The History of Wizards

When we think of wizards we think of Merlin. He came from the 10th century as a prophet. He gradually became other things, evolving into a magician, and advisor and active in the administration of King Arthur's kingdom. His given name was Emrys at his birth in Caer-Fyrddin. Later on he became Merlin.

Merlin was the illegitimate son of a monastic Royal Princess of Dyfed. As the legend goes it is said that Merlin's father was an angel who visited the royal nun and left her with child. Merlin grew up and began having begun prophesizing things to come. He stated that Vortigern would be slain and followed on the throne by Ambrosius Aurelianus, and he'd be a great leader. The prophecy came true, Vortigern was slain and Ambrosius took the throne. Ambrosius consulted Merlin about erecting a memorial to 460 British nobles who were massacred at a peace conference. Along with Uther he led an expedition to Ireland to procure the stones of the Chorea Gigantum, the Giant's Ring. Merlin showed his magical powers there and brought the stones back to a site, west of Mesbury, and re-erected them around the mass grave of the British nobles, which we call Stonehedge.

After the death of Ambrosius his brother, Uther, succeeded him. Merlin with his magical powers helped Uther to fool Ygerna into thinking he was her husband Gorlois. He just walked into the castle and had his way with her and she then conceived a child, Arthur. Merlin became the young Arthur's tutor. Merlin arranged for the legendary sword-in-the-stone contest by which Arthur became king. Merlin was the creator of the round table and was directly involved with the entire goings on in Camelot.

At the end of Arthur's life Merlin was responsible for taking him to the Isle of Avalon for the healing of his wounds. Merlin fell deeply in love with the Lady of the Lake. He taught her all his secrets and magical powers. She used him to learn everything she needed to know and then imprisoned him in a glass tower. He couldn't ultimately save Arthur in the battle that killed him, the Battle of Camlann.