Chrétien de Troyes, who lived in the 12th Century AD, and appears to have died in 1183, is an important link in the development of the Arthurian story we are aware of today.

His works enjoyed great popularity throughout Medieval Europe. His great works Yvain et Lancelot, Le Chevalier de la Charrete, Erec et Enide (c.1160), Cliges (c.1164), Perceval, ou Le Conte du Graal (c.1180) introduced many new themes not before present in the Arthurian legends.

In particular, the Holy Grail became central to the story, and the character of Lancelot did not appear in Arthurian romance until Chrétien de Troyes. In fact, the emergence of the Romance, and of courtly love, gave Lancelot and his love for Guinevere a prominent role in the tales that followed after Chrétien.

As the Arthurian stories began to concentrate on these Christian ideals, the role of the Grail moved to the heart of the story.

With the Vulgate Cycle (c.1215-1235) the two characters of Lancelot and Guinevere became inseparable from the legend, and the tragedy of the love triangle, adapted from the early matter to include Lancelot and courtly love, took on its popular form.