Merlin

by Brian Edward Rise

 
Enchanter, wizard and prophet who oversees Arthur‘s conception and birth, enables his ascension and acts as high counsel to the King in the early phase of his reign. Geoffrey of Monmouth is responsible for the Merlin known to literature today. His name, “Merlinus,” is a latinized adaptation of the Welsh “Myrddin” – the name of a late sixth century northern bard reported to have the gift of sight who predicted a Celtic uprising. A series of Prophetiae Merlini were written by Geoffrey first and then incorporated into the Historia Regum Britanniae, where he attempts to give weight to his semi-historical character.