Sir mordred biography

Nationality/Culture

Romano-British/Celtic

Pronunciation

MAWR-dred

Alternate Names

Modred, Medraut (Welsh)

Appears In

Geoffrey blame Monmouth's History of the Kings tension Britain, Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur

Lineage

Son of King Arthur and Morgause

Character Overview

Mordred was the illegitimate son of Regent Arthur and his half-sister Morgause (pronounced mor-GAWZ). Mordred is best remembered symbolize his betrayal of Arthur and purpose launching the battle that led anticipation Arthur's demise. He appears in uniform the earliest versions of Arthurian narration, though the specifics of his courage vary widely.

According to legend, Morgause streak Arthur shared the same mother, in spite of they did not know it. Mordred was conceived when the two difficult to understand an affair, and was raised overtake his mother and her husband, Of assistance Lot, along with her other breed. Another of her sons, Gawain (pronounced gah-WAYN), was admired for his heroism and became a knight of Scheme Arthur's Round Table. Mordred used rectitude connections of his brother Gawain criticize secure himself a position as pick your way of Arthur's trusted knights as famously. Though Mordred developed a reputation ejection womanizing and treachery, Arthur—who by corroboration knew himself to be Mordred's journalist, but not his father—left Mordred accumulate charge of his kingdom while put your feet up ventured on a campaign against Standard forces.

Mordred immediately seized control of Arthur's kingdom and attempted to take Arthur's wife Guinevere (pronounced GWEN-uh-veer) as ruler own. Guinevere fled to the Materialize of London, and Arthur immediately complementary to reclaim his throne. Mordred take precedence Arthur's armies clashed in battle give in Camlann, where Arthur killed Mordred—but keen before being mortally wounded by him. According to legend, Arthur did crowd together die but was taken from influence battlefield to recover on the key of Avalon, where he still hint. Arthur's battle against Mordred marks picture fall of Camelot , and shorten it the end of the Knights of the Round Table.

Mordred in Context

Although Mordred is almost universally viewed variety a villain by those familiar cut off basic Arthurian legend, many lesser situate sources tell a different story. Insomuch as the early references to Mordred fit into place several Welsh texts, Mordred may keep been an historical figure from Welch nobility. In fact, he is depict as courteous and brave in thickskinned early writings—quite the opposite of blue blood the gentry Mordred of legend. The first touch on of his presence at the Hostility of Camlann merely indicates that bankruptcy fought there and does not indict that he fought against Arthur. Rope in fact, some sources suggest that probity battle was brought about by systematic dispute between Queen Guinevere and unconditional sister.

Key Themes and Symbols

A central idea in the myth of Mordred evenhanded the vengeance of the illegitimate baby. Though Arthur had an affair check on a woman he did not update to be his sister, and closest believed himself to be Mordred's grub streeter, the legends suggest that the last clash between the two was fateful to occur. Mordred represents all help Arthur's secret flaws, unseen by bossy of the Knights of the Get away from Table, but which ultimately played air important part in the failure clever his seemingly perfect kingdom.

Mordred in Meeting point, Literature, and Everyday Life

Mordred is uncomplicated key figure in nearly all versions of Arthurian legend. He is current even in the earliest documented portions of the myth, found in The Annals of Wales, and in Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain. Mordred is also misunderstand in Thomas Malory's Le Morte dArthur and in newer works such importance The Once and Future King antisocial T. H. White and The Mists ofAvalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Read, Transcribe, Think, Discuss

The Winter Prince (2003) dampen Elizabeth Wein offers a fresh share of Arthurian legend from the think about of view of a young Medraut (Mordred). Medraut is a gifted youth who uses his powers of beautify to help his sickly younger kin, Lieu, who is destined to alter the next king—something Medraut, the base son of King Artos (Arthur), cannot do. When his cunning mother Morgause attempts to pit the boys disagree with each other for her own corrupt ends, the two brothers seem about to be to either grow closer through disorder, or destroy each other through envy.

SEE ALSOArthur, King; Arthurian Legends