# King Arthur — A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court character guide > King Arthur in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Arthur, Art, Bessemers Ulsters King Arthur, Sir Arthur King, Sir Arthur **First appearance:** 0003-i-camelot ## Snapshot The legendary sovereign of the Round Table, earnest and oddly humble, he befriends Hank and slips incognito through his own kingdom to see what his subjects endure. ## Who they are Arthur rules a realm of knights and pageantry with a sincere if sometimes bewildered sense of justice, and he takes to Hank with surprising openness. His willingness to travel disguised among commoners reveals both his decency and his blindness to how much of his kingdom's misery is baked into its institutions. His friendship with Hank makes the Yankee's reforms possible, and his limitations make them necessary. ## Relationships ### [Hank Morgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/hank_morgan) _friendship_ Hank acts as a mentor and companion to Arthur, guiding him through the realities of the medieval world with a mix of admiration and frustration. ### [La Cote Male Taile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/la_cote_male_taile) _friendship_ Arthur shows kindness and trust toward the young knight, valuing his loyalty and courage. ### [Sir Launcelot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/sir_launcelot) _friendship_ Arthur deeply trusts and loves Launcelot as his greatest knight, unaware of his betrayal with Guenever. ### [Sir Mordred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/sir_mordred) _family_ Mordred is Arthur's illegitimate son and eventual betrayer, leading to the kingdom's downfall. ### [Merlin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/merlin) _professional_ Merlin serves as Arthur's court wizard, but his influence wanes as Hank's modern methods gain favor. ### [Queen Guenever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/queen_guenever) _romantic_ Arthur loves Guenever deeply, but her secret affair with Launcelot ultimately destroys their marriage and kingdom. ### [Hank Morgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/hank_morgan) _friendship_ Hank acts as a mentor and companion to Arthur, guiding him through the realities of the medieval world with a mix of admiration and frustration. ### [Hank Morgan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/hank_morgan) _friendship_ Hank acts as a mentor and companion to Arthur, guiding him through the realities of the medieval world with a mix of admiration and frustration. ### [Sir Launcelot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/sir_launcelot) _friendship_ Arthur deeply trusts and loves Launcelot as his greatest knight, unaware of his betrayal with Guenever. ### [La Cote Male Taile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/la_cote_male_taile) _friendship_ Arthur shows kindness and trust toward the young knight, valuing his loyalty and courage. ### [Merlin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/merlin) _professional_ Merlin serves as Arthur's court wizard, but his influence wanes as Hank's modern methods gain favor. ### [La Cote Male Taile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/la_cote_male_taile) _friendship_ Arthur shows kindness and trust toward the young knight, valuing his loyalty and courage. ## In the story ### [A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/a-connecticut-yankee-in-king-arthur-s-court) The legendary king of Camelot, initially skeptical of Hank but eventually impressed by his abilities. ### [King Arthur's Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/ii-king-arthur-s-court) The king of Camelot, seated at the Round Table, before whom Hank is to be presented. ### [III: Knights of the Table Round](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/iii-knights-of-the-table-round) Present in the court; his head becomes a perch for a rat during Merlin's tale. ### [IV: Sir Dinadan the Humorist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/iv-sir-dinadan-the-humorist) Presides over the court where Hank is condemned and stripped. ### [An Inspiration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/v-an-inspiration) Frightened by Hank's threat, he is initially inclined to release him but is swayed by Merlin's arguments. ### [The Eclipse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/vi-the-eclipse) The king who, terrified by the eclipse, agrees to Hank's terms and appoints him as his perpetual minister and executive. ### [VII: Merlin’s Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/vii-merlin-s-tower) The king becomes a person of minor interest compared to Hank. He wants to stop Merlin's wages and banish him, but Hank intervenes. ### [VIII: The Boss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/viii-the-boss) Hank respects the office of king but looks down on him as a man; the king and nobles look down on Hank for his lack of pedigree. ### [The Tournament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/ix-the-tournament) The king who observes the tournament and calls upon Sir Launcelot to joust with Sir Gareth. ### [X: Beginnings of Civilization](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/x-beginnings-of-civilization) Reminds Hank that the postponement for seeking adventures is nearly over. ### [The Yankee in Search of Adventures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xi-the-yankee-in-search-of-adventures) The king who assigns the quest to Hank, showing credulity and enthusiasm for the adventure. ### [A Royal Banquet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xvii-a-royal-banquet) Mentioned as the king whose word is gold; his authority is invoked by Hank to free Hugo. ### [The Holy Fountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxii-the-holy-fountain) Not directly present, but the abbot's authority and the Church's power are discussed in relation to the kingdom. ### [A Rival Magician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxiv-a-rival-magician) The king is the subject of the rival magician's false prophecy; Hank proves he is actually riding toward the valley. ### [XXV: A Competitive Examination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxv-a-competitive-examination) Serves as judge, ruling against the young bride due to his aristocratic biases; approves the military examination based on lineage. ### [The First Newspaper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxvi-the-first-newspaper) Eager to join Hank in disguise, the king performs the ceremony of touching for the king's-evil. He is saddened when reminded of Queen Guenever's indifference due to Launcelot's presence. ### [The Yankee and the King Travel Incognito](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxvii-the-yankee-and-the-king-travel-incognito) Disguised as a peasant, struggles to maintain a humble posture and forgets his role; buys a dagger against Hank's advice and questions Hank's prophetic abilities. ### [Drilling the King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxviii-drilling-the-king) The student in the drill, struggling to adopt a peasant's demeanor and understand the hardships of the lower classes. ### [The Smallpox Hut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxix-the-smallpox-hut) Disguised as a peasant, he refuses to abandon the sick family, showing heroic compassion by carrying a dying girl to her mother. ### [XXX: The Tragedy of the Manor-House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxx-the-tragedy-of-the-manor-house) Troubled by the idea that the escaped prisoners might have broken their captivity, he insists on a duty to return them to their lord, revealing his inherited class bias and unconscious brutality. ### [XXXI: Marco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxxi-marco) Travels with Hank, but spends the afternoon lost in a dream of invading Gaul. ### [Dowley's Humiliation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxxii-dowley-s-humiliation) Present as 'farmer Jones,' struggles to maintain his disguise and shows little interest in the Marcos' gratitude. ### [Sixth Century Political Economy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxxiii-sixth-century-political-economy) Present but takes a nap during the economic discussion. ### [XXXIV: The Yankee and the King Sold as Slaves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-yankee-and-the-king-sold-as-slaves) Sold alongside Hank for seven dollars; initially furious and unaware of the legal realities, he is humbled by his enslavement. ### [A Pitiful Incident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxxv-a-pitiful-incident) Broods over his low sale price of seven dollars, endures beatings without losing his manhood, and becomes a bitter opponent of slavery. ### [An Encounter in the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxxvi-an-encounter-in-the-dark) Enslaved alongside Hank, furious at being offered as a throw-in, but calmed by Hank's promise of freedom. ### [An Awful Predicament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxxvii-an-awful-predicament) Imprisoned with Hank; rescue is being planned. ### [Sir Launcelot and Knights to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxxviii-sir-launcelot-and-knights-to-the-rescue) Proclaims himself king despite being in rags, endures mockery, and is blindfolded for execution before being rescued. ### [The Yankee's Fight with the Knights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xxxix-the-yankee-s-fight-with-the-knights) Presides over the tournament, initially disturbed by Hank's lack of weapons but forced to yield to the challenge. ### [Three Years Later](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xl-three-years-later) Mentioned as being about forty years old and expected to reign for thirty more years. ### [War!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/xlii-war) Arthur dies in battle against Mordred, as recounted in Clarence's war report. ### [Final P.S. by M. T.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/chapters/final-p-s-by-m-t) Mentioned in Hank's dream as dead, and in his final words as the king. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters/king_arthur - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_connecticut_yankee_in_king_arthur_s_court_se/characters