Sir/King Tristram of Lyonesse

Tristram was the son of King Meloidas of Liones and of Queen Isabelle (or some say, Elizabeth) of Lyonesse - the land that was around the Scilly Isles which is now lost below the sea - and the nephew of King Mark of Cornwall. His mother died when he was born, and as a young man he served his uncle, King Mark. He fought for King Mark against the Marhaus of Ireland and overcame him, thus becoming the King's champion. This defeat led to a truce with King Anguish of Ireland and he arranged for his daughter, Isolde the Fair (or Yseult or Iseult, alternatively) to be married to King Mark. While this was happening, however, Tristram had travelled to Ireland under a false identity to have his wounds treated. While he was there he met the betrothed Isolde, but was forced to return to Cornwall when his identity was discovered.

When he returned, Tristram somehow fell out of favour with his uncle over an affair concerning the wife of Sir Segwarides and he left for King Arthur's court. After some time, Tristram was obliged to return to Ireland to fetch the would be Queen for Mark. While in the process of bringing her back to Cornwall, Tristram and Isolde accidently drank the love potions meant for herself and Mark, and Tristram and Isolde fell helplessly in love with one another. There are two alternate endings to this legend from her. On is that they fled from Mark and lived the rest of their days on the run. King Mark then slew them in a fit of rage. Legend has it that while Tristram was playing his harp for Isolde, Mark snuck in behind him and killed him with a dagger or a lance in the back. Overcome by remorse he buried them in the same grave so that they should be together.

The other, more popular, ending involves Isolde being married to Mark and her and Tristram continuing to be lover despite the matrimonial problems. They had four children together, but our knight was required to leave for Brittany when things became too complicated. Tristram married another Isolde, this time Isolde of the White Hands. However, he got wounded in a fight and sent for his original lover to come and heal him, her being skilled in those arts. As he was dying he saw a ship and asked his wife to tell him if that was Isolde the Fair, but she, being a jealous woman, told him that his lover has refused to come, so he died there, on the beach. When Isolde arrived, she was so overcome by grief that she committed suicide and the Arthurian Romeo and Juliet were buried together.

The Wedding of Sir Tristram