The Jack of Hearts in a standard deck of cards is a familiar image to many. However, not everyone knows that the story behind this card is one of the most famous love triangles in European history during the time of King Arthur.
According to legend, the character depicted on the Jack of Hearts card (52 cards) is Lancelot – one of the greatest knights of King Arthur in mythology. Lancelot was also the king’s most trusted companion. Beyond his heroic deeds, this knight is most often remembered in history for his tragic love affair with Queen Guinevere – the wife of King Arthur.
The Right Person at the Wrong Time
According to the recorded legends, Queen Guinevere not only possessed extraordinary beauty but was also renowned for her talent and virtue, beloved by many. She was the daughter of King Leodegrance of Cameliard. In various literary works, Guinevere is depicted as a stunning woman with long golden hair and captivating blue eyes.
She became the wife of King Arthur under the circumstances of “the right person at the wrong time.” The story goes that Guinevere’s kingdom was a small place, constantly threatened by external enemies. During this tumultuous period, King Arthur of the neighboring kingdom of Camelot came to the rescue, helping Guinevere’s land escape from a perilous situation. Afterward, King Arthur met Guinevere and quickly became enamored with her exquisite beauty.
Queen Guinevere was a beautiful woman.
Despite warnings from a famous sorcerer that Guinevere would not be able to fulfill her duties as a wife, King Arthur quickly proposed to the beauty, promising to continue aiding her kingdom. Although she did not love the king, out of gratitude for saving her land, Guinevere accepted and quickly ascended to the throne as queen.
Perhaps they would have lived happily together if not for the appearance of Lancelot – a wandering young man who made a living as a swordsman. Their love story fits the phrase “the right person at the wrong time,” as the couple loved each other passionately, yet their relationship was deeply flawed.
A Forbidden Love
Lancelot first encountered Guinevere by chance while wandering through a forest when he came across a group of people. This was Guinevere’s entourage on their way to King Arthur’s court. Immediately, the young man was captivated by Guinevere’s beauty.
Suddenly, the group was attacked by unknown assailants, and Lancelot heroically rushed in to rescue Guinevere from danger. At that moment, he did not know that the woman of his dreams was the future fiancée of King Arthur. Later, when Lancelot learned the truth, he refused to give up the opportunity to get closer to the beautiful queen. He participated in a tournament organized by the court and emerged victorious.
Lancelot was infatuated with the beautiful queen.
Gradually, Lancelot became a skilled knight and earned the king’s utmost trust. On one occasion, Maleagant, the wicked son of King Bagdemagus – the ruler of the Kingdom of Gorre, who had long been infatuated with Queen Guinevere but dared not act, devised a plan to kidnap the beautiful maiden.
Guinevere was abducted to Maleagant’s impregnable castle. Lancelot swiftly rode across Westminster Bridge toward the castle, where the woman he loved was being held captive. The brave and clever knight managed to rescue the queen, leaving the enemy begging for mercy. After witnessing Lancelot’s chivalrous acts twice, it can be said that Guinevere’s heart was genuinely stirred.
After a long time feeling the dedication and intense love of the skilled knight, Guinevere arranged to meet Lancelot in the castle. As a result, they spent the night together. The couple officially became lovers, secretly meeting. One reason given for the queen’s “crossing the line” was that King Arthur and Guinevere had no children. This lack of offspring made the queen’s life dull, leading her to quickly fall into the arms of her infatuated admirer.
Maleagant discovered this forbidden love and sought to exploit it to overthrow King Arthur. One night, Maleagant kidnapped the queen again and sent word to Lancelot. Upon receiving the bad news, Lancelot immediately went to rescue his lover. That night, Queen Guinevere was freed, and although Lancelot was injured, he still managed to climb into her bedroom using a rope ladder.
The queen and the knight defied all to be together.
Maleagant secretly informed King Arthur’s nephew, and this man led a group to the queen’s chamber, catching the lovers in the act. Lancelot was imprisoned, while Guinevere was convicted of adultery and sentenced to be burned at the stake. Unable to bear seeing his beloved die in agony, Lancelot once again sought a way to escape from prison to rescue Queen Guinevere.
After rescuing his lover, they thought they would flee together and live happily ever after, but things did not go as planned. Perhaps realizing that their love was wrong, the infatuated knight renounced his title of knight to become a bishop, while the queen took a vow of celibacy and became a nun until her death.
And when Queen Guinevere passed away, Lancelot died just weeks later, bringing an end to the controversial love story between the wife of a famous king and a skilled knight.
