Merlin was believed to be based upon a northern Welsh personage of legend named 'Myrddin'. Northern Welsh England is today known as Cumberland. In this one of many legends it is believed that he became a prophet after wandering in misery for fifty years with only the company of a wild piglet as a 'rude bedfellow'.

Merlin in many different books and texts is attributed at different times to helping no less than three Kings of England: Aurelius; Uther Pendragon; and later Uther's son Arthur.

A 'Myrddin ab Morfryn' is believed by some researchers to have been a Welsh or British Bard who was born circa late fifth-century. He became a bard to Arthur and is believed to have died in AD570. He appears under different names in many texts over the proceeding centuries. We are also informed in 'Historia Britonum' by Nennius (c.ninth-century), Vortigern had a prophet named 'Ambrosius'. It was Geoffrey of Monmouth that linked these two people together under the name 'Merlinus'. Merlin is reported to have been a well practised necromancer. French medieval traditions tell of his esplumoir or moulting-cage where Merlin was supposed to abide, this term believed to derive from his symbolic name 'hawk' or 'man of the sea'.

From research it is found there is very little known of Merlin's family background it is believed his mother was 'Aldan' and according to different legends Merlin (or the different people that are said to have been Merlin) had a twin sister 'Ganieda' (Gwendydd). It is stated in one story that he had a daughter called 'Inogen'. Some legends tell that Merlin was perhaps of an Otherworldly (See Otherworld) father, some say a daemon and an earthly woman. In some legends he is the son of 'Aldan' (mother) and 'Cadwellon' (father).

Vivienne, a 'Lady of the Lake' (See Vivienne) is described as the woman that is said Merlin truly loved, but who used him and then trapped him in a thorn bush, some say a Hawthorn tree, by use of the same magical spells/arcane knowledge that Merlin had taught her. Other legends say that Merlin's death, some say madness, was brought about by Vivienne;

trapped in a 'Tower of Air';
disappeared into thin air only to exist as a shadow;
buried alive under a stone;
sealed in stone vault;
trapped in a glass tower.

The madness of Merlin is described in the legends of 'Suibhne Gelt' (See Suibhne Gelt) and 'Lailoken'. These prophets include information on his death by falling, hanging and drowning (See Drumelzier). This combination is found in many version, woven together perhaps to explain the outcome of the descent into madness or his ultimate journey to the faery realm. What ever happened to Merlin in these stories the only place that is mentioned as a possible location is 'The Forest of Broceliande' (See Broceliande).

Merlin, the Arche-Mage of Britain, is reputed to have been Arthur's adviser, prophet, shaman, magician and guardian. Malory later describes Merlin as an advisor and counsellor to Arthur. As Merlin is reputed to have been the guardian of Britain, this reference sometimes led to Britain be referred to as 'Clas Meridin' or 'Merlin's Enclosure'. Merlin is also believed to have been the guardian of the 'Thirteen Treasures of Britain' (See Hallows of Britain) which he stored in a glass tower on Bardsey Island.

He was created by 'Geoffrey of Monmouth' (See Geoffrey of Monmouth), a twelfth-century historian. Merlin is included in his book 'History of the Kings of Britain' (Historia Regnum Brittaniae AD1147), and 'Vita Merlini' (c.AD1150) which were, and still are used, by many scholars as the two major written sources of Merlin. Geoffrey actually named him as 'Merlinus', and he appears to have combined the Welsh legends of a sixth-century prince named 'Myrddin ab Morfryn' with the writings of 'Nennius' (See Nennius) who talks of 'Vortigern's Prophet' named 'Ambrosius'. It is from Monmouth's texts that we are told that Merlini was also known as Ambrosius.

Monmouth wrote that Merlin was the child of a mortal woman and a daimon (the word for a spirit and from Greek-derivation), which was later re-interpreted by Christian writers, implying that Merlin was fathered by a/the Devil himself. Merlin though, turned his back on what were referred to as the evil and dark forces to go with the power of the light and goodness. Because of this he lost many of the powers he had inherited from his father and was left with only two powers, that of prophecy and making miracles, both of which it is implied he possessed in great power. He figures in work from the Renaissance through to the modern period. In 'The Idylls of the King', the poet 'Tennyson' (See Tennyson) made him the architect of 'Camelot' (See Camelot). Although in Monmouth's books Merlin is only associated with Uther Pendragon (Arthur's father) and is not associated with King Arthur directly.

Geoffrey's first known writing was a work entitled the 'Prophecies of Merlin' (c.AD1130), a collection of prophecies which went well beyond the twelfth-century and credited to 'Merlin' who, Monmouth said, had earlier written each portent in the fifth-century. This work constituted Part 7 of his Historia Regnum Brittaniae. Once again like Monmouth's other books, the collection is thought by many to be a mainly fictitious account drawing on Celtic legend. Many of Monmouth's books are now believed to be fictitious but based on, or around, actual historical facts. These legends laid the foundation of Arthurian romance tradition that manifested in the many medieval works. In the eighteenth-century, almanac writers employed the well-known name under which to make predictions, particularly under the name 'Merlinus Anglicus'. His prophecies were said to have been contained in a collection of Welsh poems, believed by some to have been written by Merlin and later published in a book (c.AD1200) called 'Llyfr Du Caerfyddin', The Black Book of Carmarthen.

If we look at the work of the ninth-century chronicler Nennius from which Monmouth is known to have drawn inspiration, the texts mention a boy called 'Ambrosius' (who prophesied the defeat of the Britons by the Saxons) in his book 'Historia Britonum'. This name causes some confusion as other texts indicate Uther Pendragon fought along side his brother who was also named 'Ambrosius' (See Ambrosius). If this is so, does this mean that Merlin was Uther's brother? It is argued by most that Merlin was known as 'Merlin-Ambrosius' because of his patronage with 'Aurelius Ambrosius' (Uther Pengragon's brother), and not because he was the brother of the High King of Britain.

'Merlin the Magician' we are told assisted Uther Pendragon. When Uther wished to deceive 'Igerna' (See Igraine) by disguising himself by use of magic as her husband, the deal that Merlin had Uther agree to was that his first born child should be handed to him. Merlin then, we are informed, gave him in turn to 'Ector of the Forest Sauvage' (See Ector de Sauvage).

Merlin, according to legend, was said to have been responsible for transporting the stones of 'Stonehenge' from Ireland to England. Although in other legends it is Merlin that tells 'Aurelius, King of Britain' to bring the stones (referred to as the 'Giant's Dance') to England from Ireland for two reasons; firstly, to act as a monument to those that had died during the battles with the Saxons, and secondly because the stones possessed great powers of healing. It should though be pointed out that Stonehenge is believed to have been built 1700-1800BC, later used a ritualistic place of worship by the Druid's who are known to have been around during the legendary time of Merlin and Arthur. According to Dr. Thomas (H. M. Geological Surveyor) some of the stones were erected at a later date and are not of a local origin, indicated by Dr. Thomas to be from the Prescelly Range, in Pembrokeshire (UK).

The French 'Vulgate Cycle' of the thirteenth-century and the Anglo-Norman English romances hold central the character named 'Merlin'. 'Thomas Malory' (See Malory) in 'Le Morte d'Arthur' (AD1485) describes Merlin as the adviser and guide to Arthur, who orchestrated Arthur pulling the 'Sword of Branstock' from a stone when he was aged 15 years, as we are told that Merlin had the ability to cast the most powerful spells and enchantments.

The existence of Merlin has always been debatable, but we can be sure that a person of this name and by it's many derivations appears throughout old texts, as either a prophet, bard, prince and/or poet. Merlin is even described in one text, in the words of his sister, as the 'bardic president about the Waters of Clyde'.

Comte de Villemarque argued that 'Myrddin ab Morfryn' was a completely different person to 'Merlin-Ambrosius' or 'Merlin Emrys'. Although it is believed both appear to have lived in 'Strathclyde' (Scotland UK) and both predicted the same events. Many bards of the twelfth-century accredited many of the predictions of 'Merlin-Ambrosius' to 'Merlin ab Morfryn' a century later than Geoffrey of Monmouth's writings, indicating the acceptance of Monmouth's conclusion that these two people were one and the same.

Merlin-Ambrosius is said to have been a young boy/man before Vortigern (estimated year AD480) but Merlinus ab Morfryn appears as an old man at the Court of Rydderch Hael, approx. AD570, (See Rydderch Hael). Another twist to the name then appears, as at this Court Merlin is known as 'Lalockin, the twin' (See Lailoken), the twin being his sister 'Gwenddydd' who describes her brother as 'my world-famous twin brother'. It has been suggested that Monmouth, when developing the character of Merlinus, drew upon the description of Lailoken to provide his character with a dramatic heritage and purpose.

Described usually as lean in stature, tall with a long white beard, the symbolic essence of Merlin's role in Arthurian legend today appears in some of the most popular characters of twentieth-century films such as in 'Star Wars' as 'Obi Wan Kenobe', and as 'Spock' in 'Star Trek'. He is the archetypal magician/wizard/counsellor, who is from a noble race yet his heritage is unclear, who employs arcane knowledge and the mystical powers of the earth and sky, the two main energies of life, for the victory of good over evil, light over dark, reincarnation over death.

One of the most enduring Arthurian romantic legends reveals Merlin's involvement in the ascent of Arthur to the position of High King of Britain following his being brought-up by Ector de Sauvage. The following is typical of how Merlin was seen to have employed arcane knowledge to unite the land and the people.

Two years after the birth of Arthur his true father, 'Uther', passed away. Under-kings and Lords managed and mismanaged the Island of Britain. Each revealed their desire to be the leader of the Britons. When Arthur reached the age of fifteen, Merlin is said to have summoned all leaders to London, to decide who would ultimately be crowned High King of Britain. Merlin is described as having caused a stone with a sword, earlier referred to as the Sword of Branstock, held in its mass to appear in a courtyard of an ancient chapel. An inscription upon the stone read 'Who so pulleth this sword from this stone is the rightfully born King of all England'. All were said to have tried to pull the sword from the stone but failed. Later they would dispute Arthur's claim at having released the sword but as yet no-one knew of Arthur's heritage or person.

Meanwhile 'Ector', 'Kay' and Arthur arrived in London. The two noblemen argued when Kay revealed that he had forgotten his sword. Arthur is said to have gone to find his sword and on his return passed the same chapel courtyard, which was now quiet and empty. He freed the sword from the stone and gave this to Kay. Ector desired proof of Arthur's explanation of how he had come by the sword, and so they travelled together to the same spot and the sword was replaced into the stone. Having failed, both Ector and Kay watched whilst Arthur drew it from the stone with little effort.

'Dragon Legend I'.

'Dragon Legend II'.