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{{Short description|Given name}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2019}}
{{For|his father|#Brunor the Black, the Good Knight Without Fear}}

'''Brunor''', '''Breunor''', '''Branor''' or '''Brunoro''' are various forms of a name given to several different characters in the works of the [[Tristan]] tradition of [[Arthurian legend]]. They include the [[Knights of the Round Table|Knight of the Round Table]] known as ''Brunor/Breunor le Noir'' (French for "the Black") and his own father by the same name, as well as a few others.

== Brunor le Noir (Ill-Fitting Coat) ==
[[File:Hb-brunoir.jpg|thumb|upright|Brunoir le Noir's arms]]

'''Brunor le Noir''' (/ˈbruːnor lə nojr/ or /ˈbʁœ̃nɔʁ lə nwaʁ/) (alternatively ''Breunor'', ''Brunoro lo Nero'') is a young knight nicknamed '''La Cot[t]e Mal[e] Tail[l]e[e]''' ([[French language|Modern]] {{langx|fr|link=no|La Cote Mal Taillée}} = "the badly cut coat") by [[Sir Kay|Kay]] after his arrival in his murdered father's mangled armour and [[surcoat]] at [[King Arthur]]'s court. He should not be confused with his father, also named Brunor the Black but better known as [[#Brunor the Black, the Good Knight Without Fear|The Good Knight Without Fear]].

Brunor's adventures first appear embedded in the [[Prose Tristan|Prose ''Tristan'']]. They were then expanded [[Thomas Malory]]'s compilation ''[[Le Morte d'Arthur]]'' and in the Italian romance ''[[La Tavola Ritonda]]''. Brunor lacks skill in [[jousting]], but is near-invincible on foot (in one instance in the ''Tavola'', for example, defeating [[Lamorak]] before being defeated by [[Tristan]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Polidori |first=Filippo Luigi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=biRLAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA293 |title=La Tavola ritonda, o L'istoria di Tristano testo di lingua citato dagli accademici della Crusca ed ora per la prima volta pubblicato secondo il codice della Mediceo-Laurenziana per cura e con illustrazioni di Filippo Luigi Polidori: Prefazione, testo dell'opera |date=1864 |publisher=Presso Gaetano Romagnoli |language=it}}</ref>). His elder brother is always [[Dinadan]]. Another brother appearing in only some versions is Daniel, who in the ''Tavola'' is slain by [[Lancelot]], making Lancelot Brunor's sworn enemy until the two make an uneasy truce after fighting to a draw. Brunor eventually marries his lady who, like [[Gareth]]'s [[Lynette and Lyonesse|Lynette]], starts by mocking him as he goes on a long [[Chivalry|chivalric]] quest with her and their on-and-off companions.

[[File:Galinan_faces_Brunor_le_noir_(5152671).jpg|thumb|left|Brunor le Noir faces Galinan in the Prose ''Yvain'' (National Library of Wales Ms. 444-D)]]

Brunor has some further adventures in the Prose ''Tristan'' as a companion of [[Tristan]], including once managing to win against [[Lancelot]] (on a technicality) while disguised as Tristan. He serves as a double of Tristan, with some of the same talents and hobbies (such as composing lais) but is unloved by [[Iseult]] after he too falls in love with her.<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=A7TwAAAAMAAJ</ref><ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=d_hpCLqVTQIC&</ref> Brunor's story contained in the episode "Chevalier a la cotte mal taille" of the 14th-century Prose ''Yvain'' tells of some of his further adventures as he single-handedly rescues [[Gaheriet]] and then participates in the rescue of [[Yvain]].<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/roma_0035-8029_1964_num_85_338_2950 | doi=10.3406/roma.1964.2950 | title=A Reappraisal of the Prose Yvain (National Library of Wales, Ms. 444-D) | year=1964 | last1=Muir | first1=Lynette R. | journal=Romania | volume=85 | issue=338 | pages=355–365 }}</ref>

=== La Cote Male Taile (Malory's version) ===
[[File:The_Knight_of_the_Ill-Shapen_Coat_Chooses_His_Bride.jpg|thumb|upright|''The Knight of the Ill-Shapen Coat Chooses His Bride'', [[Helen Stratton]]'s 1910 illustration for ''King Arthur and His Knights'' (a modern edition of Malory's ''Le Morte d'Arthur'')]]

The tale is related thematically to the "Fair Unknown" story popular in the Middle Ages, other versions of which can be found in the Arthurian stories of Gareth, [[Gingalain]], and [[Percival]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/theme/fair-unknown|title=The Fair Unknown {{!}} Robbins Library Digital Projects|website=d.lib.rochester.edu|access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref> It most closely resembles the tale of Gareth, who is also given an insulting name by Sir Kay upon arriving at [[Camelot]] and also has to prove his worth to a damsel who constantly insults and belittles him.

The story begins as Brunor (''Breunor'') travels to Camelot wearing his dead father's bloodied coat, which he has vowed not to take off as long as his father is not avenged. He is met with mockery, his outfit earning him the nickname La Cote Male Taile, and he is initially rejected from Arthur's service until Sir [[Gawain]] speaks out on his behalf. After Brunor returns to the court, he endures Kay's continued attempts at humiliating him, but soon proves his worth by rescuing Queen [[Guinevere]] from an escaped lion and is knighted by Arthur.

A damsel arrives at court bearing a great black shield emblazoned with a white hand holding a sword, and tells how the knight who previously carried the shield died while on a quest. She is now searching for a knight of similar courage to continue the quest. Brunor agrees to go with her, but she taunts him regarding his clothing and appearance, earning her the nickname Maledisant ("Evil-speaking") or Mesdisant ("Ill-speaking"). After the pair leave the castle, Brunor encounters Sir [[Dagonet]], Arthur's court jester, who has been sent by Kay to joust with the new knight. Brunor quickly defeats Dagonet, but Maledisant's taunts only increase because the court sent a fool to challenge Brunor rather than a true knight. Brunor later encounters two other knights of the [[Round Table]], Sir [[Bleoberis]] and Sir [[Palamedes (Arthurian legend)|Palomides]], is challenged by them, and is unhorsed by both. They each refuse to fight him on foot and walk away, drawing more sharp criticism from Maledisant.

Brunor later travels with the young Sir [[Mordred]] to Castle Orgulous (''Orguellous'' or ''Orgulous'', "Proud"). The knights must fight their way into the castle. After Mordred is injured, Brunor continues alone. Inside the castle, he meets a hundred knights in a lady's chamber. Attacked by the knights, Brunor manages to get out with the aid of the black shield, mounts his horse, and escapes. Maledisant questions his story of what happened and sends a witness who returns to prove Maledisant wrong. Brunor continues to hold his peace and does not rebuke her.

They continue to journey after Mordred leaves and Lancelot joins them, but he too leaves after Maledisant redirects her words at him. They come upon the Pendragon (''Pandragon'') castle, which belongs to King Arthur's enemy Sir Brian of the Isles (''de les Isles''), where one of six knights challenges Brunor to a joust. Brunor wins, but then the other five attack him in an unknightly manner, and take him and Maledisant into the castle as prisoners. Lancelot comes to the rescue, fights Brian until he yields, and releases them, as well as dozens of other knights and ladies. He then agrees to ride with them only on condition that Maledisant stops directing evil words at Brunor and himself. Maledisant then confesses that the only reason for her taunting is that she wants to test the knights' strength.

Later they come upon a castle near the border of the country of Sorelais (''Sursule''). Brunor enters the castle alone and defeats two brothers who challenge him. Eventually, he arrives at yet another castle, where he comes face to face with Sir Plenorius. Brunor cannot fight anymore because of his wounds, so out of pity Plenorius carries him into the tower as a prisoner. When Lancelot hears of this, he challenges Plenorius to a battle that lasts many hours until Plenorius yields. Brunor remains at the castle in order to recover from his wounds, and afterwards returns with Lancelot and Maledisant to King Arthur's court.

Brunor is made a [[Knights of the Round Table|Knight of the Round Table]] the following [[Pentecost]]. He marries the Ill-Speaking Maiden, now known as Beauvivante ("Well-living") or Bienpensant ("Well-thinking") because of her changed attitude, and Lancelot gives them Castle Pendragon that was won from Brian. It is said that Brunor would succeed in avenging his father.

== Brunor le Noir (Good Knight Without Fear) ==
Sir '''Brunor the Black''' (''Brunor le Noir''), also known as '''Brunor the King''' (''Brunor le Roi''), is the true but seldom-used name of the '''Good Knight Without Fear''' (''Bon Chevalier sans Peur'')<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3LjCAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51|title=Malory and His European Contemporaries: Adapting Late Arthurian Romance Collections|last=Edlich-Muth|first=Miriam|date=2014|publisher=Boydell & Brewer Ltd|isbn=9781843843672|language=en}}</ref> in the Prose ''Tristan'' and the 13th-century French romance ''[[Palamedes (romance)|Palamedes]]'', as well as the 13th-century Italian prose collection ''Novellino''. The son of Esclanor the Black, and the father of [[#Brunor le Noir|the younger Brunor the Black]] and of Dinadan, he was a great knight during the reign of King Arthur's father [[Uther Pendragon]], who made him the King of Estrangore (''Estrangorre'').

''Palamedes'' tells of Brunor's journey to rescue his old friend Ludinas, the Good Knight of [[North Wales|Norgales]] (''Bon Chevalier de Norgales''), from the cruel giant Nabon the Black, the lord of the Val of Servage. Brunor defeats and slays Nabon's son Nathan in a duel (Nathan is killed by Tristan in the Prose ''Tristan''), but he is then imprisoned in the dungeon of Nabon's castle for several years. He goes mad until either he is let go, or both he and Ludinas are freed by Tristan, and is eventually restored to his senses by Uther and Arthur's physician Baucillas. Two years later, when he is both old and unarmed, Brunor is attacked and mortally wounded by Briadan and Ferrant, the two villainous knights who hated him.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NenKwH-6zg8C&pg=PA45|title=Arthurian Literature XXII|last=Busby|first=Keith|date=2005|publisher=DS Brewer|isbn=9781843840626|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_mqQ-8Jcl3UC&pg=PA527|title=Guiron le Courtois: étude de la tradition manuscrite et analyse critique|last=Lathuillère|first=Roger|date=1966|publisher=Librairie Droz|isbn=9782600027953|language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F9NRAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA53|title=Medieval Miscellany|last=Sutcliffe|first=F. E.|date=1965|publisher=Manchester University Press|language=en}}</ref> An additional story told in the ''Novellino'' relates the Good Knight Without Fear's unlikely rescue by his usual mortal enemy, Tristan's father King [[Meliodas|Meliadus]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GeuBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT253|title=The Arthur of the Italians: The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Italian Literature and Culture|last1=Psaki|first1=Regina|last2=Allaire|first2=Gloria|date=2014|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=9781783161584|language=en}}</ref>

== Branor le Brun (Dragon Knight) ==
[[File:Blason Seguran le Brun.svg|thumb|upright|The le Brun family arms, the version belonging to Branor's nephew [[Segurant, the Knight of the Dragon|Seguran]]]]

Sir '''Branor the Brown''' (French: ''Branor le Brun'', Italian: ''Branor li Brun'') is a knight of Uther's original Order of the [[Round Table]], featured in ''Palamedes'' and in the prologue of [[Rustichello da Pisa]]'s ''Roman de Roi Artus.''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GeuBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT40|title=The Arthur of the Italians: The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Italian Literature and Culture|last1=Psaki|first1=Regina|last2=Allaire|first2=Gloria|date=2014|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=9781783161584|language=en}}</ref> 13th-century Italian writer [[Rustichello da Pisa]] also invented some original episodes starring Brunor le Brun for his ''Arthurian Compilation''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/items/41e5370d-ad6b-4ea4-887a-d1cb831f43b6 | title=Turning the tables on romance : Rustichello da Pisa invents a new chivalric table in his Arthurian compilation | date=15 September 2017 | last1=Florea | first1=Elizabeth Ann }}</ref>

In his story from ''Palamedes'', Branor le Brun, also known as the '''Knight of the Dragon''' or the '''Dragon Knight''' (''Le Chevaulier au Dragon''), visits King Arthur's court aged 120 and proceeds to defeat Arthur and many of his knights of the new Round Table, including Gawain, Lancelot, [[Palamedes (Arthurian legend)|Palamedes]], and [[Tristan]], in jousts.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nqt5QTWGH8sC&pg=PA279|title=Cyprus: Society And Culture 1191–1374|last1=Konnari|first1=Angel Nicolaou|last2=Schabel|first2=Christopher David|date=2005|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9789004147676|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OAwNAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA55|title=Medieval Miscellany Presented to Eugène Vinaver by Pupils, Colleagues and Friends|last1=Whitehead|first1=Frederick|last2=Vinaver|first2=Eugène|date=1965|publisher=Manchester University Press|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/historicsurveyof02tayluoft|page=[https://archive.org/details/historicsurveyof02tayluoft/page/352 352]|title=Historic Survey of German Poetry: Interspersed with Various Translations|last=Taylor|first=William|date=1829|publisher=Treuttel and Würtz, Treuttel Jun. and Richter|language=en}}</ref> The episode is also the subject of the Greek verse romance ''Ho Presbys Hippotes'' (''The Old Knight''),<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GYWrAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA132|title=The Arthurian Handbook: Second Edition|last1=Lacy|first1=Norris J.|last2=Ashe|first2=Geoffrey|last3=Mancoff|first3=Debra N.|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317777434|language=en}}</ref> where he goes unnamed, and is mentioned in the Prose ''Yvain''.

His renowned family from Castle Vallebrun in the Brown Valley (''Val Brun'')<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4f2AAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA88|title=The Arthurian Name Dictionary|last=Bruce|first=Christopher W.|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136755378|language=en}}</ref> also includes his nephew [[Segurant, the Knight of the Dragon|Seguran]] (''Segurant'', ''Seguarant'', ''Sigurant'') the Brown (''le Brun'', Malory's "Severause le Breuse"), the greatest warrior of Uther. Seguran's father is Branor's brother, named either also Brunor or Ector (''Hector'') le Brun.

== Brunor of Castle Pluere ==
Sir '''Brunor''' or '''Breunor''' (Italian: ''Brunoro''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5GeuBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT160|title=The Arthur of the Italians: The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Italian Literature and Culture|last1=Psaki|first1=Regina|last2=Allaire|first2=Gloria|date=2014|publisher=University of Wales Press|isbn=9781783161584|language=en}}</ref>) is an Irish knight who is the father of the great knight [[Galehaut]] in several Tristan romances, including the Prose ''Tristan'', ''La Tavola Ritonda'', and the Book V of ''Le Morte d'Arthur''. He is called Branor the Brown (''Branoro lo Bruno'') in the ''Tristano Panciatichia'' that confuses him with Branor the Brown, the Old Knight.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mK4W7WmikxIC&pg=PA192|title=Italian Literature: Il tristano panciatichiano|last1=Allaire|first1=Gloria|last2=Psaki|first2=Regina|date=2002|publisher=Boydell & Brewer Ltd|isbn=9780859916455|language=en}}</ref>

Brunor seizes the Castle Pluere, the Castle of Tears or Weeping Castle (''Castello del Proro'' / ''Chastel des Pleurs'') on the Island of Giants,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xVWBAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA215|title=Tristan and Isolde: A Casebook|last=Grimbert|first=Joan Tasker|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136745584|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m-TqPC6cRNYC&pg=PA216|title=The Medieval Castle: Romance and Reality|last1=Reyerson|first1=Kathryn L.|last2=Powe|first2=Faye|date=1991|publisher=U of Minnesota Press|isbn=9780816620036|language=en}}</ref> and marries the giantess who is the widow of the previous owner of the castle. She gives birth to Brunor's son Galehaut and his daughter, named Delice in the Prose ''Tristan'' but called Riccarda in the Italian romance ''I Due Tristani''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4f2AAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA143|title=The Arthurian Name Dictionary|last=Bruce|first=Christopher W.|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136755378|language=en}}</ref>). Brunor then upholds the pagan customs of the castle (in ''Le Morte d'Arthur'' he appears to be their source), which involves beheading visiting knights and their ladies if they prove to be less powerful (in the case of the knights) or less beautiful (in the case of the ladies) than the castle's lord and lady, respectively. Eventually, Tristan defeats and beheads Brunor by following the customs, and becomes the new lord of the castle.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8cdjamPOGRYC&pg=PA26|title=The Custom of the Castle: From Malory to Macbeth|last=Ross|first=Charles Stanley|date=1997|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=9780520204300|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tEgFDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT134|title=Outsiders: The Humanity and Inhumanity of Giants in Medieval French Prose Romance|last=Huot|first=Sylvia|date=2016|publisher=University of Notre Dame Press|isbn=9780268081836|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mjsWsH6tKwUC&pg=PA122|title=Paganism in Arthurian Romance|last=Darrah|first=John|date=1997|publisher=Boydell & Brewer|isbn=9780859914260|language=en}}</ref>

== Brunoro ==
The ''Tavola Ritonda'' character simply known as Sir '''Brunoro''' is a relative of Lancelot (Lancilotto) who brazenly seduces the Hebrew Damsel of Thornbush Ford. His role is played by [[Bleoberis]] in a corresponding episode in the ''Tristano Riccardiano''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4f2AAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA89|title=The Arthurian Name Dictionary|last=Bruce|first=Christopher W.|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136755378|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Black Knight (Arthurian legend)|Black Knight]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Arthurian Legend}}

[[Category:Knights of the Round Table]]
[[Category:Fictional characters introduced in the 13th century]]
[[Category:Fictional Irish people]]
[[Category:Fictional kings]]
[[Category:Fictional princes]]