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skippyv20 · 5 years

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Knights of the round table you’ve probably never heard of

The legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table has been popular for centuries. King Arthur himself emerged as a literary figure sometime after 800 when he started to appear in manuscripts such as the Y Goddoddin in Wales.

The history of his loyal knights, however, is much less clear. They first appeared in the works of the French writer Chretien de Troyes

in the 12th century, which was also the first mention of Lancelot and the quest to find the Holy Grail. Historians have speculated about the source of Chretien’s ideas—or whether they are all his own creations.

Although the origin of the knights is disputed, no one can argue that they didn’t have a significant impact on Western literature. Tales of Arthur and his knights became popular across medieval Europe. Writers from Portugal to Germany translated the works into their own languages and wrote new tales which added to the now-colossal Arthurian canon.

Depending on which stories we count, there are 12–150 named Knights of the Round Table. Most of them have unique personalities and stories. Some knights, like Percival and Galahad,

are known everywhere. But many of these figures have fallen out of common knowledge or remain niche, regional figures.

Sir Lamorak

Alongside Lancelot and Tristan, Sir Lamorak was one of the three strongest Knights of the Round Table but, for whatever reason, is much less famous today than his brother Percival. Lamorak was one of the sons of King Pellinore, who was himself sometimes included on the list of Round Table knights. A bold, confident man who was quick to anger, Lamorak was an exceptionally skilled knight on the field of battle. But in peacetime, he sometimes caused trouble. In Arthurian legend, it is said that he could fight off more than 30 other knights at once, making him one of Arthur’s most valuable allies.

His actions off the field of battle brought about his demise. As part of a long-running family feud between himself and the brothers Sir Gawain, Sir Agravain, Sir Mordred, and Sir Gaheris, Lamorak seduced their widowed mother and bedded her. Sir Gaheris

caught them in the act and is said to have killed his mother on the spot. Gaheris only spared Lamorak because he was unarmed. After rejecting King Arthur’s offer to settle the dispute for them, Lamorak was ambushed by the brothers and murdered. Sources vary as to which brother actually killed Lamorak.

Sir Agravain

Sir Agravain was one of the major antagonists of early Arthurian tales. He was an arrogant, proud man who had a sharp wit and little love for other people. His actions often brought him into conflict with the other knights, particularly his brother Gaheris, and Agravain was embroiled in the deaths of several other figures at Arthur’s court.

But in his early days, Agravain was a noble and valiant knight. A relative of King Arthur, Agravain proved himself by liberating the prisoners on the Hill of Wretches, thereby earning his place at the Round Table. He made a name for himself by fighting in the Saxon Wars and became known as a skilled and prestigious knight.

His pride would be his downfall, however. Jealous over the knighting of his brother Gaheris, Agravain secretly followed Gaheris on a quest and tried to kill him twice, both times being bested in hand-to-hand combat. Agravain bragged in front of his brothers on several occasions, turning them against him. When Gaheris killed their mother, Agravain was pleased to finally have a reason to kill Gaheris and pursued him again, only being stopped by Gawain, who asked Agravain to take pity on his kin.

A jealous man, Agravain hated Lancelot because he was the greatest knight alive. After discovering Guinevere and Lancelot’s affair, Agravain was the first knight to break the news to Arthur and was part of the plan to ambush and murder Lancelot. He failed, however, and Lancelot slew him.

King Cador of Cornwall

One of the handful of British Kings who were also Knights of the Round Table, Cador has been listed as one of Arthur’s close allies since his earliest appearance in literature. Cador was the son of Gorlois, making him Arthur’s maternal half-brother and the brother of Morgan le Fay. In other sources, however, Cador is described as being “of Roman stock.” This may mean that he wasn’t a relative of Arthur at all and was simply a close friend.

Cador is most famous for hosting Guinevere in her youth, educating her, and ensuring that she acquired the skills required as a noblewoman. One of Arthur’s most trusted generals, Cador commanded the army of Britons who relieved the Siege of Mount Badon and drove the invaders back to their encampment on the Isle of Thanet. He was trusted to lead campaigns as far afield as Scotland and Gaul, where he commanded the rear guard at the Battle of Soissons. Together with Lancelot, Cador resisted the Roman emperor who ambushed them while they carried prisoners back to Paris.

At the Battle of Camlann,

as Arthur was reeling from his wounds, he granted the kingship of Britain to Cador’s son Constantine as a sign of his trust. Cador ultimately met his end at Camlann while fighting to defend Arthur.

Sir Daniel von Blumenthal

Unlike most Arthurian literature, Sir Daniel first appears in a German tale, Daniel von dem bluhenden Tal,

which was written around 1220 by Der Stricker. In the story, Arthur allows Daniel to join the Knights of the Round Table after he proves himself by defeating Sir Percival and Sir Gawain.

Shortly after, Arthur receives an ultimatum from a giant, who reveals that his lord has built a palace on the back of an elephant and is marching with an army of giants to conquer the kingdom. This lord, King Matur, uses a mechanical dragon with a horrendous scream to force his enemies to cover their ears, making them unable to fight.

While Arthur and his knights are contemplating what to do, Daniel decides to prove himself by going to defeat Matur alone. Daniel faces many obstacles along the way which initially seem like distractions, but they lead Daniel to a magic sword that is crucial in the final defeat of Matur. This sword seems to have been inspired by the Arthurian myth of Excalibur.

As a reward for his efforts, Arthur gives Matur’s old kingdom to Daniel, making him one of the most powerful knights in his court. While popular in Germany at the time, the tale fell out of fashion quickly across Europe because Daniel resembled a dark age Germanic hero rather than a medieval knight of chivalry and honor.

King Urien of Gorre

King Urien was a Celtic monarch who ruled Rheged, the region southwest of Hadrian’s Wall.

He was included in one of the famous poetic Welsh Triads as one of the three greatest warrior-kings in Britain. His death was lamented as one of the three unfortunate assassinations in British history.

His many successes and victories are preserved today in the medieval manuscript The Book of Taliesin.

Together with several other local kings, Urien resisted the northern expansion of the Anglo-Saxon invaders. He was eventually assassinated on the orders of Morgant Bwlch, another northern king, who was jealous of Urien’s power and reputation.

Over time, his exploits became popular in Welsh myth and he became King Urien of Gorre, a legendary figure and Knight of the Round Table. He was a peaceful vassal during the reign of Uther Pendragon, Arthur’s father, and happily married the wicked witch Morgan le Fay.

Upon Uther’s death, however, Urien and many other powerful men in the kingdom opposed Arthur’s rise to the throne and rebelled against him. Arthur defeated them, and Urien was one of his most loyal vassals thereafter and a trusted Knight of the Round Table.

Neither Morgan nor Urien was happy with their marriage. Morgan hatched a secret plot to steal Excalibur, murder Urien and Arthur, and install her lover, Sir Accolon, on the throne. She failed in her plan to kill Urien when his bastard son Owain caught her trying to stab him and forced them apart.

Sir Geraint

Sir Geraint was a young and brave knight who owned land in Dumnonia (modern-day Cornwall) that he inherited from his father, Erbin. Geraint and his wife, Enid, were good friends with both Arthur and Guinevere.

So when rumors began to spread around the court that Guinevere had developed feelings for Lancelot, Geraint remained silent. But he began to worry after learning that Guinevere and Enid were spending a lot of time together in Dumnonia. Paranoid that Guinevere would lead his wife astray, he asked Arthur’s permission to leave the royal court and return home. Geraint told Arthur that he wanted to be a better ruler, but truthfully, Geraint wanted to keep an eye on his wife.

When he returned home, he spent all his time with Enid, to the point that his people began to whisper that he’d lost his manliness and was no longer a good ruler. Enid heard these rumours, and one morning, Geraint caught her crying that she’d been a bad wife. He jumped to conclusions and assumed that she was confessing her infidelity, but in truth, she was upset that she’d kept him from being a knight.

To prove his manliness, Geraint, accompanied by Enid, went on a tour of Dumnonia, facing many trials and proving to his people that he was a skilled and courageous leader. The journey strengthened the bonds between Geraint and his wife. They remained close for the rest of their lives, providing the rest of Arthur’s knights with a good example.

Sir Caradoc short Arm

Caradoc Short Arm was a powerful man in the kingdom of Gwent.

(In some stories, he was its King.) He held great influence among the Kings of Britain and was a loyal knight of Arthur’s father, Uther Pendragon. But Caradoc was also one of the Kings who took up arms against Arthur in the early days because he didn’t think Arthur was fit to be King. Arthur defeated Caradoc, and afterward, Caradoc became one of Arthur’s closest advisers. Caradoc was later described as one of Arthur’s three closest knights and Arthur’s chief elder at Celliwig. Caradoc’s wife, Tegau Eufron, was one of the most beautiful women in the country.

One day, a sorcerer named Eliavres appeared at Caradoc’s court and tempted him to try to behead Eliavres. If the knight couldn’t, the sorcerer would be allowed to take the knight’s head instead.

Caradoc tried to behead the sorcerer but couldn’t. Instead of killing the knight, however, Eliavres revealed that he was actually Caradoc’s natural father. Eliavres had bewitched Caradoc the Elder (the man whom Caradoc had believed to be his father), run away with Caradoc’s mother, and impregnated her. Caradoc was distraught and, in typical knightly fashion, went on a long, perilous quest. There, he met his future best friend, King Cador. Eventually, Caradoc arrived in Caradoc the Elder’s kingdom and told him what the sorcerer had done.

They captured and imprisoned Eliavres, but before long, he made an escape attempt. When Caradoc tried to stop Eliavres, the sorcerer summoned a wicked serpent which wrapped itself around Caradoc’s arm, disabling the limb. Caradoc traveled Britain in search of a way to remove the evil snake and learned that it would balk at the sight of vinegar. He, his wife, and Cador hatched a plan. His wife sat in a bath of milk, while Caradoc settled into a bath of vinegar nearby.

The snake tried to leap from one to the other, and Cador cut it down in midair. Unfortunately, Caradoc’s arm never recovered, and he was thereafter known as “Caradoc Short Arm.”

Sir Lucan

Sir Lucan (aka Lucan the Butler) is an overlooked knight in Arthurian legend. Though he lacks any lengthy tales of his own trials and adventures, he is consistently one of Arthur’s closest and most trusted confidants.

One of Arthur’s earliest followers, Lucan remained loyal to Arthur when many of the other kings raised their swords in rebellion. Being called the butler might seem like an insult today, but historically, the position of butler was very prestigious. One of the closest men to the king, the butler was in charge of the royal court.

Lucan was also a frequent attendee at tournaments, though he didn’t excel as much as the other knights of the Round Table. At one point, he was so badly wounded by Sir Tristan that Lucan had to be taken to a nearby abbey for medical treatment. He was one of the knights who stuck by Arthur when Lancelot and Guinevere betrayed Arthur. Lucan often acted as a go-between for both sides in an effort to restore peace. Always opposed to war, he was one of the few knights who counseled Arthur against going to battle with Mordred, which led to the deaths of many of Arthur’s best knights. Alongside his brother, Bedivere, Lucan was the last knight to fall protecting Arthur in the disastrous Battle of Camlann.

Sir Lanval

Sir Lanval, one of Arthur’s most unfortunate knights, was initially envied by the other knights for his beauty, generosity, and bravery. They feigned affection for Lanval while secretly hoping some misfortune would come to him.

Eventually, when Arthur was handing out gifts and wealth to his followers, he forgot about Lanval. However, Lanval, who was already far from his ancestral home, was too good to ask for a gift. The other knights disliked him so much that they didn’t tell Arthur that Lanval had been missed. As a result, he fell into poverty and sadness. Lanval’s fortunes seemed to change when he drew the eye of a beautiful fairy mistress, who fell in love with him. They began spending time together, and she promised to give him all the gold and whatever else he needed. She would also come to him when he wanted as long as he kept her a secret.

Of course, this was never bound to last. Shortly after this, Guinevere, Arthur’s unfaithful wife, made advances toward Lanval. He refused her, and Guinevere, who was unused to being rejected by men, accused him of homosexuality. To protect his reputation, Lanval blurted out that he had a mistress and that she was even more beautiful than Guinevere.

Guinevere took the matter to Arthur. She told him that Lanval had tried to make her his lover and, when she refused, bragged that he had a more beautiful mistress. Enraged, Arthur put his knight on trial. If his supposed mistress appeared, he would be acquitted. But if she didn’t, he would be punished. Just when it seemed that he was out of luck, Lanval’s mistress appeared. She told the king that Guinevere had lied and that his knight was honest and true. The other knights of the Round Table accepted her argument. Arthur was ready to welcome Lanval back to the Round Table. But instead, Lanval departed with his fairy mistress, who returned to Avalon.

Sir Gareth

Sir Gareth was one of the sons of King Lot and was therefore a brother of Gawain, Gaheris, and Agravain. Gareth seems to have disliked his brothers, however, because he came disguised as a peasant boy with no past when he first arrived in Arthur’s court.

Sir Kay put Gareth to work in the kitchen, teasing him for his soft hands and giving him all the worst jobs. Even so, he excelled as a knight from an early age, defeating the Green Knight, Red Knight, and many others and forcing them to swear fealty to Arthur. Gareth even entered a tournament in disguise with the express purpose of defeating his brothers. He only revealed himself when he knocked down his brother Gawain in the final combat.

In later life, Gareth distanced himself from the unchivalrous actions of his brothers and sometimes intervened in their plans. He stopped Gawain and Agravain from killing their other brother Gaheris, condemned them for killing Sir Lamorak, and tried to stop them from revealing Lancelot and Guinevere’s affair. Despite his loyalty to Arthur, however, Gareth often sided with Lancelot because it was Lancelot who first showed Gareth kindness and knighted him. In the end, he was accidentally killed by Lancelot as he attempted to save Guinevere from being burned at the stake.

Gaheris stood up for his brother and switched from Lancelot’s side to Arthur’s, urging him to go to war with Lancelot over his actions. Ultimately, this led to the Battle of Camlann and the deaths of many of Arthur’s knights.

Wonderful! Thank you😊❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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readingontheedge · 5 years

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Dawnflight

The Dragon's Dove Chronicles Book 1

by Kim Iverson Headlee

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Print Length: 415 pages

Publisher: Lucky Bat Books

Publication Date: February 25, 2013

What if King Arthur’s queen was every bit as heroic as he was? Find out by immersing yourself in this epic story of the power couple whose courage and conviction would shape the destiny of a nation. Gyan is a Caledonian chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader of warriors by training, and she is betrothed to Urien, a son of her clan’s deadliest enemy, by right of Arthur the Pendragon’s conquest of her people. For the sake of peace, Gyan is willing to sacrifice everything...perhaps even her very life, if her foreboding about Urien proves true. Roman by his father, Brytoni by his mother, and denied hereditary rulership of his mother's clan because of his mixed blood, Arthur has followed his father's path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time. When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever. But there is an even greater threat looming. The Laird of the Scots wants their land and will kill all who stand in his way. Gyan, Arthur, and Urien must unite to defeat this merciless enemy who threatens everyone they hold dear.

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Arthur said, “I advise caution.”

“Caution, indeed.” Urien’s look adopted a hard edge as he ground fist to palm. “I don’t trust these Picts. In fact, I don’t understand why you didn’t obliterate them with Caledfwlch when I”—he stabbed a thumb at his chest—“gave you the chance.”

With effort, Arthur resisted the impulse to touch his sword’s ruby-pommeled hilt, the smith’s inspiration for naming it Caleberyllus, Latin for “Burning Jewel.” After Abar-Gleann, Cai had coined a Brytoni name for Wyllan’s finest creation: Caledfwlch, “Caledonia’s Bane.” It was perfectly apt, and it had almost caused a diplomatic disaster.

He spared a glance for his friends and was thankful they were too far away—and too engrossed with flirting with two more serving women—to have overheard the exchange. Two months was enough time to heal flesh wounds but not enough time to salve Cai’s pride for having to endure Arthur’s public rebuke in order to preserve the fragile peace. He returned his attention to Urien. “Do not forget that your charge was carried out under my orders.”

Urien glared but let the remark pass. “The Picts have been a menace to our borders for time out of mind. Why didn’t you—”

“The same can be said about the Saxons, Angles, and Scots.” These last two Arthur spat like the curses they were to him. The Angli had killed his father. And the Scots… he banished a grisly memory with a long blink. “None of them have demonstrated a willingness to negotiate with us for peace. The Caledonians were willing, and Brydein will be getting a much stronger cavalry as a result.” Arthur grinned. “You should thank them for your promotion.”

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The Dragon's Dove Chronicles Book 2

Print Length: 439 pages

Publisher: Lucky Bat Books

Publication Date: June 11, 2013

“Magnificent.” ~ Kathleen Foley, author of the Faith in Uniform series In a violent age when enemies besiege Brydein and alliances shift as swiftly as the wind, stand two remarkable leaders: the Caledonian warrior-queen Gyanhumara and her consort, Arthur the Pendragon. Their fiery love is tempered only by their conviction to forge unity between their disparate peoples. Arthur and Gyan must create an impenetrable front to protect Brydein and Caledonia from land-lusting Saxons and the marauding Angli raiders who may be massing forces in the east, near Arthur’s sister and those he has sworn to protect. But their biggest threat is an enemy within: Urien, Arthur’s rival and the man Gyan was treaty-bound to marry until she broke that promise for Arthur’s love. When Urien becomes chieftain of his clan, his increase in wealth and power is matched only by the magnitude of his hatred of Arthur and Gyan—and his threat to their infant son. Morning’s Journey, sequel to the critically acclaimed Dawnflight, propels the reader from the heights of triumph to the depths of despair, through the struggles of some of the most fascinating characters in all of Arthurian literature. Those struggles are exacerbated by the characters’ own flawed choices. Gyan and Arthur must learn that while extending forgiveness to others may be difficult, forgiveness of self is the most excruciating—yet ultimately the most healing—step of the entire journey.

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THE CLASH OF arms resounds in the torchlit corridor. Blood oozes where leather has yielded to the bite of steel, yet both sweating, panting warriors refuse to relent.

Her heart thundering, Gyan grips her sword’s hilt, desperate to help the man she loves. Caledonach law forbids it.

Urien makes a low lunge. As Arthur tries to whirl clear, the blade tears a gash in his shield-side thigh. The injured leg collapses, and Arthur drops to one knee. Crowing triumphantly, Urien raises his sword for the deathblow.

Devil take the law!

Gyan springs to block the stroke. Its force jars her arms and twists the hilt in her grasp. She barely holds on through the searing pain.

Urien slips past her guard to slice at her brooch. The gold dragon clatters to the floor. Her cloak slithers to her ankles, fouling her stance. As she tries to kick free, Urien grabs her braid, jerks up her head, and kisses her, hard. Shock loosens her grip. Her sword falls. She thrashes and writhes, but he holds her fast, smirking lewdly.

“You are mine, Pictish whore.”

Urien’s breath reeks of ale and evil promises. She spits in his face. He slaps her. She reels backward, her cheek burning. He grabs her forearms and yanks her close.

“Artyr, help me!”

No response.

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The Dragon's Dove Chronicles Book 3

Print Length: 415 pages

Publisher: Pendragon Cove Press

Publication Date: March 11, 2019

Outcast, clanless, and but a junior officer in Arthur the Pendragon’s army, Angusel struggles to rebuild the life stolen from him through betrayal by the person he had held most dear. His legion allegiance thrusts him onto the campaign trail as one of Arthur’s forward scouts, stalking Angli troops and being among the first to clash with these vicious enemies at every turn. But the odds loom high against him and his sword-brothers, and they will need a miracle just to survive. Pressured to make the best choice to ensure her clan’s future leadership, Eileann struggles with her feelings for Angusel, whose outcast status makes him forbidden to her as a mate. When Angli treachery threatens everyone she loves, she vows to thwart their violent plan to conquer her clan. But she is no warrior, she has no soldiers to command, and she will need a miracle just to survive. How can one soldier make a difference? How can one woman save her kin and clan? In the crucible of combat, Angusel must surrender to the will of the gods, and Eileann must invoke divine power to forge the most dangerous warrior the world has ever known.

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“Where is the brush?” Eileann asked, as much to forestall the inevitable as to seek an answer.

A heartbeat later, she chided her fear. Outcast or not, Clan Tarsuinn needed him.

Them.

“No brush. The anointing is as much about the connection between the anointer and the anointed as it is about the connection between the anointed and the gods. Use your finger, like this.”

Neoinean dipped Eileann’s index finger into the dye, tapped the excess on the rim, and guided it to sketch the shape of a salmon on Angusel’s forehead, near the hairline. Eileann felt a wee tingle as she completed the fish. His surprised expression told her he had felt it too.

“Now state to the anointed the god-mark you have drawn and its purpose.” Neoinean stepped away and regarded Eileann, cocking an eyebrow as the silence stretched.

Eileann cleared her throat and gazed at Angusel. “The salmon of Clota. For wisdom.” She wasn’t sure how a warrior fighting in the throes of battle frenzy could exercise wisdom, but she was not going to cast doubt upon her teacher’s example or the purpose the goddess had revealed.

Angusel bobbed his head, his curly black hair obscuring the fish.

Palms angled upward, Fioruisge changed the chant to echo Eileann’s words and embellish them, begging for the goddess’s gift to be bestowed upon the anointed.

“Use what you know of the gods and their abilities, my lady,” said Neoinean, “to draw their marks upon the anointed where you believe those divine gifts will benefit him the most.”

“Please draw the god-marks so that my armor hides them.” Angusel glanced at Neoinean, uncertainty creasing the salmon. “Does the anointing permit this?”

“It does,” stated the apothecary.

“They are meant to be seen!” Eileann itched to shake sense into him, but touching the anointed was forbidden save to craft the god-marks. “How will the gods find you if you hide the marks?”

“The anointed does not wish to offend those who have rejected him, and that is a worthy consideration.” Her teacher, apparently exempt from the touching stricture, patted Eileann’s shoulder. To her surprise, Fioruisge wove Neoinean’s words into the chant. “Fear not, child. The gods will see the marks as you draw them, and they shall not forget. Priests and warriors may choose to make their god-marks permanent, but the rite does not require it.”

Eileann inclined her head at Angusel. “As you will, then.”

Behind shuttered eyelids, she cast about for an image to draw and received a double blessing. Upon opening her eyes, she asked Angusel to lift his arms so she could anoint his biceps. The sketches looked crude, childish, and incomplete. She prayed for them to work; she hoped that the longer and stronger tingling was a sign that they would. “The bull of Lugh on your sword arm for strength, and the stag of Cernunnos on your shield arm for cunning.”

Fioruisge added Eileann’s pronouncements, raising her arms higher with each new verse.

Whatever concoction Neoinean had given Eileann must have taken full effect. In swift succession she drew the spear and rod of Nemetona on Angusel’s right thigh for fierceness, the mare of Epona on his left thigh for speed, and the sun of Lord Annaomh over his heart.

“For hope,” she told him about the sun, and wondered at the word choice the god had inspired. The sun of Annaomh represented justice, leadership, and truth. Lord Annaomh was revered for those traits, as were the warriors who honored him. And yet hope was appropriate, since the strengthening sun delivered salvation from winter’s grip, and the Lord of Light embodied salvation from the eternal ravages of his twin brother, Annàm, and the evil Samhraidhean.

Angusel beamed without touching her, as was proper for this phase of an tùs. The time for their touching would come, but not soon enough for Eileann’s liking.

The final image burned into her brain and killed her swelling excitement.

She gasped, fist to mouth.

“What is it, child?” asked Neoinean.

“A mark I dare not draw upon the anointed,” Eileann whispered. That the image was unlike any she had seen for this god represented the least of her worries. “I fear what it may do to him—to us both.”

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Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins--the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-twentieth century--seem to be sticking around for a while yet. Kim has been a published novelist since 1999 with the first edition of Dawnflight (Sonnet Books, Simon & Schuster) and has been studying the Arthurian legends for nigh on half a century.

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Open Internationally: $20 Amazon, Gift codes for e-books (several titles, including some not being toured); and audiobooks of Dawnflight, and related novellas The Color of Vengeance and The Challenge.

US only: Print copies of The Color of Vengeance, The Challenge, another related novella titled Twins, and The Challenge comic book (one winner each)

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veryfantasticstudent · 5 years

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Of Wizards

Thanks to all the Merlins that populate the Internet, the Arthurian character of Merlin has always been a familiar figure for me. Since he is a wizard, Merlin was always more fascinating than boring English kin-niggets. So, when I was reading Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur or The Death of Arthur, Merlin obviously was of great interest to me.

Since he is a wizard, Gandalf was the obvious character to compare Merlin with from fantasy literature. Although Tolkien cited Norse mythology as the primary source of inspiration for his world, Merlin must be a figure that would have loomed in Tolkien’s mind when conceiving of wizards.

As such, there are some important similarities between Gandalf and Merlin. Both wizards are respected because of their vast knowledge. Just like the kings in Lord of the Rings trust Gandalf as a source of information as well as advice, Arthur, too, trusts Merlin’s news and advice. In both stories, rulers who listen to the wizard are thought to be better than the ones who do not. Denethor and King Roince are examples of rulers who refuse to heed the advice of the wizards and later suffer for it. For both of them, it seems that their knowledge (and the power tied to that knowledge) is what makes them instrumental characters in their words.

However, the two are not quite the same. Merlin is, to say in the mildest terms, a morally ambiguous character. He isn’t self-effacing or ashamed of his lust for a damsel of the lake (which ultimately lands him prematurely, and very much alive, into his grave). He does not have qualms about using underhand means to get what he wants every now and then. Gandalf, on the other hand, practices no deception. He sacrifices himself for the advancement of the fellowship. He has even been (fan)theorised as asexual.

If knowledge produces their similarities, then what produces the difference in Gandalf and Merlin? I think that their fates portray different attitudes towards knowledge and its use. Knowledge is an ambiguous tool that has the potential to make the learned “man” evil. It also cannot just make any person evil; the person must have some preclusion to evil. Perhaps it is Saruman, corrupted by the excessive study of the One Ring, whom we should consider the Merlin-esque character of Middle-Earth[1].

It is also interesting to note that Merlin, once he falls into the damosel’s trap, never comes back to the story. In fact, he is missing in the most popular Arthurian legend, the tale of the Holy Grail. Gandalf does come back. He even comes back upgraded. He is Gandalf the White, once he triumphs over the demonic Balrog of Moria. As many people have noted, there is no “Grey” to Gandalf anymore (and no alliteration, either). Merlin is often thought to be a manifestation of the wise druids of pagan traditions. He carried over into the Arthurian legends in their Christian expressions. Merlin’s refusal to transform, as Gandalf did, seems more the reason why he is not allowed to come back. It makes me quite sad that brilliant adaptations like Monty Python and the Holy Grail do not have their own Merlins. But if the condition for Merlin’s return was that he somehow change I would rather that Merlin remain buried under a rock somewhere in England, just waiting for the day he can burst out into the world.

[1] Or even Morgan le Faye, but that is another story altogether.

#merlin #gandalf #lord of the rings #LOTR #arthurian legend #wizards

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