Sir Ector

Sir Ector [ ɛktɵr ] (sometimes Hector, Antor or Bedwere ) is a legendary figure of the medieval Arthurian romances. He is the father of Sir Kay and the foster father of King Arthur.

Background

Ector appears in the works of Robert de Boron and Thomas Malory's Le Morte d' Arthur. In these versions, it is Merlin, the Arthurian take you away from his biological parents, King Uther Pendragon and Lady Igraine and place it in the custody of Sir Ectors. Merlin hides this the boy's true identity. Sir Ector takes him to live with him and educates him together with his own son Kay.

In an episode of the Morte d' Arthur, Sir Ector and his sons Kay and Arthur go to a tournament, suddenly noticed when Sir Kay, that he has forgotten his sword in his father's home. Kay therefore asks the young Arthur quickly to get it for him. This riding off immediately, but when he reached the house where no one and he can not find the sword. He decides to summarily for taking that sword that is in a boulder in the cemetery. He pulls it out without difficulty and bring it to Sir Kay. This will immediately recognize that this is the magic sword Excalibur.

He brings this sword to his father Sir Ector now and claims the crown of the kingdom for himself. His father leaves him in the Church testify under oath, how he came to that sword. Kay says then truthfully that it was Arthur who brought it to him. So asked Ector also Arthur and he noticed with this is that this boy should be the future king by the will of God. To verify the truth let Arthur put the sword back in the rocks and the attempt Sir Ectors fails to pull it out again.

In the Welsh tales the father of Sir Kay is instead called Cynyr or Ceinfarfog.