# Dame Lionesse — Le Morte d’Arthur character guide

> Dame Lionesse in Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the Lady Lionesse, the Dame Lionesse

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Who they are

A lady won by Sir Gareth in combat, later his wife.

## In the story

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xv)

The lady under siege; her castle is surrounded by the Red Knight, and she is the sister of Linet.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xvi)

The lady at the window, besieged by the Red Knight, makes a curtsey to Beaumains.

### [How Sir Beaumains Overcame the Red Knight of the Red Launds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xvii)

Watches the battle from a window and encourages Beaumains with her countenance.

### [How Beaumains Came to the Lady, and When He Came to the Castle the Gates Were Closed Against Him, and of the Words That the Lady Said to Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xix)

Speaks to Beaumains from the castle window, setting a year-long trial before she will grant him her love.

### [The Rescue of the Dwarf and the Revelation of Sir Gareth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xx)

Lady of the castle who learns Gareth's true identity and confesses her love for him, asking her brother to return the dwarf.

### [How Sir Gareth Came to His Lady and of Their Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xxi)

Dame Lionesse is revealed as the lady of the Castle Perilous. She returns Sir Gareth's love and promises to love him alone for the rest of her life.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xxii)

Secretly visits Sir Gareth's bed, cries out when he is wounded, and declares him her lord and husband.

### [The Tournament at Castle Perilous](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xxvi)

Proposes the tournament to Arthur and organizes the event from Castle Perilous.

### [How King Arthur went to the tournament with his knights, and how the lady received him worshipfully, and how the knights encountered.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xxvii)

Ordains great array for the tournament and lends Gareth a magical ring.

### [Sir Gareth is Discovered and Escapes the Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xxx)

Receives her ring back from Gareth via his dwarf; is assured of his fidelity.

### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xxxiii)

Mentioned as not yet visiting Gareth; sent for by Arthur.

### [How Sir Gareth acknowledged that they loved each other to King Arthur, and of the appointment of their wedding.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xxxiv)

Proclaims Sir Gareth as her first and last love, agreeing to marry him.

### [Of the Great Royalty, and what officers were made at the feast of the wedding, and of the jousts at the feast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xxxv)

Wedded Sir Gareth; requested that no wedded knight joust at the feast.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/characters/dame_lionesse
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/characters