GUINEVERE
Real Name:
Guenevere (original spelling)
Occupation:
Queen of Camelot
Legal Status:
Citizen of Fifth Century Britain
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of Guinevere except as a semi-historical figure of legend.
Other Aliases:
Gwenhwyvar, Guenever, Guenhumara, Ganora, Vanora, Wander (name variations)
Place of Birth:
Place of Death: Almesbury, England
Marital Status: Married
Known Relatives:
Leodegrance (father, deceased), mother (name unrevealed, deceased), Genievre
(half-sister, deceased), Gotegrin (brother), Elyzabel, Garaunt, Guiomar, Guy, Labor
(cousins), Arthur
(husband, deceased), Loholt, Borre (foster sons), Mordred
(step-son, deceased),
Group Affiliations: None
Base of Operations:
Camelot
First Appearance: The Vulgate by Thomas Mallory
History: Not much is known about the early history of Guinevere. She apparently took her name from Guenevere, the sovereign goddess of Britain, but by most accounts, she is one of two daughters of King Leodegrance, a legendary British ruler of Saxon and Roman descent who ruled the region of Cameliard in what is now modern Cheshire County in modern England. In the early year of his rule, Arthur lead armies into the Welsh territory of Norgales to rescue King Leodegrance from King Ryons of Norgales who had captured him. It was not long into his rule that Arthur was advised by his barons that he should take a wife to give him an heir. Arthur had become smitten by Guinevere while he was a guest of Leodegrance in Cameliard. His choice of Guinevere as a bride and Queen of Britain was supported by Leodegrance, who gave Arthur the Round Table for his knights as part of her dowry, but Arthur's sage and advisor, Merlin, warned him that she would fail to be faithful to him. During the marriage, maternal relatives of Guinevere's look-alike half-sister, Genievre, tried to substitute Genievre for Guinevere, but the hoax failed and Genievre was disinherited for her part.
After the marriage, Arthur took Guinevere with him in his campaign against the armies of Denmark, Ireland, Vale, Soleise and the Isle of Longtains, but during the nighttime battle, Arthur's men spirited her across the Humber River to protect her. The spectacle of Arthur in battle greatly impressed Guinevere and encourage her to spread the fame of Sir Kay among the ladies of Camelot. She was alone while Arthur was off fighting the Roman armies of King Lucius in Gaul, but was reunited with him at the port city of Sandwich in Kent on his return. During his absences, she was often joined by her own company, the Queen's Knights, who she requested Lancelot to lead after his campaign against Turquine and Peris de Forest Savage. In time, Guinevere fell in love with Lancelot and the two carried on a long and adulterous love affair under great secrecy from Arthur and the rest of Camelot. The only people who knew of their love affair were Lancelot's trusted aides, Galeholt and the Lady of Malohaut who relayed their messages. Arthur however remained oblivious to their relationship, and while Arthur and Guinevere together remained childless, he was off siring many children. Guinevere apparently adopted his sons Loholt and Borre who were sired before his marriage to Guinevere by Lyzianor, daughter of Earl Sanam, and raised them as her own sons.
Despite his love for Guinevere, Lancelot also beloved a number of other women including Elaine of Carbonek with him he had a son named Galahad. Guinevere forgave him for that, but when Elaine tricked Lancelot to her bed a second time within earshot of Guinevere, she flew into a fury which drove Lancelot away from Camelot in a fit of madness. Guinevere spaired no expense to find him. Percival and Ector finally located him at Joyous Garde, but he was soon off on the Grail Quest instigated by Merlin to preserve the nobility of Arthur's knights. Lancelot it seems had motives to end the affair with Guinevere and championed Guinevere ladies to dispel the rumors and gossip before he could end it. Guinevere, however, refused to end the affair and Lancelot followed up by hiding out with Sir Brasias at Windsor until she would forgive him.
To drive him out, Guinevere held a privy dinner for Arthur's knights to show she held all of Arthur's nights in high regard. During the dinner, Sir Pinel le Savage tried to kill Sir Gawain with a poisoned apple to avenge the death of his cousin, Sir Lamorek, slain by Gawain, but the apple instead fell into the hands of Sir Patrise instead who fell to it's poison. Guinevere was accused of the crime supported by Arthur and Sir Bors who took Lancelot's place as a witness of her character. Lancelot, meanwhile stayed away, not coming to see her until she was taken to London while Arthur and his knights went to a tournament in Winchester. Guinevere told him to rejoin the knights in Winchester to avoid scandal, but he instead followed her in disguise to the tournament. This incident incurred Elaine of Carbonek's jealousy who encourage Lancelot to wear her favor in tournament.
During the following May Day festivals, Guinevere was abducted by Sir Meliagrant who considered himself Arthur's equal and worthy of Guinevere. His men easily defeated the Queen's Knights; Guinevere surrendering quickly to protect the lives of her remaining surviving guards. She slipped her ring to a child to bring Lancelot to her rescue, but she prudently allowed her own knights to have her own room in Meliagrant's castle that they would receive care. Meliagrant yielded to Guinevere's demands in order to avoid battling Lancelot over her honor, but on Lancelot arrival, he injured his hands on her garden window and left his blood in her bed. Not realizing Lancelot was present, Meliagrant accused Guinevere of sharing her bed with one of her injured knights. Lancelot preserved her honor by slaying Meliagrant, but the rumor was already gaining ground.
Eventually, Mordred began making his attempts to seize the throne, and he surprised Guinevere and Lancelot at Carlisle Castle in the middle of their affair while Arthur was away at war. Lancelot fought his way free, but Guinevere was taken hostage by Mordred. Guinevere may have allowed to let herself be taken willingly in order to salvage the worth of Camelot. She was reluctantly tried in court by Arthur and would have been burned at a stake for the affair, but she was rescued by Lancelot. Instead of escaping with her, he was forced to surrender her to Arthur. Guinevere was sent to the Tower of London under Mordred's custody as Arthur warred with Lancelot. Mordred used the incident to rape her and make her his queen as he made his bid to seize the throne. Undeceived by Mordred's letters reporting Arthur's death, she barricaded herself in her bed chambers and kept Mordred busy with wedding preparations.
Following both the deaths of Mordred and Arthur, Guinevere
secreted herself away to a nunnery in Almesbury where she became an Abbess. She
met Lancelot one more time as he offered to take her back to his estate in
France, but she refused, preferring to live out the rest of her life in great
penance. After Guinevere's death, Lancelot arranged for her to be buried at
Glastonbury.
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 125 lbs.
Eyes: Blue-Gray
Hair: Blonde
Strength Level: Guinevere possesses the normal human strength level of a
woman of her size, height and build who engages in extensive regular exercises.
Known Superhuman Powers: None
Paraphernalia: Guinevere owned a shield given to her by
the Lady of
the Lake. It was emblazoned with the image of an armed knight and a
beautiful lady embracing but separated by a cleft down the middle. The cleft was
wide enough that a person could place their hand through the middle without
touching either side.
Comments: It is not known if Guinevere has appeared in Marvel Comics; she
only appears in DC's Camelot 3000 series.
Clarifications: Guinevere is not to be
confused with:
Last updated: 08/01/10