The Lai of Guigemar (+)
An epic poem by Marie de France, telling the story of Sir Guigemar and his Sidhe lover.
Summary
Guigemar is a brave and noble night in the loyal service of the King. A champion of great strength and prowess, he remains alone without love of his own. Forlorn, he goes hunting deep in the forest, encountering a deer of shimmering white fur. He gives chase, mortally wounding the creature, but is grievously injured himself. In his dying breath. the deer curses Sir Guigemar with an ere-hud that he will only be healed by the one who loves him, and that both he and his lover will suffer for that love.
In great pain, the knight stumbles through the forest until he discovers a lavishly decorated ship with no crew on a river. unable to stand any longer, he collapses onto the deck. Awakening, he finds the ship has left port and he is unable to control it as it reaches an island far out to sea. Here, a jealous lord has imprisoned his wife in a beautiful castle and garden, forbidding her from seeing any except her handmaiden and a blind, elderly Druid. The ship docks at the castle and Guigemar is found by the handmaiden and the Lady, who tend to his wounds, sheltering him in the castle.
The pair fall in love, and with the aid of the handmaiden, arrange a secret meeting, consummating their love and continuing their affair for a year and a half before Guigemar is discovered by the druid, the Lord's chamberlain and spy. Guigemar is exiled from the island kingdom. In a parting gift, they each give the other a garment that can only be untied by the other.
Guigemar returns to Briezh, but is consumed with depression over the loss of the Lady despite word of his heroics making him a beloved knight. The Lady is imprisoned in a marble tower, but manages to escape after 2 years, riding the same boat to Breizh. Her troubles are not over, as she is captured by an invading lord, who attempts to rape her, but is thwarted by the protection of the magical knot.
Learning of the spell between the lovers, the Lord devises a plot to lure Guigemar to his castle and destroy him. he hosts a tournament, inviting knights from all the land, including Guigemar. Guigemar wins the tournament and is introduced to the lady, but fails to recognize her. They learn their identities by presenting their lover's knots. The Lord springs his trap, but Guigemar, armed with a magical Sidhe blade of pure silver, defeats the soldiers, escaping with the Lady.
Historical Basis
Marie's version places Guigemar's story during the reign of Gadeon of Dumnonia, identifying the human lord as "Lord Meriadoc". Guigemar's original liege, never named, therefore should be Gradlon of Kernev or Even of Leon/
Guigemar is considered, at least according to the royal genealogists of the University of Orleans, as the progenitor of House Bisclavret, although this claim and whether the castle of Roc'h Goueon, named after him has any actual connection to the legend is suspect, as it is common practice to justify noble ascensions by "discovering" links to a noble ancestor.
Spread
The legend of Guigemar, also known as Guyon, is well known in Breizh, especially in Penn-Ar-Bed, although it is often confused with the similar legend of Graelent, collected by Marie as Lanval.
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