| Sir Kay | |
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Real Name |
Kay |
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First Appearance |
Unknown |
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Original Publisher |
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Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Sir Kay (also known as Cai, Kai, Cei, Chieso, Gaius, and other variations) was the son of Sir Ector (Cynyr Fork-Beard in the Welsh traditions), who was appointed by Merlin as the guardian of King Arthur. During a tournament, Kay needed his sword, and asked his foster brother, Arthur, to go and fetch it. Unable to retrieve the sword from their home, Arthur successfully attempted to pull a sword out of an anvil on top of a stone. Unbeknownst to Arthur, it was said that the man who could pull the sword from the stone was the rightful king. When Kay realized that he had been brought the mystical sword, he took credit for pulling it from the stone himself. However, when asked to repeat the feat in front of a crowd, Kay placed the sword back in the stone, and was not able to withdraw it. Arthur repeated the feat, and Kay, possibly with the prompting of his father, became one of the first to swear allegiance to Arthur.
Sir Kay and Sir Ector were among the first knights of King Arthur's round table. Though he is often regarded as cynical, obnoxious, and hot-headed, Kay is seldom disloyal and usually fights with great courage and strength. In some French sources, he is said to be killed during Arthur's campaign against the fictional Roman Emperor Lucius. In Cullwch and Olwen, he is said to have been killed by Gwyddawg fab Menestyr, and later avenged by Arthur himself. In later versions, Kay's death often goes unmentioned and he may be among the knights left alive following the Battle of Camlann, which he may not have fought in.
Kay is seldom given a love interest. His best-known romance is with Andrivete of Northumbria, who he marries in Escanor. She appears in no other medieval texts. One story gives him an evil son named Gronosis, while the Welsh tradition gives him a son named Garanwyn and a daughter named Celemon, but their mother is never mentioned. Texts involving magical tests of spousal fidelity, including the one in The Story of Caradoc, generally result in Kay's wife being found very unfaithful.
In Cullwch and Olwen, Kay is very close to Bedwyr (Bedivere). His catchphrase is "by the hand of my friend" (a reference to Bedwyr's one-handedness) and he refers to Bedwyr using a term which translates to "partner" or "companion". He is also close to Arthur until they have a falling out over a mocking song Arthur wrote about Kay and Kay leaves his service. In the Italian text La Tavola Ritonda, he is shown to be close to his foster nephews, including Agravain. In the British Le Morte D'Arthur, Kay torments his foster-nephew Gareth, unaware of who he is, but ultimately becomes proud of him.
Welsh texts ascribe magical powers to Sir Kay, including the abilities to go nine days without breathing underwater, to sleep for nine days and nine nights, to eat and drink as much as four, to grow as tall as a tree, to radiate enough heat from his hands to keep others from freezing, and to endure fire and water like no other. Wounds from his sword cannot be healed, and it is said that Kay's death could only result from the will of God.
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- Catholic Comics #5: Sir Kay tries to convince everyone that he pulled the sword from the stone, when Arthur gives him the sword.
- Top-Notch Comics #5: Sir Kay volunteers to battle Sir Galahad in a joust, to test his mettle.