Duke Gorlois
Duke of Cornwall
Duke Gorlois was a grizzled veteran of many fights, battles, and wars. He was the first from Cornwall to support Aurelius Ambrosius, who honoured Gorlois with this dukedom, and has since defended it from Irish raiders and Cornish plunderers.
Gorlois was noted for his loyalty to his beautiful wife and his tremendous personal courage. However, he was getting old and has suffered many wounds — his sword was sharp, but his arm was weak,
Lady Ygraine: Wife. The most famed beauty in Britain, almost 30 years Gorlois' junior.
Sir Cador : Son and heir. Disappeared after the fall of Tintagel with a number of Cornish knights.
Lady Margawse Lady Margawse: The eldest daughter, known for having inherited her mother's beauty. Married to King Lot of Lothian in 492.
Lady Elaine Lady Elaine: The middle daughter, overshadowed by her two sisters. Married to King Nantres of Garloth in 492.
Lady Morgan Lady Morgan: The youngest daughter, a strange child whose intelligence belies her years. Is rumored to have been promised to King Uriens of Gore.
Duke Gorlois was a grizzled veteran of many skirmishes, battles and wars. He was the first from Cornwall to support Aurelius Ambrosius, who honored Gorlois with the dukedom of Cornwall. He had many trials against Irish raiders, Cornwall plunderers and Saxon invaders.
His downfall came in at the hands of Aurelius Ambrosius nephew and heir to the Pendragon line, Uther Pendragon . After claiming the Sword of Victory, Excalibur, Uther systemically progressed from king-to-king demanding fealty. After his encounter with Gorlois and Battle of Lindsey, they became brothers in arms. But Uther’s eyes were not for the glory of post-battle, but for Gorlois’s wife, Lady Ygraine.
Gorlois was invited to royal court and was imprisoned. He was not imprisoned in the dungeons, but with bonds of hospitality. He could not leave without breaking the truce. That time did come, when Uther attempted to place himself on the duke’s wife.
Sadly, the duke was not in fighting shape. His skill was sharp, but his sword arm was weak. When Gorlois escaped into the night to ambush Uther’s main force, he was able to kill the bastard son of Uther, Prince Madoc. The price was too high, for he was killed by a Salisbury knight, Sir Guy of the Wolf’s Head.
Gorlois had three daughters, Morgawse, Elaine and Morgan.
His wife became the queen of Uther, as well as his daughters, the wards of crown.
Relationships
Born to nobility, his early childhood is nothing extraordinary. In the year 457, he becomes one of the leaders in the Dumnonii migration to Brittany. Once arrived in Brittany, Gorlois befriends Aurelius (and tolerates the younger prince, Uther, albeit barely). Gorlois follows Aurelius to war, and earns Aurelius’ trust in numerous battles with his cool head and combat prowess.
The two men become as close as brothers. Finally, in the year 465, when Aurelius is ready to return to Britain but still lacking ships, Gorlois takes on the task of gathering a fleet from Soissons and the Franks. However, while sailing off the shore of Northern Gaul, a storm suddenly comes up and Gorlois’ ship flounders and becomes shipwrecked against an island’s rocky coast.
When he awakes he looks for other survivors. Finding some and pulling them to shore, he continues seeking other survivors when he sees a beautiful young lass rising from the waves. He rushes to her thinking her to be an angel coming to aid him. However, she is the daughter of the ruler of this island and together they pull many to safety. Gorlois, who had fallen instantly in love, then travels to meet her father and the shipwrecked survivors are entertained by the ruler of this island, her father.
Gorlois spends many a day in Ygraine’s presence and eventually meets her father in a closed meeting. He declares his lineage, his prowess (to date and the father smiles), and his intention to marry her. In response, the father says he is also a king and his daughter is not marrying someone not her equal in status. Their conversation continues but eventually Gorlois walks away with a list of what he needs to do to get the father’s permission and the use of a magical fleet to help save Cornwall from the tyrant Vortigern.
Gorlois returns to Brittany with a fleet of magnificent, beautiful beyond measure, ships which move effortlessly against the waves. With these new ships, the invasion of ten thousand is made possible. Gorlois is always at the front of the battles and Aurelius rewards him by making him the Duke of Cornwall in 468. In 470, Ygraine arrives and marries Gorlois as he has succeeded in accomplishing all tasks set by her father, thus winning her hand. Ygraine’s beauty, her stature, her demeanor, all help to win the Cornish over.
Gorlois and Ygraine have two beautiful, intelligent girls together: Margawse (474) and Elaine (476).
The death of King Riothamus of Cornwall leads to a war between Duke Gorlois and King Idres, the new King of Cornwall. Gorlois conquers Ascalon and Tintagel counties, adding them to Logres. However, this keeps him from assisting Aurelius against the Saxons, and Uther accuses Gorlois for the British defeats, further straining their relationship.
Family
Lady Ygraine: Wife. The most famed beauty in Britain, almost 30 years Gorlois’ junior.
Sir Cador: Son and heir.
Lady Margawse: The eldest daughter, known for having inherited her mother’s beauty.
Lady Elaine: The middle daughter, overshadowed by her two sisters.
Species
Year of Birth
428 AD
62 Years old
Spouses
Lady Ygraine
(spouse)
Siblings
Children
Gender
male
Hair
Black curley
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
tan with scars
Height
6'1"
Weight
245
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