceived, he draws his sword and threatens to kill Elaine, but she tells him that she is pregnant with his son, Galahad, and he agrees not to kill her. Lancelot departs, and Elaine remains in her father's castle and gives birth to Galahad.

Guinevere is enraged to discover the truth about Lancelot and Elaine. She tells Lancelot she never wants to see him again. Lancelot goes mad with grief and jumps out a window and runs away.

Elaine then finds Lancelot insane in her garden. She brings him to the Grail, which cures him. When he regains his mind, he decides to go with Elaine, and they live together for several years as husband and wife.

See also

• List of Arthurian characters