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Born in c.AD1115. As Robert Wace was born in Jersey, he is considered French, an Anglo-Norman poet.
He studied in Paris, France, and is known for compiling three major works;
1. The lives of Saints written in verse;
2. 'Roman de Brut' or 'Brut d'Angleterre' (AD1155);
3. 'Roman de Rou', An epic on the Dukes of Normandy. Roman de Brut was later used by many French writers including Chrétien de Troyes, and is believed to have drawn largely on the work of 'Geoffrey of Monmouth' (See Geoffrey of Monmouth), namely the Historia Regum Britanniae. Wace's work is considered to be a version of Arthurian legend that contains Norman-French sympathies and is altogether freer in style.Wace is known to have developed Arthurian legend drawing on Geoffrey's work leading to three new developments;
1. A development of the known concept of the 'Round Table' with ancient Celtic meeting traditions; (See Round Table)Robert Wace is known to have been a Canon of Bayeux during AD1160-70, and to have died c.AD1183.
2. Providing the new name of 'Excalibur' to Arthur's sword; (See Excalibur)
3. Celtic associations made with the 'Round Table' amalgamated with the concept of Christian Knights, which would lead to the 'Knights of the Round Table'. (See Grail Knights)
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Warok
From the early Celtic Church legends, he was a Chief of the Venetii and the father of a daughter known as 'Trephina' (See Trephina).
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Washer at the Ford
aka 'Morrighan' (See Morrighan) and therefore in this form as an aspect of 'Morgan le Fay' (See Morgan le Fay).This character is drawn from ancient Celtic legend embodying what have been described as the negative traits or powers of darkness of the Goddess Morrighan. The Washer at the Ford then is suggested to be of the Otherworld (See Otherworld), a portent of death.. The appearance of the Washer at the Ford was thought to signify the death of the person who saw her. She was always seen trying to wash the blood of the person out of clothing by a flowing river, and was therefore a vision to be dreaded.
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Wasteland
The bond between the 'Wounded King' (See Wounded King) and the land was represented in the form of 'Sovereignty' (See Sovereignty). Once this was broken the land around the home of the 'Grail King' (See Grail King), the 'Grail Castle', became infertile, fruitless, a wasteland. The land reflected the king's own character and therefore the receipt of the 'Dolorous Blow' (See Hallows) was highly significant. According to Arthurian legend only the asking of the 'Grail Question' (See Grail Question) and the successful finding of The Grail could heal the land. Success in this would also it was said heal the Wounded King.
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Wayland
aka 'Wieland', 'Wayland Smith'. Brother of 'Egil', apprentice of 'Mimir' (See Mimir). The sword 'Excalibur' (See Exalibur) was said to have been made at the forge of Wayland, a blacksmith to the Norse gods and Lord of the Elves. Most commonly known for forging weapons which had special powers. He was also said to have made protective armour for the gods. Not a particularly likeable character but it has been suggested that he influenced the development of other characters in British mythology during Anglo-Saxon occupation. According to ancient legend you could leave your horse at this megalithic site overnight, together with a sixpence fee and return in the morning to find the horse shod.
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White Hart
A deer encountered by 'Galahad' (See Galahad). The White Hart is a powerful image that appears either in the form of a stag or a doe throughout ancient British, Welsh, Keltic legend and the Arthurian legends themselves. The sight of this creature has become synonymous with the arrival of a message from the Otherworld (See Otherworld) usually while a group of hunters are out in a forest, or to signify the mystical and divine presence of Christ.
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White, Terence Hanbury
Twentieth-century English writer. Terence Hanbury White was an English novelist, born in Bombay, India in AD1906.He received the majority of his education in England, firstly at Cheltenham College, then later at Queen's College, Cambridge. White's most renown work was his tetralogy based on Arthurian legend entitled 'The Once and Future King' (AD1958). The first part, 'The Sword in the Stone', completed in AD1937, is a much loved children's classic. The tetralogy provides a clear insight into a man who combines the romantic and historical Arthur together with his strong views on pacifism, expressing these through the words of King Arthur himself to Tom of Newbold Revel (Sir Thomas Malory) on the eve of the Battle of Camlan. It is thought that White became a pacifist after personally living through both World War I and World War II.
White's most notable appointment was as a school master at Stowe, England following his graduation from Cambridge. He left Stowe in AD1936 moving to live in a gamekeeper's cottage close to his place of employment.
Although internationally known for his writing in private White was a keen fisherman and falconer, reputed to have had a great interest in nature which was reflected in his knowledge on a range of subjects. White's love of nature and his beliefs on the abolition of violence and war, believing them to be possible and desirable, can also be seen in his work of 1951 entitled 'The Goshawk', a piece that is set at the beginning of World War II. He was also known to be a keen sportsman.
Died in 1964.
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Wiglois
aka 'Wigalois', reputed to be the son of 'Gawain' (See Gawain) and 'Florie' (See Florie) although there is little information on him.
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Wild Herdsman
This character appears in many legends of both Welsh (Mabinogion) and Arthurian origin (Vita Merlini), his form sometimes changed together with his name but he is essentially the same as someone who appears before many of the Knights of the Round Table and important personages as they pursue the sacred vessels.He is a guardian of all the beasts who dwell in the forest, which include the revered stag, the boar and the wolf. The wild herdsman is portrayed as a huge man that carries a club, most likely a giant, some stories report him to be a 'black giant'. When he desired to call the animals together he was said to sound a drum beat on the stomach of a stag and the animals would immediately gather. The wild herdsman is characterised as wise, someone who understands the powers of nature and the animals, and as someone that has the ability to teach the power of such knowledge..
This character has been suggested to have influenced the development of later personages including 'Merlin' (See Merlin) and 'Custennin' (See Custennin).
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Winchester
Some writers of Arthurian legend have located Arthur's court here in England. A round table claiming to be that of the Arthurian court (See Round Table) can still be seen here, with the legendary names of twenty-four Knights of the Round Table upon it (See Camelot).
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Worms
An old Celtic tale tells of two worms that metamorphosed into two dragons: one red, the other white. The red represented the Welsh Celtic Britons, and the white, the invading Saxons.'The red is your dragon, but the white is the dragon of the people who have seized many peoples and countries in Britain but later our people will arise and will valiantly throw these English people across the sea.'The 'Dragon's Hill' in Berkshire, England is suggested to be a hill that is connected with the 'White Horse Hill' in Wiltshire, England. The Saxon leader 'Cerdic' is said to have slain the 'Naud', or 'Pendragon' (See Uther Pendragon) meaning 'Chief Dragon' (See Dragon), also known as 'Natanleod' here together with five-thousand men.
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Wounded King
aka 'The Grail King', 'The Fisher King'. The Wounded King was believed to be of the same ancestral line as that of 'Joseph of Arimathea' (See Grail King) who was said to have brought The Chalice and other relics to England (See Joseph of Arimathea).The Dolorous Blow (See Hallows) is dealt to both legs through the thigh. According to Arthurian legend this blow indicated that the Wounded King was a blemished man, meaning that he was with sin. In turn his failings resulted in his own powers as a king being reduced. The king was further seen to be symbolic of the power of the land as if he no longer possessed the ability to regenerate the land, then what was traditionally seen as the king's bond and allegiance with the feminine form of 'Sovereignty' (See Sovereignty) would be threatened. This threat in itself leading to the land becoming a wasteland, a union that could only be healed by someone else and not the king himself. The Wounded King and 'The Wasteland' (See Wasteland) could only be healed according to legend when the 'Grail Question' (See Grail Question) is asked and successfully achieved..
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Wyvern
Derived from 'wyvere', the Saxon word for 'serpent', the appearance of this mythical creature in heraldry indicated disease, envy and revenge. The animal was very similar to a dragon, having wings, yet with only two talon like feet. (See Lindworm).
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