Book III

. pp. and threw in his lot with that 86 and 87; V. pp. 150, 154; VI. of Stephen. An _English_ writer pp. 171, 188; VII. p. 196; IX. p. (such as Mapes) would probably 272. (It may be noted that in no have overlooked the part played by other version of the legend is a Theobald. An _Angevin_, knowing previous marriage of the hero's the Counts of Blois to be the mother recorded.) hereditary foes of the House of Anjou, would hardly fail to record the fact that both brothers were concerned in the usurpation of the rights of Henry Fitz-Empress.

THE RED KNIGHT THE RED KNIGHT

The Red Knight as represented in This character is of course the poem, mounted before the gates traditional, but the special of Nantes, in red armour, with red presentment of it in the hair. _Parzival_ seems to be owing to Angevin influence. In 1048 William of Normandy, being at war with, Geoffrey II. of Anjou and besieging Domfront, sent him the following curious challenge: 'If the Count of Anjou attempts to bring victuals into Domfront he will find me awaiting him without the gates armed and mounted, bearing a red shield, and having a pennon on my spear wherewith to wipe his face.'

_Red hair_ was a distinguishing characteristic of the Angevin Counts. Fulk I. derived his name of Rufus from this peculiarity, which was inherited by many of his descendants, among them Fulk V., his son Geoffrey Plantagenet, and his grandson Henry Fitz-Empress. The writer of the _Parzival_ strongly insists on Ither's red hair.

NANTES NANTES

Nantes, throughout the poem, is The possession of the city of always treated as Arthur's chief Nantes was a constant source of city. Karidöl is scarcely referred quarrel between the Counts of to, the Round Table is kept at Anjou and their neighbours of Nantes, and in