|
In the Arthurian Legend of Tristan and Iseult, there are actually two Iseults involved with him. The first was
called Iseult of Ireland, daughter of King Anguish of Ireland. She loved Tristan deeply but was promised to King
Mark of Cornwall. The second Iseult was the
one Tristan ended up marrying, called Iseult of the White Hands. Tristan did not love this Iseult, but rather Iseult of
Ireland. When Tristan was mortally wounded, he called for Iseult of Ireland in the hopes that she might be able to heal him. When
her ship arrived, Tristan asked what color the sails were (white meaning she would come, black meaning she wouldn't). The sails
were white, yet Iseult of the White Hands, resentful of his love for the other Iseult, lied and Tristan therefore died.
Iseult was also the name given to Tristan's grand-daughter.
See also: List of Arthurian
Characters
|