Knight Inspired Dog Names

As far as animals go, not a single one has co-existed closely with human beings as long as canines. Useful, loyal and undeniably good company, their existence has been noted extensively even beyond the years of Arthurian legend and medieval times. 

But even in those great works of literature, there have been a few to shine nearly as brightly as their famed owners, whether in reality or in fiction. Many of those who existed during the Middle Ages were given the names of their owners’ profession, such as Little Hammer for blacksmiths and Little Spoke for wagoners. 

But numerous others also deserved their own identity and namesake, even under the ownership of the most prominent individuals of the time. 

Cavall (or Cabal) was the hound of the famed King Arthur and was mentioned as such in The History of the Britons, which is believed to have been composed in the 9th century. In general accounts, Cavall was known to be Arthur’s favorite dog and as such, was ceremonially the last to be released whenever the King partook in stag hunts, as despite the timing, the dog’s successes in the hunt were rarely rivaled by others. 

 In the story of King Arthur hunting the supernatural boar known as Twrch Trwynt, Cavall was said to have stepped on a stone and in turn, left a footprint. Eventually, Arthur ordered that a mound be built with that particular marked stone placed at its apex, the monument titled Cairn Cavall after the great hound. The story goes that whenever the stone was carried away from the mound by thieves or otherwise, it would somehow reappear back atop the mound the next morning, acting like a dog that always knows its way home. 

While statues and monuments of the time and after have been discovered with references to the famed hound, they, along with depictions and literary accounts, are the only references historians have as to what kind of dog Cavall likely was. In part due to these scattered references, as well as common dogs to the time, it is believed that Cavall was some type of Molossus, the giant war dogs from Southern Europe who often traveled with the Roman legions centuries before. 

Because of the translation of many of the legends, there are also many references to other dogs of the time as horses. The name Cavall, also known as Cabal, was similar to the Latin word for “horse” (caballus), a keen metaphor that highlighted both his strength and swiftness.