Rivalin and Blancheflor Summary

Gottfried begins his telling of the story by introducing Rivalin. He is of royal blood, and lord over the land of Parmenie, and as well-mannered and educated a man as ever there was. He owes allegiance to a man named Morgan with whom he frequently exchanged attacks. Finally coming to a truce with Morgan after causing him severe casualties, Rivalin uses his year of peace to travel, which takes him to Cornwall, and the court of King Mark. There he meets King Mark's sister, Blancheflor, and the two fall in love. Their love begins with mutually agonizing pining for one another, until finally, when Rivalin is wounded in a battle with Morgan, Blancheflor is able to disguise herself as a nurse and go to him. It is then that they conceive Tristan, a fact unknown to them until later...