# How Eleven Kings Gathered a Great Host Against King Arthur explained — Le Morte d’Arthur

> Chapter companion for Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory.

## What happens

Eleven kings, angered by the rebuke they suffered at Carlion, unite to raise a massive army against King Arthur. They swear an oath to destroy him, each king pledging thousands of men-at-arms, totaling fifty thousand mounted knights and ten thousand foot soldiers. They lay siege to the castle of Bedegraine, which is held by Arthur's men.

## Themes in this chapter

### Kingship and Governance

Arthur's authority is challenged by a coalition of eleven kings, highlighting the political struggles of establishing and maintaining rule.

### Betrayal and Treachery

The kings swear an oath to destroy Arthur, turning against their sovereign and forming a rebellion.

## Character check-ins

### King Arthur

Arthur is the target of the eleven kings' rebellion; the castle of Bedegraine is held by his men.

### King Lot of Lothian

King Lot, father of Sir Gawaine, swears to bring five thousand men of arms on horseback against Arthur.

### Sir Gawaine

Mentioned as the son of King Lot, who is among the eleven kings opposing Arthur.

### Sir Uwaine

Mentioned as the son of King Urience, who is among the eleven kings opposing Arthur.

### King Carados of Scotland

King Carados swears to bring five thousand men of arms on horseback against Arthur.

## Key lines

> And now they sware that for weal nor woe, they should not leave other, till they had destroyed Arthur.

They swore an oath that neither good fortune nor bad would make them abandon each other until Arthur was destroyed.

_The kings' oath solidifies their alliance and intent to destroy Arthur._

> So their whole host was of clean men of arms on horseback fifty thousand, and a-foot ten thousand of good men’s bodies.

Their entire army consisted of fifty thousand mounted knights and ten thousand foot soldiers of good quality.

_Describes the immense size of the army gathered against Arthur._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters