Thomas Malory

Sir Thomas Malory (c. 1415-18 – 14 March 1471) was an English writer, the author or compiler of Le Morte d'Arthur. Since the late nineteenth century, he has generally been identified as Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel in Warwickshire, a knight, land-owner, and Member of Parliament. Previously, it was suggested by antiquary John Leland and John Bale that he was Welsh (identifying "Malory" with "Maelor"). The name could also be rooted in Irish & Scottish Gaelic and mean "follower of the king," as in "maol" ("follower") and "ry" or "ree" ("king"). "Maol" or "Máel" is a common root of indigenous names and is found in the name "Malmesbury" which was founded by the Irish scholar Máel Dub meaning the "dark follower." Arthurian literature originates in the Irish & Scottish Gaelic traditions as Norman interpretation and (mis)translation. Occasionally, other candidates are put forward for authorship of Le Morte d'Arthur, but the supporting evidence for their claim has been described as "no more than circumstantial".