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| Sir Mordred by H. J. Ford (1902) ~ Wikipedia |
The Dark Ages is, I think,
one of the most fascinating eras in history. However, it is a difficult period
to research. This was an era where very little was recorded in Britain. There
are only a handful of primary written sources. Unfortunately, these sources are
not very reliable. They talk of great kings and terrible battles, but something
is missing from them. Something important. And that something is authenticity.
The Dark Ages is the time of the bards. It is the time of myths and legends. It
is a period like no other. If the Dark Ages had a welcoming sign it would say
this:
“Welcome to the land of
folklore. Welcome to the land of King Arthur.”
But, I don’t want to talk about
King Arthur today. I want to take a look at one of his famous Knights:
Sir Mordred.
Who
was Sir Mordred and how does he fit into Arthurian Legend?
Mordred
was the son of Morgause — Arthur's sister — but there is debate as to who
his father was. Some say his father was Morgauses' husband, King Lot of Orkney,
which would make Sir Gawain his brother. While others say he was Arthur's
illegitimate son, begot with his sister. Either way, he had royal blood running
in his veins. Of all the knights in Arthur's court, Mordred was beyond suspicion.
So how did Arthur and Mordred find themselves leading opposing armies on that
fateful day in Camlann?
The
earliest known reference to the Battle of Camlann can be found in the Annales
Cambriae. The Annales of Cambriae is a chronicle that dates back to
the 10th Century. It was compelled sometime between 960 - 970AD in Dyfed,
Wales. The Annales Cambriae dates the Battle of Camlann in the year 537 AD. And
this is what it says...
"The strife of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut fell."
Although this cannot be counted as a primary source, it does, however, draw on
older stories — probably verbal — of the telling of this great battle. If you
have not already noticed, the quote above says nothing about Arthur fighting
Mordred at Camlann. It states that both men fell (died) at Camlann. Mordred was
one of Arthur's most loyal knights; therefore it would make sense that they
died together because they fought together. Which begs the
question, how did Mordred become the villain of the tale?
In 1136, Geoffrey of Monmouth penned The History of
the Kings of Britain. It is Monmouth who suggests that it was Mordred,
who was left in charge of Camelot while Arthur crossed the channel to rage war
on Emperor Lucius of Rome. It is Monmouth who states that Mordred saw this as
an opportunity to take Arthur's throne. It is Monmouth who states that Mordred
not only took the kingdom but also forced Guinevere to marry him. It is
Monmouth who states that Mordred and Arthur met at Camlann.
And we believed him.
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| Two knights fighting on horseback ~ Pixabay. |
The ancient Welsh texts were the first to associate Mordred
with Camlann. But Monmouth's casting of Mordred as the villain was
soon accepted as the truth and others expanded upon this story making Mordred
something of an Anti-Christ — or an
Anti-Arthur.
Time passes, and the story changes. Lancelot enters the
tale, and some of Mordred's villainous activities are passed on to Lancelot -
such as the affair with Guinevere.
Thomas Malory who penned Le Morte d'Arthur sticks with
tradition and casts Mordred as the villain, but this time there is a
slight twist to the tale. In Malory's version, Mordred believes that Arthur is
dead, slain by Lancelot. Mordred, with parliaments consent, is crowned King and
when he hears that Arthur is alive, he does take his army to meet him. But this
begs the question, why would the Knights follow Mordred instead of Arthur.
Malory gives us a clue.
"...with Arthur was none other life but war and strife, and with Sir Mordred was great joy and bliss."
An interesting idea indeed.
In the Lancelot-Grail Cycle, Mordred is
succeeded by his sons. The sons, like their father, had treachery running
through their veins. In the older text, it is Constantine who tracks the
brothers down and kills them. In later versions, it is Lancelot and Bors.
But the extent of Mordred's treachery does not end there.
"...him who, at
one blow, had chest and shadow / shattered by Arthur's hand..."
(Canto
XXXII)
This quote is from Dante's Inferno. If you seek Mordred you
will find him in the lowest circle of Hell — a place set-aside for traitors.
“I can't ignore what I
saw. Gaius, Mordred is destined to play a part in Arthur's death.”
BBC adaptation of Merlin 2008 - 2012
Mordred
is cast as a magically Druid boy in the BBC show Merlin (2008 - 2012). He
becomes a Knight of Camelot and has no notion of treachery until his beloved is
sentenced to death. Ironically, if Merlin had accepted Mordred as a source of
good, then Arthur would never have died — but hey, what kind of story would
that have made?
Mordred
became the villain, but maybe he was not so evil as we have been led to
believe.
The Du Lac Prophecy
(Book 4 of The Du Lac Chronicles)
By Mary Anne Yarde
Blurb:
Two Prophesies. Two Noble Households. One Throne.
Distrust
and greed threaten to destroy the House of du Lac. Mordred Pendragon
strengthens his hold on Brittany and the surrounding kingdoms while Alan,
Mordred’s cousin, embarks on a desperate quest to find Arthur’s lost knights. Without
the knights and the relics they hold in trust, they cannot defeat Arthur’s only
son – but finding the knights is only half of the battle. Convincing them to
fight on the side of the Du Lac’s, their sworn enemy, will not be easy.
If
Alden, King of Cerniw, cannot bring unity there will be no need for Arthur’s knights.
With Budic threatening to invade Alden’s Kingdom, Merton putting love before
duty, and Garren disappearing to goodness knows where, what hope does Alden
have? If Alden cannot get his House in order, Mordred will destroy them all.
Buy Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Author Bio:
Mary
Anne Yarde is the multi award-winning author of the International Bestselling
series — The Du Lac Chronicles.
Yarde grew up in the southwest of England, surrounded and influenced by
centuries of history and mythology. Glastonbury — the fabled Isle of Avalon —
was a mere fifteen-minute drive from her home, and tales of King Arthur and his
knights were a part of her childhood.
Media Links:
