N I G H T B R I N G E R . S E
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IRONSIDE
The Red Knight of the Launds
This is the knight who was besieging Lyonors in Castle Dangerous when Lynette came to Arthur's court for a champion and was given Gareth Beaumains. After defeating Ironside, Gareth sent him to Arthur. Ironside had hanged nearly forty armed knights by the neck from trees, perhaps the most shameful death that could be inflicted on a knight, but this was forgiven because he had done it to fulfill a promise to a lady, his former love.
Her brother had been slain, either by Lancelot or by Gawaine as she thought, and she had made Ironside swear
to labour daily in arms unto [sic] I met with one of them; and all that I might overcome I should put them unto a villainous death.
The lady who exacted this promise seems never mentioned again, but Ironside became a knight of the Round Table. Malory mentions him at least twice more, as one of the guests at Guenevere's small dinner party and as one of ten knights to ride a-Maying with the Queen when Meliagrant ambushed her. He also appears among the would-be healers of Sir Urre.
While he besieged Castle Dangerous, Ironside's shield, arms, and harness were all blood red. This may create some confusion, but Ironside does not seem to have been related to the brothers Percard, Pertolepe, Perimones, and Persant, whom Gareth defeated on his way to Castle Perilous, even though Perimones also wore all red arms and armor.
Ironside's strength, like Gawaine's, increased daily until noon, until he had the strength of seven men.
In Sir Gawaine and the Carl of Carlisle, Ironside is called the father of Sir Raynbrown, "the knight with the green shield", by the fair damsel of Blanche Land. He was armed both in the winter and the hot summer, in constant combat with giants, and his horse was named Sorrel-Hand.
He was originally a bad knight who besieged the castle of the Lady Lyonnesse until she was rescued by Gareth. He and Gareth later became close friends.
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