Guenever

or Gui never , a corrupt form of Guanhuma´ra (4 syl. ), daughter of King Leodegrance, of the land of Camel yard. She was the most beautiful of women, was the wife of King Arthur, but entertained a criminal attachment for Sir Launce lot du Lac. Respecting the latter part of the queen’s history, the greatest diversity occurs. Thus Geoffrey says: King Arthur was on his way to Rome... when news was brought him that his nephew Mordred, to whose care he had entrusted Britain had... set the crown upon his own head; and that the queen Guanhumara had wickedly married him.... When King Arthur returned and put Mordred and his army to flight... the queen fled from York to the City of Legions [ Newport in South Wales ], where she resolved to lead a chaste life among the nuns of Julius the martyr.— British History , xi. 1 (1142). Another version is, that Arthur, being informed of the adulterous conduct of Launce lot, went with an army to Bentwick ( Britt any ), to punish him. That Mordred (his son by his own sister), left as regent, usurped the crown, proclaimed that Arthur was dead, and tried to marry Guenever, the queen; but she shut herself up in the Tower of London, resolved to die rather than marry the usurper. When she heard of the death of Arthur, she “stole away” to Almesbury, “and there she let make herself a nun, and wore white cloaths and black.” And there lived she “in fasting, prayers and almsdeeds, that all marvelled at her virtuous life.”—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur , iii, 161-170 (1470). ⁂ For Tennyson’s version, see Guinevere .