A Knight of the Round Table, first mentioned by Chrétien de Troyes, and given the epithet 'the Savage', 'the Wild', 'the Wildman', or 'the Fierce', due to a love of hunting or because, in some stories, he lives in the wilds (in Ulrich’s Lanzelet, he has a home near the perilous Shrieking Marsh). In the Didot-Perceval, he is called the son of the Lady of Malehaut (Malahaut). In Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival, Dodinel has a brother named Taurian the Wild.

The Vulgate Merlin and Lancelot gives him a full biography: He was the son of King Belinant of South Wales and Belinant’s niece. He participated in the wars against the Saxons in the early days of Arthur’s reign, joining the young warriors Gawaine and Yvain. He was knighted by Arthur for his service, and became one of the Queen’s Knights before he was eventually promoted to the Round Table. His adventures consist primarily of various imprisonments: in Dolorous Guard, the Castle Langree, the Forbidden Hill, and in Meleagant’s (Meleagaunce) castle. He was rescued from most of these by Lancelot.

The Prose Tristan and Malory give him an impotent role as a knight defeated by Morholt and Tristan (Tristram) (for making fun of him). In French romance, Dodinel perishes during the battle against Mordred’s army at Salisbury Plain.

In the Chantari di Lancellotto, Dodinel joins Mordred and Kay in accusing Lancelot and Guinevere of treason. In Il Cantari di Carduino, he dies at the hands of Gawaine’s brother, Aguerisse (Gareth or Gaheris), and his death is avenged by his son, Carduino.