# Of a dream of the King with the Hundred Knights explained — Le Morte d’Arthur

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

## What happens

Merlin advises Arthur to send fore-riders to scout the approaching northern host. Following the counsel of Kings Ban and Bors, Arthur orders the burning and destruction of the countryside ahead of the enemy. The King with the Hundred Knights has a prophetic dream of a great wind and flood destroying castles and towns, interpreted as a sign of a great battle. Acting on Merlin's advice, Arthur's forces launch a surprise night attack on the eleven kings' encampment.

## Themes in this chapter

### Kingship and Governance

Arthur demonstrates strategic kingship by heeding the counsel of Merlin and his allied kings, making tactical decisions to defend his realm.

### Fate and Tragedy

The prophetic dream of the King with the Hundred Knights foreshadows the coming battle and the inevitable destruction, highlighting the fatalistic tone of the narrative.

## Character check-ins

### King Arthur

Leads the campaign against the eleven kings, follows Merlin's counsel and the advice of Kings Ban and Bors.

### Merlin

Advises Arthur to send fore-riders and later to launch a surprise night attack on the enemy camp.

### King Ban

Councils Arthur to burn and destroy the countryside ahead of the northern host.

### King Bors of Gaul

Joins King Ban in advising Arthur on scorched-earth tactics.

### King Rience

Implied as one of the eleven kings opposing Arthur, though not named directly in this chapter.

## Key lines

> The King with the Hundred Knights met a wonder dream two nights afore the battle, that there blew a great wind, and blew down their castles and their towns, and after that came a water and bare it all away.

Two nights before the battle, the King with the Hundred Knights had a strange dream in which a great wind destroyed his castles and towns, and then a flood washed everything away.

_The dream is interpreted as an omen of the impending battle and destruction._

> Then by counsel of Merlin, when they wist which way the eleven kings would ride and lodge that night, at midnight they set upon them, as they were in their pavilions.

Following Merlin's advice, once they learned where the eleven kings planned to camp that night, Arthur's forces attacked them at midnight while they were still in their tents.

_Merlin's strategic counsel leads to a surprise night assault on the enemy encampment._

## Links

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