King Rience who was a powerful king over northern Wales sent a messenger to deliver a message to King Arthur.  King Rience felt that he was more powerful than King Arthur thus he felt that King Arthur owed him something as a symbol of his authority.  King Rience had overcome eleven other kings before Arthur and all of the kings he overcame paid homage to him. They did so by cutting off their beards and giving them to him to adorn King Rience’s mantel with. Therefore to show that King Rience was more powerful Than Arthur he requested that King Arthur give him his beard.  After King Arthur heard this request he told the messenger that he owed King Rience nothing and he had no intentions of cutting his beard and giving it to him. In fact, King Arthur felt that it was King Rience who should give him his beard. King Arthur felt that no king is more powerful than him.