Vortigern

character throughout legends and history. He is known as a powerful sorcerer and a mentor for the future King Arthur. His magical abilities include shapeshifting, spells, and foresight. According to legend, Merlin was born during the rule of King Vortigern, a 5th century warlord, in Carmarthen, Wales. He was given the name Myrddin Emrys, or Ambrosius, by his mother, the princess of Dyfed, whose father was a sub-king (King’s second in command). Merlin isn’t just a character from the Arthurian Legends

Did King Arthur Truly Exist? Who was King Arthur? Most people would tell of a great King; a devoted circle of heroic knights; mighty castles and mightier deeds; a time of chivalry and courtly love; of Lancelot and Guinevere; of triumph and death. Historians and archaeologists, especially Leslie Alcock, point to shadowy evidence of a man who is not a king, but a commander of an army, who lived during the late fifth to early sixth century who may perhaps be the basis for Arthur. By looking at

at the time was killed by Vortigern (Arthur’s uncle) due to want of power as he wanted to

now destined to takeover the Crown and is controlled by Merlin is also a great point of his ability to be manipulative. He was able to avoid death at Vortigerns Palace by intimidating the priests and telling them what is actually wrong with their walls. “There it runs!”, I shouted, “There it runs! The red dragon of the west! I tell you King Vortigern, waste no more time here with these ignorant fools who babble of blood sacrifice and build a wall of stone for you, a foot a day! What wall will keep

Monmouth's Historia regum Britannae. In this book there is a section that tells the tale of Vortigern and Ambrosius. Vortigern, the King of Britain at the time, wants to build a new retreat, but every night the foundation is destroyed. Vortigern's wise men tell him he must sprinkle the spot with the blood of a child born fatherless. After a long and tedious search, Ambrosius is found and brought before Vortigern. Ambrosius tells the King not to slay him but to dig in the spot for two vases. Those digging

the name of Arthur, and thence to Sir Ector, whose wife fed him at her breast. (Malory 907)” Merlin first becomes known first as the prophet for British King Vortigern. Vortigern wished to build a tower, but every time he would try, it would collapse. He brought in architect after architect, who failed and failed. Merlin told Vortigern that the tower will not stand because there are two dragons fighting beneath the ground in which the tower is being built. The two dragons fighting symbolize the

Oftentimes courage is defined as the absence of fear, when in truth it is the “acquired ability to move beyond fear” (Quizio). This is evident in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. The film initially portrays the main character, Arthur, as an arrogant and egotistical conformist that, despite his strength, is unable to face his fears of the past. As the story develops, Arthur’s character develops tremendously along with it. His development motivates others, and himself, to believe in

that he must study the Goddess with him, or he will be cursed. This too is added to Merlin's studies. Merlin's character is further defined. Merlin becomes an intelligent and confident young man. Years later during the conflict between Uther and Vortigern, Merlin sits upon a hill watching one battle in particular. When the battle is over, he walks amongst the dead soldiers and injured on the battlefield. He finds a dying soldier and stabs him in the neck to ease his passing. This shows a colder, tougher

certain aspects), Henry of Huntingdon’s contemporary, Geoffrey of Monmouth, published a history of the rulers of Britain in which Stonehenge is a feature. Geoffrey of Monmouth attributed Stonehenge as a memorial of the massacre and defeat of King Vortigern by Hengist, therefore, Stonehenge became the burial place of ancient kings like Uther Pendragon, but the stones were moved from Ireland by Merlin and his magical capabilities. This certainly shows great compensation to make Stonehenge as grandiose

In both The Expulsion from Spain, Alaric's Sack of Rome, and Concerning the Ruin of Britain, we presented with historical examples of people being displaced by from their land. The Celts in Britain, the Jews in Spain, and the Romans in Rome all faced opposition from an enemy (The Anglo-Saxons, the Spanish Monarchy, and the Visigoths, respectively). But what differentiates the three circumstances from each other, besides timeline, is the circumstance and ultimate resolution. The same time as Columbus