Ywain
Sir Ywain /ɪˈweɪn/, also known as Yvain and Owain among other spellings (Ewaine, Ivain, Ivan, Iwain, Iwein, Uwain, Uwaine, Ywan, etc.), is a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend, wherein he is often the son of King Urien of Gorre and either the enchantress Modron or the sorceress Morgan le Fay. The historical Owain mab Urien, on whom the literary character is based, was the king of Rheged in Great Britain during the late 6th century.
| Sir Ywain | |
|---|---|
"Sir Ewaine, Knight of the Fountain", Howard Pyle's illustration from The Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions (1907) | |
| Based on | Owain mab Urien |
| In-universe information | |
| Title | Prince, Sir |
| Occupation | Knight of the Round Table |
| Family | Urien (father), Modron (mother), Morgan (mother or step-mother), Morfydd (twin sister), Mabon (maternal half-brother) |
| Spouse | Laudine |
| Origin | Kingdom of Gorre |
| Nationality | Celtic Briton |
Yvain was one of the earliest characters associated with King Arthur. He was also one of the most popular, starring as the eponymous hero in Chrétien de Troyes' late-12th-century Yvain, the Knight of the Lion and appearing prominently in many later accounts, often accompanied by his fierce pet lion. He remains Urien's son in virtually all literature in which he appears, whereas other characters in Arthurian legend based on historical figures usually lost their original familial connections in romance literature.