King Arthur's Relatives
Welcome to the place where you will find out about King Arthur's various relatives, from his mother and wife, to his sisters and cousins. The links below will take you to the place you wish to be.
Women
Men
Women
Queen Anna Morgause (Queen of Gododdin)
Anna is said to be a half-sister of King Arthur, and eldest daughter of Queen Igraine and her first husband, Gorlois. She was the sister of Elaine and Morgan Le Fay. She was given in marriage to King Lot of Gododdin, by whom she became the mother of Gawaine and Mordred. Other stories say that she had four or five sons, mentioned as Gawaine, Mordred, Agravaine, Gaheris and Gareth. Legend says that Lot and Anna fell in love whilst Lot was held hostage at Uther's Court. They had a wild love-affair and Anna fell pregnant, giving birth to the illegitimate Gawaine, but sending him away (with tokens of his lineage) in order to avoid any scandal.
Anna is the first of this lady's names, the other popular one being Morgause. She was also called Sangive, Belisent and Morcades. Because she is the same person as Anna, daughter of Uther and Igraine>, Anna Morgause was a full sister of King Arthur in earlier legends.
It was Anna who supposedly enjoyed a night of passion with her half-brother, Arthur, and thus begat their son, Mordred. She had been sent to the High-King's court at Caerleon in order to assess his intentions after her husband's rebellious defeat at the Battle of Bedegraine. Arthur had not previously met his sister and was completely ignorant of their relationship. The repulsiveness of such an act has led modern authors to merge Morgause with her 'evil' sister Morgan Le Fay in this respect, so, in some ways, the two girls, even though seemingly completely separate, may be intertwined.
In her widowhood, Anna entered into an affair with Lamorak, the son of her late husband's killer. She was discovered in bed with him by her own son, Gaheris, who instantly struck her down.
Queen Blasine (Queen of Garlot)
The third daughter of Queen Igraine. She was called Blasine (or Elaine). Blasine was the wife of King Nentres of Garlot and the mother of Galescalain, the Duke of Clarence. She was half-sister to King Arthur.
Galeshin persuaded Blasine to reveal if Arthur was really her brother and his uncle or not. Blasine couldn't deny it. Galeshin revealed his intention that he preferred to be knighted by his uncle (Arthur) than from his own father, who was currently at war with both Arthur and the Saxon invaders. Likewise, his cousins Gawaine (and his brothers) and Yvain also joined him take services with Arthur. See Elaine
Queen Elaine (Queen of Garlot)
Gorlois' daughter, Elaine, is the step-daughter of King Uther Pendragon (and thus half-sister to King Arthur). Uther married her off to King Nentres of Garlot (King Budic II), who is sometimes confused with Elaine's brother-in-law. She accompanied her brother, Arthur, on his expedition to fight Frollo, the Roman Governor of Gaul and never returned.
Queen Guinevere was the wife of King Arthur and is famous for her affair with Sir Launcelot. Arthur's nephew, Mordred used this affair as an excuse to start a civil war which finally lead to the downfall of the Knights of the Round Table and the end of the Arthurian Legends. Guinevere's original Welsh name was Gwenhwyfar, meaning White Phantom. However, her name is also spelt as Guenevere, Guenievre, Guenhumare, Ginevra, Wenebara, Jenefer or Jennifer.The Welsh storytellers portray her as the most unfaithful of women. Guivevere was taken as a foster-child into the home of Duke Cador from, it is reputed, a noble Roman family. Her original father was Leodegrance/Lleudd-Orgfan/Leodegan of Cameliard or King Orgrfan Gawr (the Giant) of Castell y Cnwclas (Knucklas Castle) of Welsh tradition, or of King Garlin of Galore by Germanic tradition. Her father was said to have owned the Round Table before Arthur as Merlin had made for Uther, who passed on to Leodegan, and then it went to Arthur as part of Guinevere's dowry.
Guinevere is always beautiful and elegant (and sometimes a powerful sorceress), although there is some doubt as to the real instances of her relationship with Launcelot. She is either forced into or constructs of her own doing the affair with Arthur's favourite knight; is either condemned when found out, or forgiven completely and was either a willing accomplice to Mordred's plans, or forced into them. Arthur married Guinevere even though Merlin foresaw trouble to come of the marriage. One of Guinevere's companions when she married Arthur was her cousin and lady-in-waiting, Elibel. Most sources say the royal couple had no children, apart from Perlesvaus, which claims they had a son named Loholt. According to this tale, Guinevere was grief stricken when Sir Kay killed Loholt, and died of a brocken heart.
Apparently, Guinevere broke her marriage vows twice - once with the affair with Launcelot, and the second time when she married Mordred after he seized the throne when Arthur was away at a seige. Some texts say that Guinevere had two sons by Mordred, and that she seduced Mordred instead of being forced into marrying him. However, some good may have come out of Guinevere's love affair with Launcelot. All the knight's heroic deeds and, indeed, his inspiration were for Guinevere or came from the queen. There may some justification for this adultery, as Arthur was not entirely blameless - there were reports of him being seduced by a Saxon sorceress. The story does have an unpleasant twist - the love of the queen and the knight would eventually cause Launcelot to fail in his quest for the Holy Grail, the fall of the Round Table and the death of King Arthur himself. Even though Launcelot loved Arthur as his sovereign and the rightful king, other forces made him enter into a battle which brought the two strongest supporters of Arthur - Launcelot and Gawaine - into conflict.
Guinevere is frequently abducted in romantic legends - by King Melwas of Somerset, Mordred, marauding tribes from the north etc. More mysterious is the shroud which surrounds the circumstances of her death. Guinevere either meets her end at a convent, dies by the vengeful hand of Launcelot or dies while imprisoned by Mordred's followers at Strathmore. The story of her death in a convent is probably ther more popular of these choices - while Arthur was fighting Mordred at the last battle of Camlann, Guinevere ran away to a abbey at Caerleon and took a vow as a nun, which is where she spent her last days. She was buried at Meigle where you can still see her mermorial. The inscription says Guinevere was Arthur's second wife, although this may stem from an episode where Guinevere's identical half-sister (the only way to tell the two apart is the birthmark on the real Guinevere's back which was shaped like a crown) managed to convince Arthur that she was his real wife and Arthur and Guinevere remained seperated for two years. Go figure.
Queen Igraine of Lionesse (alias Ygerna)
Igraine was the Duchess of Cornwall, the beautiful wife of Gorlois and then later Queen Igraine, wife of Uther Pendragon. From her marriage to Gorlois she was the mother of Cador and later of Arthur from her marriage to Uther.
Gorlois was one of Uther's most powerful allies against the Saxons. It was Gorlois who devised a plan that Uther was able to defeat the Octa, the son of the Saxon Hengest, in a night raid.
During the victory celebration held in London, Gorlois brought his wife along. Uther fell in love with Igraine. Uther was so obvious with his lust for Igraine, that Gorlois left the celebration early, with his wife and followers. Uther was enraged with the duke of Cornwall would depart without his leave; he threatened Gorlois with destruction if the duke did not ask for his forgiveness. Gorlois ignored Uther's threats.
Gorlois returned to Cornwall, and immediately began strengthening his defence. The duke had two castles; he placed his wife in Tintagel, since it was the strongest castle, while he saw to the defence of the other castle. Uther was totally obsessed with Igraine that he asked Merlin to aid him in satisfying his desire. Merlin changed Uther in such a way that the king looked exactly likes Gorlois. That night, Uther entered Tintagel, and took Igraine to bed, where Arthur was conceived. Igraine was unaware that she was not making love to her husband.
News came the next morning that Gorlois was killed in the siege of the other castle, while Uther was still making love to Igraine. The imposter duke (Uther) dismissed the news as rumours, before leaving Tintagel. When the people in Tintagel realised that the news was true: that Gorlois had died in battle, they had no choice but to surrender to Uther. Uther took Igraine as his wife and queen. Igraine bore him a son named Arthur. A year later, Igraine became the mother of Anna Morgause, who married Lot, the future king of Orkney.
According to some sources, Igraine died two years before Uther, which means that she had died before Arthur ascended the throne. But in many tales she was still living, when Arthur became king, where she was reunited with her son. In one version, Igraine had not seen her son Arthur in sixty years. She had been living in enchanted castle called the Rock of Champguin (Otherworld), with her daughter, who was the mother of Gawaine. Arthur and Gawaine had assumed Igraine had been dead during Arthur's reign. They did not recognised Gawaine when he arrived and broke the enchantment placed on the castle.
As well as Arthur, various sources have attributed Igraine with several children by her first marriage: daughters Elaine, Anna Morgause and Morgan; sons Gormant and Cador.
Queen Morgan Le Fay (Queen of Gore)
Morgan was one of the half-sisters of King Arthur, daughter of Igraine and her first husband, Gorlois. She became Guinevere's lady in waiting and fell in love with the King's nephew, Giomar. Guinevere, however, put an end to the romance and, as a result, Morgan eventually betrayed the Queen's affair with Launcelot to King Arthur. She even sent the Green Knight to Camelot in order to frighten Guinevere to death. Morgan herself took a fancy to Launcelot at one point and imprisoned him for some time before he was able to escape.
Morgan is usually portrayed as a wicked enchantress who learned her initial mysterious skills from her corrupt education in an early Christian nunnery. Later, Merlin helped her to extend her magical powers. Some say that the story where she enticed King Arthur into an incestuous affair from which Mordred was born is a confusion where modern authors merge Morgan with her more sympathetic sister, Anna-Morgause. It is also possible that Gawaine was Morgan's son, although most texts mention him as the son of her sister, Anna.
Morgan hated Arthur for his purity and plotted with her lover, Sir Accolon, to steal both Excalibur and the British throne. Arthur met Accolon in combat without his magical sword, but the Lady of the Lake helped him retrieve it and win the battle. In return, Morgan stole Excalibur's scabbard and threw it into the nearest lake. She eventually escaped Arthur's wrath by transforming her followers into stone.
Morgan retired to Gore and then to her Castle of Tauroc. The Royal court appears to have thought her dead until Arthur came across her residence while out hunting one day. The two were immediately reconciled. In late life she moved to the Isle of Avalon, and it was to here that she and her allies, the Queens of Northgalis and the Wastelands, took her wounded brother to be healed after the Battle of Camlann.
Morgan was the wife of King Uriens of Gore. Sometimes the character of Morgan bears resemblence to the ancient Irish Goddess, the Morrighan (Phantom Queen).
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Men
Ambrosius Aurelianus, the second son of the Emperor Constantine, was known to the Welsh as the Imperator or the Golden-Headed. He was still a young child when his teenage brother, Constans' short-lived reign came to an abrupt end. With his father executed and his brother murdered, little Ambrosius, along with his brother, Uther, was bundled up and taken across the Channel to the safety of the court of his cousin, Budic I of Brittany. Here he grew up, while the evil Vortigern reigned in Britain, but always Ambrosius planned to return and claim his rightful inheritance.
His chance arrived some years later. Ambrosius returned to Britain, landed at Totnes and it may be at this point in history that he clashed with Vortigern at the Battle of Guoloph. This may have resulted in Victory for Ambrosius who was, at some point in history, given all the kingdoms of the western side of Britain by Vortigern. Ambrosius was, however, unsatisfied with such a compromise and the struggle between the two continued for most of his life. Vortigern's pro-Saxon policies eventually led to his downfall though and, (probably) in the late 450s, the British people finally rallied behind Ambrosius. Vortigern was hounded into taking refuge in his mountain strongholds. While under siege at Caer-Guorthigirn, the fortress was miraculously struck by lightning. Vortigern and his entire garrison were burnt to death.
After Vortigern's death, Ambrosius was conciliatory towards his sons and let them keep their lands in Buellt, Gwerthrynion, Gwent and Powys. Despite this magnanimity, King Pasgen of Buellt & Gwerthrynion later rebelled against Ambrosius and twice attempted to overrun Britain with help from the Saxons and the Irish. The main Anglo-Saxon forces had retired North of the Humber and Ambrosius met Hengist in Battle at Maesbeli and then Conisburgh. Later he besieged Octa and Osla at York. All were defeated, but Ambroius let them settle their people in Bryneich. His connection to King Arthur is that he is the monarch's grandfather
Amhar was a little known son of King Arthur and, presumably, Queen Guinevere. Amhar served as the King's squire and guarded his bedchamber. It is said that he was killed by his own father under unknown circumstances and buried within a cairn called Llygad Amr in Ergyng.
Gorlois was sometimes known as Hoel and was the Duke of Tintagel, in Cornwall. He sometimes have the title of Duke of Cornwall, instead of Tintagel. Tintagel was the Duke's most strongest castle. Most people called him the husband of Igraine and was usually seen as the first husband of Igraine. Depending on which texts you read, the number of children the Duke had varied from none to as many children, usually all daughters. According to some, Gorlois had as little as two or three daughters to as many five daughters. So Arthur had a varying number of half-sisters. Though, the name was given to the eldest, she became the wife of Lot and mother of Gawaine; she was usually known by her name as Morgause. One daughter was married to Neutres of Garlot, sometimes known as Elaine, and the third was Morgan.
Uther Pendragon, the king of Britain, fell in love with Gorlois's wife and, with the help of Merlin's sorcery Uther was able to seduce Igraine. Gorlois was one of Uther's most powerful ally in the war against the Saxons. Gorlois was responsible for Uther's victory over the Saxons; the Duke devised a strategy and tactic that defeated the Saxons.
When Uther couldn't hide his lust for Igraine, Gorlois stormed out of Uther's banquet, without taking the king's leave. This brought them to open conflict. Gorlois secured his wife in the strongest castle, while he went to defend the other castle against Uther's besieging army.
Uther, in desperation, asked Merlin for help to fulfil his lust for Gorlois' wife. The wizard was said to have agreed on one condition. That condition is that Uther had to agree to give him (Merlin) any son that Igraine bore, for him (Merlin) to rear. Of course, Uther agreed to his wizard's condition.
Merlin used his magic to transform Uther so that he would look like Igraine's husband for one night. Merlin and Ulfin, Uther's adviser, were also transformed to look like Britaelis and Jordan, Gorlois's servant and castellan. So everyone in Tintagel thought that Duke had returned to the castle, including Igraine. While Uther, disguised as the Duke, ravished Igraine, Gorlois was killed in the fighting at the siege of the other castle.
When Uther and Igraine heard news of Gorlois' death, the bogus Duke claimed that it was only rumour so to calm everyone's fear, before Uther left Tintagel and returned to his own form when he reached his army. Uther claimed that he didn't want Gorlois' death, but no one believed the king's sincerity. With Gorlois' death, the castle surrendered to Uther, and he married the newly widow Duchess, which Igraine made her Queen of Logres.
Arthur was conceived and born at Tintagel. However Uther had to give up this infant to Merlin, because he had promised. Merlin gave the son to Sir Antor in fosterage. Antor was father of Kay, who would later served his foster brother, as Arthur's seneschal.
Sir Mordred appears to have been an historical personage. He was the youngest son of Queen Anna Morgause of Orkney. He was raised as a son of her husband, King Lot, but - due to an unfortunate and uninformed encounter - his real father was his own uncle, King Arthur. When the monarch discovered the truth, he tried to have the baby Mordred disposed off. Along with all the children born his birthday, he was set adrift in a large boat. The boat sank but Mordred survived and was washed up an island shore, from where he was taken in by Lord Nabur the Unruly. When he grew up, Mordred travelled to the Court of King Arthur and was reunited with his real parents. He capitalised on the reputation of his brother, Sir Gawaine, and was made a Knight of the Round Table. For some time, he was the companion of Sir Launcelot, but the goodly knights influence did not rub off on Mordred. He is portrayed as having torrid affairs with married ladies while beating-up their husbands. He raped some ladies and murdered others. When his family came into conflict with sons of Pellinore, over the death of his father, Mordred was one of those who conspired in the murder of Sir Lamorak. Arthur, however, favoured Mordred and made him regent when he left Britain for the Continent - either campaigning against the Roman Empire or pursuing the treacherous Launcelot. But Mordred was devious. He made alliances with the Saxons, Picts & Scots and faked news of Arthur's death, in order to have himself proclaimed King. He declared his intention to take Queen Guinevere as his wife, but the Queen's reaction is in dispute. She either eagerly agreed or fled to London and barricaded her self in the Tower. News reached Arthur of his son's treachery and he rushed home to reclaim his throne. Mordred's forces were defeated at the Battle of Richborough, then at Winchester and he was pursued west into Cornwall. The two armies met for the final time at the Battle of Camlann. Mordred and Arthur were amongst the last warriors standing. A single combat led to Mordred being slain, but not before he had inflicted a mortal wound upon his father. One version of his end claims that Sir Mordred survived Camlann and was only later defeated by Sir Launcelot. Having executed Guinevere for compliance in plot against Arthur, the Knight of the Lake then incarcerated Mordred in the dead queen's tomb. He cannibalized his former lover before dying of starvation! His rebellion was continued for a while by his two sons, Melehan and Melou. Other sources say that Guinevere entered a convent as a nun, and Launcelot followed and became a priest. They then died peaceful deaths.
Uther was the youngest son of Constantine and a brother of Aurelianus. As a one of the two younger brothers of the murdered King Constans, Uther apparently fled at a young age, to the Royal Court of his cousin, King Budic I of Brittany and here he was raised. As a young man, Uther returned to Britain with his elder brother, Ambrosius, and together they fought for their ancestral rights, eventually defeating the usurping Vortigern and placing Ambrosius on the throne.
Throughout Ambrosius' reign, Uther was his brother's staunchest ally. He commanded the King's forces in Ireland when, with Merlin, he acquired the "Giant's Ring" as a memorial to the dead of the "Night of the Long Knives". Later, it was Uther who was victorious over the rebellious King Pasgen of Buellt & Gwerthrynion at St. Davids
Uther took the crown under the title of "Uther Pendragon" after a dragon-shaped comet appeared in the sky at the time of his brother's death. Most of his reign was taken up with campaigning against Saxon and Irish invaders in the North of Britain, where he held court at Pendragon Castle in Westmorland. He was, at first unsuccessful against the Angles of Bernicia. Osla, allied with the Jutish Octa, defeated Uther's armies at York. However, he soon turned the tables at the ensuing Battle of Mount Damen. Uther later travelled even further north to help the Kings of Strathclyde pacify the Scots.
It is at this point that the most famous episode in Uther's life is related. Returning to London, he met Igraine, the gorgeous wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, and fell instantly in love with her. Determined to see her again he invited the Duke to return to the Royal Court, but Gorlois could see what was going on and flatly refused. The two quarrelled and Gorlois and his wife fled to Cornwall. Uther invaded the Duke's lands, but still impatient to be with his new love, he persuaded Merlin to use his powers to magic him into Igraine's bed. Thus, while Gorlois was being killed at nearby St. Dennis, Uther was transformed into his likeness. He walked straight into the lion's den at Tintagel Catsle and seduced the lovely Duchess. The price for this deception was that Uther's son, the future King Arthur who was conceived on that night, had to be given to Merlin to be brought up as he saw fit.
In old age, the sick and aging Uther was drawn into a renewed war with the Northern Angles. When his commander, King Lot of Lothian was unsuccessful, the King was carried to St. Albans to besiege the Anglian Princes himself. He won through, but the Germans poisoned the water-supply and Uther, along with many of his men, died in the days that followed.
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The first mention of Morgan is as one of the nine sisters living in Avalon. She was a healer and had the ability to fly and change her shape into anything she wished. It was claimed that King Arthur was taken there by Taliesin and was healed by Morgan. Some authors, however, claim that Arthur was not taken to Avalon to be healed, but to be buried beside Guinevere. Others say that Morgan was at one point married to King Uriens and had a son by the name of Yvain. They were claimed to be married shortly after Arthur recieved Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake. And again, in Welsh myth, the goddess Modron (identified with Morgan) was married to Urien, king of Rheged and was mother of Owain. Morgan was also connected to another Breton goddess name Dahut or Ahes, who was supposed to have destoryed her city of Ys and died when it flooded (or alternitively turned into a mermaid). In some parts of Brittany and elsewhere, however, Morgan was a male name. But anyway...
