It's been about two years since I read Chrétien's Grail romance, and I don't remember that particular detail, but I've got an explanation that I think is serviceable:
The identification of Arthur's sword is not something that was established; originally, it was called Caliburn, after all, and his spear and shield also had names. Chrétien, who was (probably) at least moderately familiar with the Welsh and the other British source material, may have just wanted to give Gawain's sword a name. He then (again, probably) checked his sources and found the name "Excalibur" for a sword - sounds good enough and he then took it.
Alternately, as Arthur's nephew and best knight, it may have been that Gawain had been loaned the sword for the mission at hand.
For the Holy Grail . . .
For the Holy Grail . . .
The sword excalibur
Jessie Laidlay Weston has written: 'Romance, vision & satire' -- subject(s): English poetry, Modernized versions 'Legend of Sir Lancelot Du Lac' 'Germanys literary debt to France' 'King Arthur and his knights' -- subject(s): Arthurian romances, History and criticism 'Sir Gawain and the Lady of Lys (Arthurian Romances \\' 'The legends of the Wagner drama' -- subject(s): Mythology, Germanic, Legends, Stories, plots, Stories of operas, German, Stories, plots, etc, Germanic Mythology 'Romance, Vision & Satire' 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose' 'Romance, Vision And Satire' 'Morien: A Metrical Romance' -- subject(s): Accessible book 'Arthurian Romances Unrepresented in Malory's \\' 'From ritual to romance' -- subject(s): Grail, History and criticism, Legends, Romances, Ritual, Knights and knighthood in literature, Graal (volkskunde), Quests (Expeditions) in literature, Medieval Literature, Arthurian romances, Riten, Legenden, Christendom 'Strapdown Inertial Navigation Technology (IEE Radar, Sonar, Navigation and Avionics, No 5) (Iee Radar, Sonar, Navigation and Avionics, No 5)' 'Sir Cleges' 'Old English carols from the Hill ms' 'Germany's literary debt to France' -- subject(s): German literature, History and criticism, Comparative Literature, German and French, French and German 'The legend of Sir Perceval' -- subject(s): Grail 'Sir Gawain and the Lady of Lys' -- subject(s): Arthurian romances, Gawain (Legendary character), Romances 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose' 'From Ritual to Romance' 'Legend of Sir Gawain Studies upon Its Original Scope and Significance' 'The legend of Sir Gawain' -- subject(s): Gawain (Legendary character), Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 'The quest of the Holy Grail' -- subject(s): Grail, History and criticism, Arthurian romances, Knights and knighthood in literature, Legends, Quests (Expeditions) in literature 'Sir Cleges AND Sir Libeaus Desconius (Arthurian Romances \\' 'The romance of Perlesvaus' -- subject(s): History and criticism, Arthurian romances, Knights and knighthood in literature, Legends, Grail, Perceval (Legendary character), Romances, Perlesvaus 'The Romance Of Morien' 'The Adventures Of Arthur At The Tarn Wadeling'
Karl Pietsch has written: 'Spanish Grail fragments' -- subject(s): Grail, Lancelot (Prose romance), Merlin (Prose romance), Romances
A HeroA LadyA QuestA WastelandThe Grail
In Chrétien de Troye's Perceval ou la Conte del Graal, the earliest extent graal romance, only Perceval and Gawain are shown to be searching for the grail. In this and most other romances the quest is primarily Perceval's personal quest. However increasingly the grail quest is seen is the central exploit of the Arthurian era. In the Prose Perceval which claims to be by Robert de Boron, when Perceval achieves the grail, that is the general end of wonderful adventures in Arthur's realm. Arthur subsequent conquest of Gaul which leads to a war with Rome is explained as an attempt to keep his knights interested by providing them with feats worthy of their valor.The prose romance Perlesvaus has Perceval, Gawain, and Lancelot all seeking the grail. And it is explained that Percveval's failure to ask the question when he first came to the grail castle has resulted in the illness of the grail king and general lethergy across all of Brtain. Even King Arthur has been affected. In the original Vulgate Arthur Cycle, consisting of the Prose Lancelot, The Quest of the Holy Grail, and The Death of Arthur, it is explained that Arthur's kingdom is afflicted with many difficult adventures, many of which are adventures of the grail. Only a promised best knight will achieve the most difficult of these adventures. Meanwhile the Knights of the Round Table do achieve many of the lesser adventures and put an end to the oppression they cause. Here first comes that idea that all Arthur's Knights of the Round Table take part in the quest of the grail.After the grail quest is achieved by Galahad, Perceval, and Bors there are no more wonderful adventures.
The Holy Grail is a dish, plate, stone or cup that is part of an important theme of Arthurian literature. The grail, wondrous but not explicitly ñholyî first appeared in the ïPerceval le GalloisÍ an unfinished romance by Chretin de Troyes.
Holy Grail can be described as a dish, plate, stone or cup that is part of an significant theme of Arthurian literature. The grail, wondrous but not explicitly ñholyî first appeared in the ïPerceval le GalloisÍ an unfinished romance by Chretin de Troyes.
King Arthur's lance is famously known as Excalibur, although Excalibur is primarily recognized as his sword. The lance associated with Arthurian legends is often referred to as the "Spear of Destiny" or "Lance of Longinus," which is believed to be the spear that pierced the side of Christ. In various Arthurian tales, the lance symbolizes divine power and is linked to the quest for the Holy Grail.
King Arthur is a legendary British leader who is associated with the Knights of the Round Table, the sword Excalibur, and his quest for the Holy Grail. He is also known for his role in defending Britain against Saxon invaders in the early medieval period.
Bedivere, Gawain, and Mordred are key figures in Arthurian legend. Bedivere is one of King Arthur's loyal knights, known for his bravery and loyalty, particularly in the quest for the Holy Grail. Gawain, another of Arthur's knights, is celebrated for his chivalry and is often depicted as a close friend and defender of Arthur. In contrast, Mordred is typically portrayed as Arthur's illegitimate son or nephew, who ultimately betrays him, leading to the downfall of Camelot.