Uther Pendragon (/ˈjuːθər pɛnˈdræɡən, ˈuːθər/; Welsh: Uthyr Pendragon, Uthyr Bendragon), also known as King Uther, is a legendary king of sub-Roman Britain (c. 6th century) and the father of King Arthur. A few minor references to Uther appear in Old Welsh poems, but his biography was first written down in the 12th century by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain), and Geoffrey's account of the character was used in most later versions. He is a fairly ambiguous individual throughout the literature, but is described as a strong king and a defender of his people.
According to Arthurian legend, Merlin magically disguises Uther to look like his enemy Gorlois, enabling Uther to sleep with Gorlois' wife Lady Igraine. Thus Arthur, "the once and future king", is an illegitimate child (though later legend, as found in Malory, emphasises that the conception occurred after Gorlois's death and that he was legitimated by Uther's subsequent marriage to Igraine). This act of conception occurs the very night that Uther's troops dispatch Gorlois. The theme of illegitimate conception is repeated in Arthur's siring of Mordred by his own half-sister Morgause in the 13th century French prose cycles, which was invented by them; it is Mordred who mortally wounds King Arthur in the Battle of Camlann.
Myths & Legends[]
Although there are not too many detailed descriptions of King Uther, throughout literature he is often described as a strong king and a defender of the people.
Chased from the Kingdom[]
Uther's elder brother Constans was crowned king after their father passed away. However, Constanz is murdered by his adviser Vortigern, who seizes the throne. As the younger brothers, Uther and Aurelius Ambrosius, are still children, they flee the country.
Although Vortigern tries to ally with the Saxons and hire them as mercenaries, they turn against him.
Becoming King[]
As adults, Aurelius and Uther return to Brittania and burn Vortigern in his castle. After Aurelius Ambrosius becomes king, Merlin and Uther assist him, but Britain remains in a state of war.
When Aurelius falls ill, Uther leaves the castle to lead the army, which unfortunately allows an assasin to poison and kill the king. As Aurelius dies, a comet taking the form of a dragon's head (pendragon) appears in the night sky, which Merlin interprets. He says it is a sign that Ambrosius is dead and that Uther will be victorious in this battle and return to succeed his brother as king. Uther returns home victorious and is crowned king, adding "Pendragon" to his name.
Birth of Arthur[]
When another enemy attacks Britain, Uther must go to war again. He is not as successful this time and was only able to obtain victory with the help of Duke Gorlois of Cornwall. During the following celebration, Uther falls in love with the Duke's wife, Igraine. This causes discord and then war between the two. Merlin intervenes and assists Uther, using his magic to disguise Uther as Gorlois. While in disguise, Uther sneaks into the Duke's castle, and sleeps with Igraine, which is when Arthur was conceived. Later, Gorlois is killed and Uther marries Igraine.
Death[]
However, the war with the Saxons starts up once again, and King Uther leaves to battle with them. Although he eventually wins against them, he dies after drinking water from a spring the Saxons had poisoned.
Modern Depictions[]
Film & Animation[]
- In the TV series Merlin, Uther Pendragon lives long enough to raise his son Arthur, but is a paranoid, magic-hating king.