Guinevere, Gwenhwyfar, or Guanhumara
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinevere
Guinevere (/ˈɡwɪnɪvɪər/; Welsh: Gwenhwyfar; Breton: Gwenivar), often written as Guenevere or Gwenevere,[1] is, in Arthurian legend, the wife of King Arthur. She first appears as Guanhumara (with many spelling variants in the manuscript tradition) in Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudo-historical chronicle of British history, the Historia Regum Britanniae, written circa 1136 AD. She is also found in medieval Welsh prose, in the mid-late 12th-century tale Culhwch and Olwen, as Arthur's wife Gwenhwyfar. In medieval romances, one of the most prominent story arcs is Queen Guinevere's love affair with her husband's chief knight, Lancelot. This story first appeared in Chrétien de Troyes's Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart and became a motif in Arthurian literature, starting with the Lancelot-Grail of the early 13th century and carrying through the Post-Vulgate Cycle and Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. Guinevere and Lancelot's betrayal of Arthur preceded his eventual defeat at the Battle of Camlann by Mordred.
The original Welsh form of the name Gwenhwyfar, which seems to be cognate with the Irish name Findabair, can be translated as "The White Enchantress" or "The White Fay/Ghost", from Proto-Celtic *Windo- "white, fair, holy" + *sēbarā"magical being" (cognate with Old Irish síabair "a spectre, phantom, supernatural being [usually in pejorative sense]").[2][3][4][5][a]
Geoffrey of Monmouth rendered her name as Guanhumara in Latin (though there are many spelling variations found in the various manuscripts of his Historia Regum Britanniae). The name is given as Guennuuar in Caradoc's Vita Gildae, while Gerald of Wales refers to her as Wenneuereia. In the 15th century Middle Cornish play Bewnans Ke, she was called Gwynnever. A cognate name in Modern English is Jennifer, from Cornish.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinevere#cite_note-7
In one of the Welsh Triads (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 56), there are three Gwenhwyfars married to King Arthur; the first is the daughter of Cywryd of Gwent, the second of Gwythyr ap Greidawl, and the third of (G)ogrfan Gawr ("the Giant"),[7]). In a variant of another Welsh Triad (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 54), only the daughter of Gogfran Gawr is mentioned. Two other Triads (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 53, 84) mention Gwenhwyfar's contention with her sister Gwenhwyfach, which was believed to be the cause of the Battle of Camlann. In the Welsh folktale Culhwch and Olwen, she is mentioned alongside her sister, Gwenhwyfach. In Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, she is described as one of the great beauties of Britain, descended from a noble Roman family and educated under Cador, Duke of Cornwall.
In French chivalric romances, Guinevere is the daughter of King Leodegrance, who served Uther Pendragon and was entrusted with the Round Table after Pendragon's death. In these histories, Leodegrance's kingdom lies near the Breton city of Carhaise (the modern Carhaix-Plouguer). In the fields to the south and east of Carhaise, Arthur defends Leodegrance by defeating Rience, which leads to his meeting and marriage with Guinevere. This version of the legend has Guinevere betrothed to Arthur early in his career, while he was garnering support.
optional version: Guinevere She is infamous as the cheating wife of King Arthur. As the cause of the end of Camelot and all the hope that Arthur’s reign had brought to Camelot and Britain. But was she real? Where do we find clues about her and what do those clues tell us?
Wikipedia does a wonderful overall summary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinevere Basically it says that “the first time she is mentioned is in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s pseudo-historical chronicle of British history, the Historia Regum Britanniae, written circa 1136 AD. She is also found in medieval Welsh prose, in the mid-late 12th-century tale Culhwch and Olwen, as Arthur's wife Gwenhwyfar.” It also says “In medieval romances, one of the most prominent story arcs is Queen Guinevere's love affair with her husband's chief knight, Lancelot. This story first appeared in Chrétien de Troyes's Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart and became a motif in Arthurian literature, starting with the Lancelot-Grail of the early 13th century and carrying through the Post-Vulgate Cycle and Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur.”
So essentially, that indicates she is a literary contrivance and not a real flesh and blood person. Even her name points to a description of her role with “The original Welsh form of the name Gwenhwyfar, which seems to be cognate with the Irish name Findabair, can be translated as "The White Enchantress" or "The White Fay/Ghost", from Proto-Celtic *Windo- "white, fair, holy" + *sēbarā"magical being" (cognate with Old Irish síabair "a spectre, phantom, supernatural being ).“
Wikipedia also points out “In one of the Welsh Triads (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 56), there are three Gwenhwyfars married to King Arthur; the first is the daughter of Cywryd of Gwent, the second of Gwythyr ap Greidawl, and the third of (G)ogrfan Gawr ("the Giant"),[7]). In a variant of another Welsh Triad (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 54), only the daughter of Gogfran Gawr is mentioned. Two other Triads (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 53, 84) mention Gwenhwyfar's contention with her sister Gwenhwyfach, which was believed to be the cause of the Battle of Camlann. In the Welsh folktale Culhwch and Olwen, she is mentioned alongside her sister, Gwenhwyfach.”
Once again the improbable is used as her ancestry since Gwythyr ap Greidawl is described by Wikipedia as “In Welsh mythology, Gwythyr ap Greidawl was a rival of Gwyn ap Nudd, a deity connected with the otherworld.” Another option was the daughter of “a giant”. And no one seems to have any idea who Cywrdd of Gwent was or his claim to fame.
Basically she is the catalyst for the story as she is the reason everything seems to happen and the driving force to the end.
GLASTONBURY ABBEY *from a note I had with no source* I had it to research the story itself... King Arthur’s final resting place, Avalon, is believed to be located in modern day Glastonbury Abbey. Urged by King Henry II, the monks at Glastonbury Abbey searched their grounds for proof of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. In 1191 the monks found a large oak coffin with the inscription, “Hic jacet sepultus inclitus rex Arturius in insula Avalonia,” which translates as, “Here lies King Arthur buried in Avalon.” The two skeletons found inside—believed to be Arthur and Guinevere—were moved to an ornate marble tomb in 1278, where they remained until the tomb was destroyed in 1539. Where they are today is a mystery.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glastonbury_Abbey this has the story and the role played by "historian Malmsbury"
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-34908894
I think it is safe to say she was not real.
Alternate Version Including Headings
Contents |
Guinevere in History
No historical persons have been found who form the basis for a woman named Guinevere associated with the King Arthur Legends. Essentially, Guinevere is a literary contrivance and not a real flesh and blood person.
Guinevere in Legend
Name
“The original Welsh form of the name Gwenhwyfar, which seems to be cognate with the Irish name Findabair, can be translated as "The White Enchantress" or "The White Fay/Ghost", from Proto-Celtic *Windo- "white, fair, holy" + *sēbarā"magical being" (cognate with Old Irish síabair "a spectre, phantom, supernatural being ).“ [1]
Role in the King Arthur Legends
Guinevere is infamous as the cheating wife of King Arthur, as the cause of the end of Camelot and all the hope that Arthur’s reign had brought to Camelot and Britain.
Guinevere is the catalyst for the story, the reason everything appears to happen and the driving force of the legend to the end.
Origins in Welsh Mythology
There are three differrent Gwenhwyfars married to King Arthur in one of the Welsh Triads: (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 56), [1] The Triads were first put on paper in the third quarter of the 13th century but contain earlier accounts of both real and legendary figures.
- the first is the daughter of Cywryd of Gwent,
- the second of Gwythyr ap Greidawl,
- and the third of (G)ogrfan Gawr ("the Giant"),[7]).
In a variant of another Welsh Triad (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 54), only the daughter of Gogfran Gawr is mentioned. Two other Triads (Trioedd Ynys Prydein, no. 53, 84) mention Gwenhwyfar's contention with her sister Gwenhwyfach, which was believed to be the cause of the Battle of Camlann. In the Welsh folktale Culhwch and Olwen, she is mentioned alongside her sister, Gwenhwyfach.” [1]
In Welsh mythology, Gwythyr ap Greidawl is described by Wikipedia as “Gwythyr ap Greidawl was a rival of Gwyn ap Nudd, a deity connected with the otherworld.” Another option was the daughter of “a giant”. No further references have been found to Cywrdd of Gwent.
Development of the Legend
Guinevere is first mentioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s "pseudo-historical chronicle of British history, the Historia Regum Britanniae, written circa 1136 AD." [1]
"She is also found in medieval Welsh prose, in the mid-late 12th-century tale Culhwch and Olwen, as Arthur's wife Gwenhwyfar. " [1]
The well-written Wikipedia article on Guinevere also says “In medieval romances, one of the most prominent story arcs is Queen Guinevere's love affair with her husband's chief knight, Lancelot. This story first appeared in Chrétien de Troyes's Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart and became a motif in Arthurian literature, starting with the Lancelot-Grail of the early 13th century and carrying through the Post-Vulgate Cycle and Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur.” [1]
Role of Glastonbury Abbey
In the King Arthur Legend, Arthur's final resting place was Avalon. Later legend identified Avalong with modern day Glastonbury Abbey.
The later legend apparently arose when, urged by King Henry II, the monks at Glastonbury Abbey searched their grounds for proof of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. In 1191 the monks found a large oak coffin with the inscription, “Hic jacet sepultus inclitus rex Arturius in insula Avalonia,” which translates as, “Here lies King Arthur buried in Avalon.” The two skeletons found inside—believed to be Arthur and Guinevere—were moved to an ornate marble tomb in 1278, where they remained until the tomb was destroyed in 1539. Where they are today is a mystery.
Sources
See also:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glastonbury_Abbey this has the story and the role played by "historian Malmsbury"
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-34908894
Other Pages of the King Arthur Legends
- The authors who wrote the King Arthur Legends
- Full list of battles associated with the King Arthur Legends
- Full list of characters in the King Arthur Legends
- An analysis of sources: history or legend?
- The objects which appear in the King Arthur Legends
- Full list of places associated with the King Arthur Legends
- The women who appear in the King Arthur Legends
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