Gaheris is a knight of the Round Table in Thomas Malory's 15th-century Arthurian compilation Le Morte d'Arthur, and a relative of King Arthur. He is a younger brother of Gawain and Agravain, an elder brother of Gareth, and a half-brother of Mordred. His name likely originates from the same source as Gareth, being a variant of the form Gaheriet found in earlier French sources.
Etymology
The name Gaheris is of uncertain meaning. It is derived from Gaheriet or Guerrehet, which appear in medieval French chivalric romances. These forms ultimately trace back to the Welsh tradition, where the figure appears as Gwalchmai or similar names. It may be related to the Welsh name Gwrhyd meaning "valour" (from the tale Culhwch and Olwen) or Gwairydd meaning "hay lord" (found in Brut y Brenhinedd). The differentiation of Gaheris and Gareth into two distinct brothers is a narrative innovation by Malory, who based Gareth on the same character.
Background and Role
In Le Morte d'Arthur, Gaheris is the third son of Queen Morgause and King Lot of Orkney. He is portrayed as a loyal knight, though his story arc is less prominent than those of his brothers. Notably, Gaheris is present at the court when tales of the Holy Grail are recounted, and he participates in the quest. However, his most remembered action may be his slaying of his mother,Morgause, after discovering her adultery — an act that marks him controversially among the Round Table. Gaheris is ultimately killed along with Gareth byLancelot during the rescue of Guinevere from execution, an event that deepens the feud between Lancelot and Gawain.
Inherited Traditions
The character stems from the early Welsh Arthurian tales, where Gawain had a single brother. As the legend evolved through French writers (such as Chretien de Troyes), the brother was split into two figures: Gaheriet and Guerrehet. Malory further developed them into Gaheris and Gareth, giving each distinctive personalities. In some versions, Gaheris is interchangeable with Gareth, but Malory made Gaheris the elder.
Sources: Wikipedia — Gaheris