# Britomart — The Faerie Queene character guide > Britomart in The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser. **Role:** major **Also known as:** fayre Britomart, the warlike Britonesse, the brave Mayd **First appearance:** 0049-canto-i ## Snapshot A Briton princess who dons her father's enchanted armor and rides into Faerie Land to find the knight she saw in a magic mirror. ## Who they are Britomart loves Artegall before she has ever met him, having glimpsed his image in Merlin's glass, and sets out in disguise to make that vision real. As the Knight of Chastity, she fights men who assume a woman cannot, and her chastity is not abstinence but a fierce, active loyalty to a love not yet returned. Her search gives the poem its most surprising engine: a woman questing for a man, and outriding most of them. ## Relationships ### [Sir Calidore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_calidore) _friendship_ Britomart and Sir Calidore share a mutual respect as fellow knights, often cooperating in their chivalric adventures. ### [Malbecco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/malbecco) _rivalry_ Britomart confronts the jealous and miserly Malbecco, exposing his cowardice and possessive nature. ### [Sir Guyon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_guyon) _friendship_ Britomart and Sir Guyon are allies in the pursuit of virtue, with Britomart often tempering Guyon's zealous temperance. ### [Prince Arthur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/prince_arthur) _friendship_ Britomart and Prince Arthur share a mutual admiration as powerful knights, often fighting together against common foes. ### [Sir Calidore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_calidore) _friendship_ Britomart and Sir Calidore share a mutual respect as fellow knights, often cooperating in their chivalric adventures. ### [Sir Calidore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_calidore) _friendship_ Britomart and Sir Calidore share a mutual respect as fellow knights, often cooperating in their chivalric adventures. ### [Sir Guyon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_guyon) _friendship_ Britomart and Sir Guyon are allies in the pursuit of virtue, with Britomart often tempering Guyon's zealous temperance. ### [Prince Arthur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/prince_arthur) _friendship_ Britomart and Prince Arthur share a mutual admiration as powerful knights, often fighting together against common foes. ### [Sir Guyon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_guyon) _friendship_ Britomart and Sir Guyon are allies in the pursuit of virtue, with Britomart often tempering Guyon's zealous temperance. ### [Malbecco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/malbecco) _rivalry_ Britomart confronts the jealous and miserly Malbecco, exposing his cowardice and possessive nature. ## In the story ### [A Letter to Sir Walter Raleigh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/a-letter-to-sir-walter-raleigh) A lady knight in whom Spenser pictures Chastity; she succours Scudamour and rescues Amoret from Busirane. ### [Book III: The Legend of Britomartis, or of Chastity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-iii-the-legend-of-britomartis-or-of-chastity) The titular knight of chastity; she learns of Artegall from the Redcrosse Knight, grows lovesick, and resists Malecasta's seduction at Castle Joyous. ### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-i) Unseats Guyon with her enchanted spear; refuses to disarm at Castle Joyous; rebuffs Malecasta's advances. ### [Canto II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ii) Travels with Guyon, reveals her quest for Artegall, and confesses her love born from seeing his image in Merlin's mirror. ### [Canto III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-iii) The warlike maiden who seeks Merlin to learn about Artegall, her destined love. ### [Canto IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-iv) Defeats Marinell in single combat and continues her quest, pining for Artegall. ### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix) A noble female knight who jousts with Paridell and shares her Trojan lineage. ### [Canto X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-x) Mentioned as rising early with the Faery knight to continue their journey, leaving Paridell behind to nurse his wounds. ### [Canto XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-xi) The warlike maiden, embodiment of chastity, who pursues the giant Ollyphant and later comforts Scudamour, vowing to rescue Amoret. ### [Canto XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-xii) The bold Britonesse who fearlessly endures the masque and enchanted chamber, defeats Busirane, and rescues Amoret. ### [The Legend of Cambel and Triamond, or of Friendship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-iv-the-legend-of-cambel-and-triamond-or-of-friendship) Victorious in the tournament as the Knight of the Hebene Spear; awarded the fairest lady as paramour, causing Artegall's resentment. ### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-i) The warlike virgin knight who rescues and escorts Amoret, concealing her true sex and causing Amoret's fear. ### [Canto IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-iv) Disguised as the salvage knight, Britomart wins the tournament for Florimell's girdle, overthrowing Artegall and many others with her enchanted spear. ### [Canto V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-v) Wins the tournament prize as the Knight of the Hebene Spear, but refuses the false Florimell and departs with Amoret to seek her beloved. ### [Canto VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vi) Fights and defeats both Scudamour and Artegall; her face is revealed, causing Artegall to fall in love. ### [Canto VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vii) Travels with Amoret but falls asleep, allowing the abduction to occur; she is absent for most of the canto. ### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix) Engaged in battle alongside Scudamour against Druon, Claribell, Blandamour, and Paridell over the false Florimell. ### [Canto XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-xi) Referenced as the one who wounded Marinell. ### [Canto V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-v) Referenced as Artegall's true love, whom he remains faithful to despite Clarinda's advances. ### [Canto VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vi) Britomart is the central figure of the canto. She receives the news of Artegall's captivity, experiences intense jealousy and grief, and resolves to rescue him. She also defeats Dolon's sons on the bridge. ### [Canto VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vii) Visits Isis Church, has a prophetic dream, fights and kills Radigund, frees Artegall. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/britomart - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters