Una and the Lion Gold & Silver Bars

Royal Mint Official Partner

Chards is an official partner of The Royal Mint. Our Una and the Lion bar range, among other Royal Mint products, are sourced directly from their mint headquarters in Llantrisant, Wales.

What Is the Faerie Queene Poem?

The 'Faerie Queene' poem is an English work by Edmund Spenser, first published in 1590, which included books one to three. It was republished six years later with books IV to V, completing the epic poem that comprised of over 36,000 lines.

Today the 'Faerie Queene' can be read which consists of six distinct poems, each with its own narrative that follows the adventures of different knights, such as the Redcross Knight in Book 1.

Una and the Lion Significance in ‘The Faerie Queen' Poem

Una, daughter of the King and Queen, loves the protagonist, the 'Redcross Knight,' whom she eventually marries. After their kingdom is overthrown by a dragon, the evil wizard Archimago deceives the Redcross Knight into leaving Una by tricking him into believing she was unfaithful.

Lady Una embarks on a quest alone but is protected by a lion, who later sacrifices itself to save her from Sansloy. Sansfoy, Sansjoy, and Sansloy oppose the Redcross Knight, with the latter two slain. Book I concludes with the Redcross Knight slaying the dragon and intending to marry Una, thwarting Archimago's final attempt to deceive him.