# Prince Arthur — The Faerie Queene character guide > Prince Arthur in The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Arthur, the Prince, the Briton Prince, Prince Arthure **First appearance:** 0023-canto-i ## Snapshot The Briton Prince who wanders Faerie Land seeking Gloriana, his magnificence the sum of every virtue the other knights pursue in fragments. ## Who they are Arthur rides without a fixed quest, appearing wherever another knight's strength fails, his shield a mirror that unmasks falsehood. Spenser names him the embodiment of Magnificence, the virtue that contains all others, yet he cannot find the Faerie Queene he has served for seven years. His arrival in the middle books gives the poem its hidden spine: every scattered adventure quietly bends toward him. ## Relationships ### [Sir Artegall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_artegall) _friendship_ Prince Arthur and Sir Artegall are fellow knights of justice, often fighting alongside each other in battles against tyranny. ### [Sir Calidore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_calidore) _friendship_ Prince Arthur and Sir Calidore share a bond of chivalric brotherhood, assisting each other in various quests. ### [Molanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/molanna) _social_ Molanna interacts with Prince Arthur as a minor character in the narrative, providing him with information about the landscape. ### [Britomart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/britomart) _friendship_ Britomart and Prince Arthur share a mutual admiration as powerful knights, often fighting together against common foes. ### [Molanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/molanna) _social_ Molanna interacts with Prince Arthur as a minor character in the narrative, providing him with information about the landscape. ### [Britomart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/britomart) _friendship_ Britomart and Prince Arthur share a mutual admiration as powerful knights, often fighting together against common foes. ### [Molanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/molanna) _social_ Molanna interacts with Prince Arthur as a minor character in the narrative, providing him with information about the landscape. ### [Sir Artegall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_artegall) _friendship_ Prince Arthur and Sir Artegall are fellow knights of justice, often fighting alongside each other in battles against tyranny. ## 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) Spenser sets forth Magnificence in Arthur, who is perfected in the twelve private moral virtues and seeks the Fairy Queen after a vision. ### [Book I: The Legend of the Knight of the Red Cross, or of Holiness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-i-the-legend-of-the-knight-of-the-red-cross-or-of-holiness) The noble Briton Prince who rescues the Redcrosse Knight from Orgoglio and gives him a healing box of diamond. ### [Canto VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vii) Encountering Una in distress, he offers comfort and pledges to aid her. ### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-viii) Arrives with Una to rescue the Redcrosse Knight; blows the magical horn, fights and kills Orgoglio, captures Duessa, and finds the imprisoned knight. ### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix) Reveals his unknown lineage, upbringing by Timon and Merlin, and his quest driven by a love-wound. ### [Canto XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-xii) The king of Eden, father of Una, who presides over the wedding and orders Archimago's arrest. ### [Book II: The Legend of Sir Guyon, or of Temperance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-ii-the-legend-of-sir-guyon-or-of-temperance) Intervenes to protect a sleeping knight from Pyrochles and Cymochles. ### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-viii) Rescues the unconscious Guyon, rebukes Pyrochles and Cymochles for their dishonorable attack, and slays Pyrochles in single combat. ### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix) Travels with Guyon, expresses his long quest to find Gloriana, and is shown the 'Briton Moniments' in Eumnestes' library. ### [Canto X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-x) Reads the Briton chronicle from Brutus to Uther. ### [Canto XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-xi) Defends the Castle of Alma, battles and defeats Maleger. ### [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) Accompanies Guyon after leaving Alma's castle; observes the joust and continues the quest. ### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-i) Travels with Guyon; helps pacify Guyon's wrath after his fall. ### [Canto IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-iv) Pursues Florimell after she flees from the foster, but loses her in the darkness. ### [Canto V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-v) Prince Arthur encounters a dwarf seeking Florimell, learns of her story, and vows to assist in finding her. ### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-viii) Slays the giant Corflambo and rescues the Squire. ### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix) Rescues the Squire of low degree, reunites him with Placidas, forces Pæana to marry the Squire, and later observes the battle among the knights. ### [Book V: The Legend of Artegall, or of Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-v-the-legend-of-artegall-or-of-justice) Arrives to assist Artegall; issues a bold defiance to the Souldan and prepares to fight him. ### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-viii) Fights the Souldan in defense of justice and honor, reconciles with Artegall. ### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix) Present at Mercilla's court; initially moved by pity for Duessa but later convinced of her guilt by Zele's evidence. ### [Canto X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-x) Takes on the quest to aid Belgæ, defeats the Seneschal and three knights, and restores her to her castle. ### [Canto XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-xi) Defeats the giant Gerioneo and slays the monster beneath the altar, restoring Belge to her right. ### [Canto V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-v) Arrives with Timias, learns of Turpine's misdeeds, vows vengeance, and leaves Serena and Timias at the hermitage. ### [Canto VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vi) Defeats Turpine and spares him at Blandina's request; rests at the castle. ### [Canto VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vii) Defeats two knights sent by Turpine and later subdues Turpine, hanging him by the heels as punishment. ### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-viii) Overcomes Disdaine and Scorne, and frees Mirabell from her penance. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/prince_arthur - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters