Who was King Arthur's foster father? - FindAnyAnswer.com
King Uther Pendragon is a legendary king of sub-Roman Britain.There are a few references to Uther in Old Welsh poems, but his biography was first written down by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain), and his account was used in most later versions.He is described as a strong king and a defender of his people in the literature.
According to an Arthurian legend, Uther was able to sleep with Lady Igraine because of the disguise he was wearing.Malory states that Arthur is an illegitimate child and that he was legitimated by Uther's marriage to Igraine.The night that Uther's troops dispatch Gorlois, there is an act of conception.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.
Uther's epithet Pendragon is derived from the Latin word drac, which means "chief-Dragon".The name was meant to mean "dragon's head".Uther was inspired to use dragons on his standards when he witnessed a portentous dragon-shaped comet.It was Uther's older brother who saw the comet and received the name "Pendragon", according to Robert de Boron.
There is some material in the Welsh tradition of the Arthurian legend.In some of the fragments, Uther is associated with Arthur and even appears as his father.
The poem "Pa gur yv y porthaur?" was written in the 10th century.What is the man who makes the decisions?It is only said of him that the son of Modron is his servant."The Death-song of Uther Pen" is from the Book of Taliesin.The marginal addition of "dragon" to Uther's name is probably justified.The father of Arthur's nephew Eliwlod is mentioned in a manuscript from the 16th century.[5]
Uthyr taught Menw how to create the Three Great Enchantments of the Island of Britain.Since Menw is a shapeshifter, it might be that Uther was one as well.It's possible that the narrative about Uther and Igerna was taken from a Welsh legend where Uthyr changed his shape, possibly being added to the story by Geoffrey.[8]
The influence from Historia can be seen in Uthyr's other reference, Triad 51.The description of Uther as son of Constantine III, now called "Custennin the Blessed", is in line with the one given by Geoffrey.[9]
The youngest son of King of Britannia, Constantine III, is known as Uther.On their father's death, Constans succeeds to the throne, but is murdered at the instigation of his adviser.Uther and his brother Aurelius fled to Brittany.The alliance with the Saxons goes disastrously wrong.Now adults, Aurelius and Uther return.Aurelius becomes king after burning Vortigern in his castle.
With Aurelius on the throne, Uther leads his brother to Ireland to help bring the stones of Stonehenge to Britain.While Aurelius is sick, Uther leads his army against the Saxons.On the way to the battle, he sees a comet in the shape of a dragon, which he interprets as presaging Aurelius's death.The epithet "Pendragon" was given to Uther after he won the battle.He orders the construction of two gold dragons, one of which he uses as his standard.
He secures Britain's frontiers and quells Saxon uprisings with the help of his retainers, one of whom is the Duke of Cornwall.At a banquet celebrating their victories, Uther becomes obsessed with Igerna, and a war ensues between him and his vassal.Igerna is sent to the castle of Tintagel to be protected from Uther in another town.Uther is able to gain access to Igerna at Tintagel thanks to the magic of Merlin.After spending the night with her, he and Arthur were conceived, but the next morning it was discovered that Gorlois had been killed.Anna is usually Igerna's daughter by her previous marriage to Uther, and she is called Morgause in later romances.King Lot married Morgause, who became the mother of Gawain and Mordred.