what is the story of merlin

Merlin' s story relates to Robert's two other reputed Grail poems, Joseph and Perceval. It introduced motifs that became popular in medieval and later Arthuriana, ensuring him a lasting place in the legend of King Arthur

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Is Merlin still alive in real life?

Though Merlin is still alive after the attack, he is dying from his wound and is in no fit state to travel. Arthur plans to return Merlin to Camelot so that Gaius would cure him, but Sir Leon and Lancelot express the need to continue the their quest before more are killed by the Dorocha.

Was 'Merlin' a real person or from a story?

There may have been a real Merlin, such as the one Nikolai Tolstoy describes in Quest for Merlin: "...Merlin was indeed an historical figure, living in what are now the lowlands of Scotland at the end of the sixth century A.D...an authentic prophet, most likely a druid surviving in a pagan enclave of the north."

Was Merlin real or a myth?

Merlin ( Welsh: Myrddin, Cornish: Marzhin, Breton: Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as an enchanter or wizard, among his various other roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and legendary figures, was introduced by the 12th-century British author Geoffrey of ...

Did the wizard Merlin really exist?

Did the wizard Merlin really exist? While there’s no historical evidence that Arthur, Nimue or Merlin existed, the hunt for proof of real people has been going on for centuries. Some scholars have reason to believe Arthur is a fictional stand-in for many real deeds done by various historical figures.

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What is the real story of Merlin?

Merlin, also known as Myrddin Wyllt, Merlin Caledonensis, or Merlin Sylvestrus lived from about 540 to August 584. He is a figure from Welsh legend who served as a bard before ending his days as a madman, prophet and mystic in the forests of Tweeddale in the Scottish Borders.

What is the story of King Arthur and Merlin?

Arthur was the first born son of King Uther Pendragon and heir to the throne. However these were very troubled times and Merlin, a wise magician, advised that the baby Arthur should be raised in a secret place and that none should know his true identity.

How is Merlin related to King Arthur?

In Malory, Merlin is Arthur's mentor, instrumental in every aspect of his life from his conception to his education, his rise to power, and his vision of a kingdom ruled through justice and goodwill.

Is Merlin good or evil?

In contemporary versions of the legend, Merlin is almost always depicted as good. T.H. White makes him a bumbling but wise teacher in The Once and Future King. BBC turns him into a young, foolish, but lovable magician who constantly defeats the forces of evil that plague Camelot in their series Merlin.

Who kills Arthur in Merlin?

MordredArthur died at the hands of Mordred by the shores of Avalon, but, as the Once and Future King, he is destined to one day rise again.

What happens to Merlin after Arthur dies?

And after Arthur died, Merlin didn't even get to walk away. He didn't get to move on. Because the dragon's final words, while meant to bring him hope, basically thwarted any hope of closure for Merlin.

Why is Merlin so powerful?

So wich is stronger? Merlin had magic since he was born, and had used/practiced it since he was a child. HIs mother realized that he needed a mentor, since she didn't have magic. So, Merlin comes to Camelot and benefits from Giaus' wisdom and past history of practicing magic.

Who married Merlin?

The finale was “a love story between two men” Most notably, the showrunner confirms that Merlin and Arthur did indeed grow to love each other by the end of the series, calling it a “pure” love.

Who does Arthur marry in Merlin?

Queen Guinevere PendragonQueen Guinevere Pendragon, better known as Gwen, is the widow of Arthur Pendragon, one of the best friends of Merlin, the younger sister of the late Sir Elyan, the only daughter and the youngest child of the late Tom (The Blacksmith), and the sister-in-law and a former best friend of the late Morgana Pendragon.

Did Merlin have a child?

When Nimue and Merlin meet in the fifth episode, she asks the wizard why her mother instructed her to bring him the sword. By the end, viewers learn that not only did he and her mother have a relationship, but Nimue is actually Merlin's daughter.

What powers did Merlin have?

He could battle gods single-handedly, instantaneously teleport anywhere in the world, or summon mythological creatures to do his bidding. He also possessed astral projection, telekinesis, reality manipulation, and the ability to bring anyone back to life. Often, he could use his magic by speaking backwards.

How did Merlin become immortal?

Merlin's magic was so powerful he was able to achieve immortality as shown in The Diamond of the Day as he was capable of living forever as he was still alive even in modern times. His immortality may be because of his powerful magic or his destiny that ties him with the return of Arthur.

Why does Merlin protect Arthur?

We are given various details about HOW Merlin is to care for Arthur, and that it is his supernatural "destiny" to do so, but Merlin never seems to call this into question. Merlin never once asks himself, for example, why he consistently goes well out of his way and puts his life at risk to save Arthur.

Why did Merlin take Arthur away?

Why does Merlin take Arthur away from King Uther? So Merlin can protect him from King Uther's enemies. Why is Kay jealous of Arthur?

Who married Merlin?

Merlin spends a part of his life as a madman in the woods and marries a woman named Guendoloena (a character inspired by the male Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio). He eventually retires to observing stars from his esplumoir, a house with seventy windows in the remote woods of Rhydderch.

What is the basic story of King Arthur?

Arthur, who is son of King Uther Pendragon but was raised by another family, takes his rightful place as king when, as a boy, he is able to pull the sword called Excalibur from the stone. Although he rules wisely and is counseled by Merlin the magician, Arthur makes enemies of other kings and is often at war.

Who is Merlin based on?

Geoffrey's composite Merlin is based mostly on the poet and seer Myrddin Wyllt, also known as "Myrddin the Wild" (or Merlinus Caledonensis in later sources influenced by Geoffrey). He was also inspired by Emrys ( Old Welsh: Embreis ), a character based in part on the 5th-century historical war leader Ambrosius Aurelianus, who was mentioned in one of Geoffrey's primary sources, the early 9th-century Historia Brittonum. In British poetry, Myrddin was a bard driven mad after witnessing the horrors of war, who fled civilization to become a wild man of the wood in the 6th century. This madman, also known as Lailoken, has parallels with the Irish Suibhne (Sweeney), roams the Caledonian Forest, until cured of his madness by Kentigern ( Saint Mungo ). Geoffrey had Myrddin in mind when he wrote his earliest surviving work, the Prophetiae Merlini ("Prophecies of Merlin", c. 1130), which he claimed were the actual words of the legendary poet, however revealing little about Merlin's background.

Who is Merlin in the legend of King Arthur?

Lady of the Lake, Morgan le Fay, Sebile (romance tradition) Relatives. Ganieda. Merlin ( Welsh: Myrddin, Cornish: Marzhin, Breton: Merzhin) is a mythological figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as an enchanter or wizard. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation ...

What is the story of Vita Merlini?

He based it on stories of the original 6th-century Myrddin, set long after his time frame for the life of Merlin Ambrosius. Geoffrey asserts that the characters and events of Vita Merlini are the same as told in the Historia Regum Britanniae. Here, Merlin survives the reign of Arthur, about the fall of whom he is told by Taliesin. Merlin spends a part of his life as a madman in the woods and marries a woman named Guendoloena (inspired by the male Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio ). : 44 He eventually retires to observing stars from his esplumoir [ fr], a house with seventy windows in the remote woods of Rhydderch. There, he is often visited by Taliesin and by his own sister Ganieda (based on Myrddin's sister Gwenddydd), who has become queen of the Cumbrians and is also endowed with prophetic powers.

Where is Merlin Ambrosius based?

Therefore, Geoffrey's account of Merlin Ambrosius' early life is based on the story from the Historia Brittonum. Geoffrey added his own embellishments to the tale, which he set in Carmarthen, Wales (Welsh: Caerfyrddin). While Nennius' "fatherless" Ambrosius eventually reveals himself to be the son of a Roman consul, Geoffrey's Merlin is begotten by an incubus demon on a daughter of the King of Dyfed ( Demetae, today's South West Wales ). The name of Merlin's mother is not usually stated, but is given as Adhan in the oldest version of the Prose Brut, the text also naming his grandfather as King Conaan. The story of Vortigern's tower is the same; the underground dragons, one white and one red, represent the Saxons and the Britons, and their final battle is a portent of things to come. At this point Geoffrey inserted a long section of Merlin's prophecies, taken from his earlier Prophetiae Merlini. He told two further tales of the character. In the first, Merlin creates Stonehenge as a burial place for Aurelius Ambrosius, bringing the stones from Ireland. In the second, Merlin's magic enables the new British king Uther Pendragon to enter into Tintagel Castle in disguise and to father his son Arthur with his enemy's wife, Igerna ( Igraine ). These episodes appear in many later adaptations of Geoffrey's account. As Lewis Thorpe notes, Merlin disappears from the narrative subsequently. He does not tutor and advise Arthur as in later versions.

Where does Merlin sleep in the Vulgate?

In the Vulgate Lancelot, which predated the later Vulgate Merlin, she (aged just 12 at the time) instead makes Merlin sleep forever in a pit in the forest of Darnantes, "and that is where he remained, for never again did anyone see or hear of him or have news to tell of him.".

What does Vortigern's tower represent?

The story of Vortigern's tower is the same; the underground dragons, one white and one red, represent the Saxons and the Britons, and their final battle is a portent of things to come . At this point Geoffrey inserted a long section of Merlin's prophecies, taken from his earlier Prophetiae Merlini.

What is Merlin's cambion?

Merlin's traditional biography casts him as a cambion, a being born of a mortal woman, sired by an incubus, from whom he inherits his supernatural powers and abilities, most commonly and notably prophecy and shapeshifting.

Who was Merlin in the Middle Ages?

Sir Thomas Mallory is the first to really showcase him as the advisor and guide to King Arthur in his work Le Morte d’Arthur.

What is Merlin's name?

Geoffrey changed the name of the character from Merdinus to Merlinus, with the former too close to the Anglo-Saxon word merde – slang for excrement. In The History of the Kings of Britain, Merlin assists Uther Pendragon (Arthur’s father) and is responsible for transporting the stones of Stonehenge from Ireland, but he is not directly associated with Arthur. In addition to the History of the Kings of Britain, Geoffrey of Monmouth also authored a work specifically on Merlin entitled “The Prophecies of Merlin”, which later became the seventh book in the History of the Kings of Britain. These led to a tradition that is manifested in other medieval works, in eighteenth-century almanac writers who made predictions under such names as Merlinus Anglicus, and in the presentaion of Merlin in later literature.

Who was Merlin's friend?

King Arthur’s most trusted advisor, prophet, magician, and friend, Merlin was almost certainly the creation of Geoffrey of Monmouth, who writes extensively about Merlin in his twelfth century work The History of the Kings of Britain. Geoffrey combined tales and stories of a bard and wizard named Myrddin, who was created by a ninth century mystic named Nennius. Nennius chronicled that Myrddin had been born of no earthly father and used his wizardry and powers to foretell the defeat of the British by the Saxons.

Who wrote Merlin's prophecies?

In addition to the History of the Kings of Britain, Geoffrey of Monmouth also authored a work specifically on Merlin entitled “The Prophecies of Merlin”, which later became the seventh book in the History of the Kings of Britain.

Who was King Arthur's most trusted advisor?

King Arthur’s most trusted advisor, prophet, magician, and friend, Merlin was almost certainly the creation of Geoffrey of Monmouth, who writes extensively about Merlin in his twelfth century work The History of the Kings of Britain.

Who is Merlin's apprentice?

Merlin falls victim to the spells of his own apprentice, Vivien, who may have been the Lady of the Lake.

Is Merlin the magician?

And ever since the Renaissance, Merlin the magician has remained popular in all Arthurian legends and tales. In The Idylls of the King, Alfred Lord Tennyson makes him the architect of Camelot, and Mark Twain uses him in his works as a villain. Numerous novels, poems and plays center around Merlin, and in American literature and popular culture, ...

Who was the artist of Merlin?

Thus, treatments of Merlin reflect different stages in the development of Arthurian romance itself. Merlin, pen-and-ink drawing by Aubrey Beardsley for an 1893–94 edition of Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur.

Who was the prophet of the Holy Grail?

Early in the 13th century, Robert de Borron’s verse romance Merlin added a Christian dimension to the character, making him the prophet of the Holy Grail (whose legend had by then been linked with Arthurian legend).

Who took away Arthur's infant?

Merlin taking away the infant Arthur, illustration by N.C. Wyeth in The Boy's King Arthur, 1917.

Where does Merlin flee to?

Merlin flees to the Caledonian Forest. He meets the Lady of the Lake who conjures a vision of two soldiers from opposing Kingdoms coming together, and Helios who shows him how to map out the stars. Following shooting stars through the forest, Merlin encounters a fiercely tempered Dragon.

Where does Merlin return to find the dragon?

Merlin returns to the forest to find the Dragon, but warriors emerge from the darkness. He is surrounded.

What happens in Camelot?

In Camelot the imprisoned Merlin realises he has lost his powers. The time has come for Uther to choose a bride and Morgan uses her new dark magic to manipulate him into proposing. The news reaches Ygraine who, feeling betrayed, declares war on the Solar Kingdom.

What does the Blacksmith do in Merlin's prison cell?

Disguised as a Solar warrior, the Blacksmith successfully sneaks into Merlin’s prison cell, helping her son to escape. She apologises to Merlin for telling him to hide what is special about himself. Merlin realises that his unique history is what makes him powerful and his magic returns. He storms the battlefield with Excaliber in hand.

What does Merlin do to Excalibur?

Merlin lifts Excalibur high and roars with pride, dismantling Morgan’s power. Uther, now released from Morgan’s control, begs for Ygraine’s forgiveness. Their union brings peace across the Kingdoms. Ygraine’s pregnancy means a new King is on his way – a King called Arthur perhaps?

Where does Merlin drive Excalibur?

Returning to the Caledonian Forest, Merlin drives Excalibur into the ground, where another unlikely lad might need it one day. He sees the two Gods dancing through the trees, now realising they are his birth parents. They beckon for Merlin to join them. As they do, the Blacksmith arrives.

What sword does Merlin have?

The Blacksmith presents Merlin with a magnificent sword - Excalibur. Struggling to hide his disappointment, Merlin and the Blacksmith part at odds.

Who is Merlin in the story?

There he takes shape as a powerful prophet and sorcerer who enables King Arthur to take the throne of England. After Geoffrey, Merlin becomes a fixture of the Arthurian legend and appears in all kinds of different versions of the story across the Middle Ages. There is a sequence of romances in both French and English dedicated to telling his story ...

What is Merlin's role in the story?

He is brought to the court of the evil Vortigern and plays an important role in ensuring the downfall of Vortigern’s kingdom. He later uses his prophetic knowledge and extensive magical skills to enable Arthur’s conception and birth. He then helps foster and educate the young king and helps Arthur win his place on the throne of England. He helps him establish the round table and fight off the many people who threaten the young king.

What is the child that the demons create to fulfill their evil plan?

The child they create to fulfill their evil plan is Merlin. After this conversation, the demons destroy a harmless family and impregnate the youngest daughter. Merlin is born shortly thereafter to act as the antichrist. The story of Merlin ’s unholy birth.

Why was Merlin created?

In the medieval tradition, Merlin was created by demons to bring about the downfall of Christianity. Merlin the magician is one of the most famous and longstanding characters in the Arthurian legend. He appears in almost every text that Arthur does and is almost as important as the king himself. Here is a brief outline of his story.

Why is Merlin important?

Merlin is one of the most important characters in the Arthurian legend. He secures the throne of England for King Arthur and plays a fundamental role in Arthur’s early years. Merlin, however, is not the simple hero that he might seem. In the medieval tradition, Merlin was created by demons to bring about the downfall of Christianity.

What does Merlin's birth story tell?

The stories tell how Lucifer was cast out of heaven with a bunch of demons and how after the demons had fallen, they heard about Christ and decided that they wanted their own representative on earth.

Where did Merlin come from?

The character of Merlin originally came from pagan mythology. Scholars have traced his origins back to various figures from the Celtic tradition, but he is most closely associated with the early Welsh Myrddin. Myrddin was a prophet who eventually fled to the woods to live as a wild man.

What is the origin of Merlin?

The origins of Merlin. Most legends involving Merlin point out that he was an innately evil being, and that he had come into the world to do harm. However, when he grew up, Merlin used all his powers wisely, and became a wise man and advisor of kings. Some texts claim that Merlin was the son of a demon and a nun.

Who was the first person to introduce Merlin into the British tradition?

From a historical point of view, the first person to introduce Merlin into the British tradition was Lailoken, a poet who lived in South Scotland.

What happened to the wizard?

The classical legend points out that Merlin fell deeply in love with a young lady when he was an old man. He taught her all his magic secrets in exchange for her to be his lover. Merlin built her a palace at a lake and called her the Lady of the Lake. With time, she started fearing him once she knew about his evil origins.

What year did Merlin face an invasion?

In the year 573, Merlin faced with great courage an invasion coming from Ireland, in a bloody battle. Unfortunately, he saw his family die during the battle. After that, the warrior went crazy and went to live like a hermit in the woods.

Why did Merlin intervene in the war?

Taking advantage of the fact that her husband was a soldier who was fighting in a war, Merlin intervened so that the king looked like the absent husband and was able to spend the night with the woman. Eventually, the husband died and the king married her.

What is Merlin's mother's name?

Based on the little historic data available, the most accepted version is that Merlin’s real name was Myrddin Emrys.

How did Arthur become the Great King?

When he was very young, and with Merlin’s help, Arthur managed to draw the sword Excalibur from the stone it was inserted in , and that’s how he became the Great King. Arthur then founded the castle called Camelot and governed under the wizard’s guide, who kept him company and advised him in many situations.

Where did Merlin come from?

You really have got it all wrong about the origins of Merlin. The sword in the stone is an ancient story from Tuscany in Italy. the sword is still in the stone there at Montesiepi, the knight was Sir Galgano Chuidotti. The story was taken to England.

What is the legend of Merlin the Magician?

The Legendary Origins of Merlin the Magician. Read Later. Print. Most people today have heard of Merlin the Magician, as his name has been popularized over the centuries and his story has been dramatized in numerous novels, films, and television programs. The powerful wizard is depicted with many magical powers, ...

What does Niviane fear about Merlin?

However, Niviane fears Merlin will use his magical powers to take advantage of her. She swears that she will never fall in love with him, unless he teaches her all of the magic he knows. Merlin agrees. Merlin and Niviane depart to return to Northumberland, when they are called back to assist King Arthur.

Where did Merlin and Niviane go when they were buried together?

Merlin and Niviane depart to return to Northumberland, when they are called back to assist King Arthur. As they are returning, they stop to stay in a stone chamber, where two lovers once died and were buried together. When Merlin falls asleep, Niviane places him under a spell, and traps him within the stone tomb, where he dies. Merlin had never realized that his desire for Niviane, and his willingness to teach her his magical ways eventually led to his untimely death.

What are fragments of ancient manuscript about Merlin?

Fragments of Ancient Manuscript About Merlin Have Been Discovered and Could Change Arthurian Legend. These variations in the stories of Merlin are not too surprising because from Merlin’s inception through the writings of Geoffrey, the wizard appeared in different forms through many subsequent tales, stories, and poems.

What is the poem "Estoire de Merlin" about?

Boron’s poem was eventually re-written in prose as Estoire de Merlin , which also places much focus upon Merlin’s shapeshifting. Over the years, Merlin was interspersed through the tales of Arthurian legend. Some writings placed much focus upon Merlin as Arthur’s mentor, while others did not mention Merlin at all.

Where is Merlin the Wizard's Legacy?

Merlin the Wizard’s Legacy. In 2019, fragments of a rare manuscript published in the 1500s were found in the University of Bristol' s special collections library detailing “subtle but significant differences from the traditional story” of Merlin the magician.

What is Merlin's role in the Arthurian legends?

These started with Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae or "History of the Kings of Britain", completed in 1138. They have since taken such a hold on popular imagination that separating the fragments of history from the many layers ...

Where is Merlin from?

He is a figure from Welsh legend who served as a bard before ending his days as a madman, prophet and mystic in the forests of Tweeddale in the Scottish Borders. The wider picture in Scotland at the time is set out in our Historical Timeline. Merlin is, of course, best known from his role in the Arthurian Legends. ...

Where did Merlin go mad?

It is said that Merlin subsequently went mad, retreating to live as a prophet and recluse in the forests of Tweeddale. In August 584 Merlin, later also referred to as Lailoken, is said to have encountered St Mungo or St Kentigern near the site of what is now Stobo Kirk.

Who is Merlin's sister?

The real Merlin, Myrddin Wyllt, was born in about 540 and had a twin sister called Gwendydd. He served as a bard to Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio, a Brythonic or British king who ruled Arfderydd, a kingdom including parts of what are now Scotland and England in the area around Carlisle.

What happened to Merlin when he was impaled?

Late on the day of his conversion Merlin was chased by a group of shepherds and as a result fell off a cliff into a river, where he was impaled on a stake securing a fisherman's net and drowned.

Who was Merlin drawn to?

Naturally, the men of Camelot were drawn to her, especially the magnificent Merlin. Merlin was a man of many talents, not the least of which was his powerful magic. He has been the right-hand man and advisor to King Arthur since before Arthur took the throne. Merlin could not help but be tempted by this new woman’s beauty, he was, after all, human.

What was Merlin blinded by?

They seemed to be the perfect match. Merlin was blinded by Vivien’s beauty. She was able to use him for whatever she desired. First it was cooking for her, then it was doing her laundry, but it started to progress to bigger things. There were always little favors here and there regarding what was going on in Camelot.

What happened to Merlin when he lifted the rock?

As Merlin went to lift the rock a slew of monstrous rocks collapsed on top of Merlin, thus dooming Merlin to the grave. Vivien had now betrayed Merlin to his death and was now the most powerful wizard in all of the land. These events will come to have a dramatic impact on the great King Arthur.

Why did Vivien come to Merlin?

A few weeks later, Vivien finally came to Merlin for what she really wanted: magic. She wanted Merlin to teach her everything he knew. Naturally as he did with Vivien's other requests, Merlin gave in to her demands. This was not the brightest move Merlin could have made, but it happened none the less.

Did Merlin dance with Vivien?

One evening, during a nice festive meal, the great Merlin finally mustered up some courage to speak to the beautiful Vivien. Vivien and Merlin had a pleasant conversation that grew ever more exciting by the drink. Before the night was over the conservative Merlin was, believe it or not, dancing with the beautiful lady. Arthur and his band of knights got quite a laugh out of this for they had never seen this side of Merlin. They seemed to be the perfect match.

Geoffrey's Merlin

• In Geoffrey's History, Merlin features as a prominent character in Books VI-VIII. King Vortigern, the usurper, is having trouble building a tower because the foundation will not stand firm. His wizards advise him to find a youth in the kingdom who had no father and sacrifice him, sprinkling his blo…

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Conclusion

Overview

Name

Medieval legend

Modern fiction

See also

External links