# Una — The Faerie Queene character guide

> Una in The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Fayre Una, Dame Una, Fidelia

**First appearance:** 0023-canto-i

## Snapshot

A king's daughter whose steadfast truth is tested by desertion, slander, and false doubles, she walks the long road back to her knight and her kingdom.

## Who they are

Una travels a hostile land with only a lion and a dwarf for company, her patience and pity set against the world's appetite for slander and disguise. When the Redcrosse Knight is turned from her by a counterfeit vision, she neither rails nor repents, but keeps searching, and her constancy quietly shames every false claimant to beauty or virtue. Her reunion with her knight is the poem's first great argument that truth, though slow, outlasts every lie.

## Relationships

### [Sir Calidore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_calidore)

_friendship_

Sir Calidore aids Una in her quest, acting as a courteous and chivalrous ally in her time of need.

### [Sir Calidore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_calidore)

_friendship_

Sir Calidore aids Una in her quest, acting as a courteous and chivalrous ally in her time of need.

### [Sir Calidore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_calidore)

_friendship_

Sir Calidore aids Una in her quest, acting as a courteous and chivalrous ally in her time of need.

## In the story

### [The Faerie Queene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/the-faerie-queene)

The lady representing Truth, who accompanies the Redcrosse Knight and seeks to free her parents.

### [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)

A lovely lady riding a white ass, leading a milk-white lamb, who accompanies the Redcrosse Knight on his quest.

### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-i)

A lovely lady riding a white ass, veiled and mourning, leading a milk-white lamb; she is of royal lineage and seeks the knight's aid.

### [Canto II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ii)

Awakens to find the Redcrosse Knight gone and searches for him, grieving his departure.

### [Canto III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-iii)

Forsaken and wandering alone, she is protected by a lion, captured by Sansloy, and later deceived by Archimago disguised as her knight.

### [Canto VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vi)

Rescued from Sansloy by Fauns and Satyres, then led away by Satyrane; distressed by false news of Redcrosse Knight's death.

### [Canto VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vii)

Distressed and forlorn, she recounts the story of the Redcrosse Knight's betrayal and imprisonment to Prince Arthur.

### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-viii)

Guides Prince Arthur to Orgoglio's castle, witnesses the battle, and pleads for the rescue of the Redcrosse Knight.

### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix)

Requests Arthur's story and later saves the Redcrosse Knight from Despair.

### [Canto X: The House of Holinesse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-x)

Guides the Redcrosse Knight to the House of Holinesse to restore his strength and faith.

### [Canto X: The House of Holinesse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-x)

Daughter of Celia, teaches faith and holds a silver cup and a book.

### [Canto XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-xi)

Una encourages the knight before the battle, prays through the night, and rejoices at the dragon's defeat.

### [Canto XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-xii)

Betrothed to the Redcrosse Knight, reveals Duessa's treachery, and is left mourning at the end.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/una
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters