# King Arthur — Sir Gawain and the Green Knight character guide

> King Arthur in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Anonymous.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Arthur, the high King, The King, King Arthur the athel

**First appearance:** 0002-sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight

## Who they are

Camelot's stalwart liege, who will not eat at a feast until some marvel of chivalry or knight-errantry has been told or dared before him.

## Relationships

### [Sir Gawain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/sir_gawain)

_professional_

King Arthur is Gawain's uncle and liege lord, with Gawain acting as a loyal knight who takes on the Green Knight's challenge to protect Arthur's honor.

### [Bertilak de Hautdesert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/bertilak_de_hautdesert)

_social_

Bertilak is a lord of Arthur's realm who interacts with the king primarily through the challenge he sends to Camelot.

### [The Green Knight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/the_green_knight)

_rivalry_

Arthur faces the Green Knight's challenge at his court, but Gawain steps in to take the blow, making Arthur a secondary participant in the rivalry.

### [Bishop Baldwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/bishop_baldwin)

_professional_

Bishop Baldwin is a member of Arthur's court, likely a clerical advisor or companion to the king.

### [Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/christ)

_social_

Christ is referenced in the context of Arthur's court as the center of Christian chivalry and the Christmas season.

### [Lady Bertilak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/lady_bertilak)

_social_

Arthur interacts with Lady Bertilak as a guest at his court and later as the wife of his vassal Bertilak.

### [Sir Gawain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/sir_gawain)

_professional_

King Arthur is Gawain's uncle and liege lord, with Gawain acting as a loyal knight who takes on the Green Knight's challenge to protect Arthur's honor.

### [Sir Gawain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/sir_gawain)

_professional_

King Arthur is Gawain's uncle and liege lord, with Gawain acting as a loyal knight who takes on the Green Knight's challenge to protect Arthur's honor.

### [Bertilak de Hautdesert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/bertilak_de_hautdesert)

_social_

Bertilak is a lord of Arthur's realm who interacts with the king primarily through the challenge he sends to Camelot.

### [Bertilak de Hautdesert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/bertilak_de_hautdesert)

_social_

Bertilak is a lord of Arthur's realm who interacts with the king primarily through the challenge he sends to Camelot.

### [The Green Knight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/the_green_knight)

_rivalry_

Arthur faces the Green Knight's challenge at his court, but Gawain steps in to take the blow, making Arthur a secondary participant in the rivalry.

### [The Green Knight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/the_green_knight)

_rivalry_

Arthur faces the Green Knight's challenge at his court, but Gawain steps in to take the blow, making Arthur a secondary participant in the rivalry.

## In the story

### [Sir Gawain and the Green Knight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/chapters/sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight)

Presides over the New Year's feast and initially prepares to accept the challenge himself.

### [Fit I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/chapters/fit-i)

Presides over the New Year's feast, initially prepared to accept the challenge himself, but yields to Gawain and blesses him.

### [Fit II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/chapters/fit-ii)

Referenced as the king whose court Gawain leaves.

### [Fit IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/chapters/fit-iv)

Comforts Gawain upon his return to Camelot and decrees that all knights of the Round Table shall wear a green baldric in honor of Gawain.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/chapters/endnotes)

Mentioned in the context of his practice of finding adventure on feast days and the seating at his court.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/king_arthur
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters