Queen Guinevere, Wife of King Arthur, she had a love affair with Sir Lancelot. Arthur's treacherous nephew Mordred used this affair to start a civil war, which led to the end of Arthur's reign and the fellowship of the knights of the Round Table.

According to Geoffrey, Duke Cador took Guinevere into his household and brought her up. This is where we first hear of her in Geoffrey's account. He says she was descended from a noble Roman family, but gives no clue as to how she found her way into a Cornish foster-home. Romancers who enlarge on her background tell us that her father was Leodegan, "king" of Carmelide or Camelerd, a name that may echo the Cornish river Camel and the town of Camelford on its banks. They also tell us that he owned the Round Table before Arthur.

Merlin made it for Uther, who passed it on to Leodegan, and it came to Arthur as Guinevere's dowry when he married her. Merlin foresaw trouble, but the marriage proceeded.

The old form of her name is Gwenhwyfar, meaning the White Phantom. Welsh tradition is unkind to her, dubbing her the most faithless of women.