Igerna

Also known as: the countess · Family: Cornwall · Role: duchess · First appears: Book VIII 19

In Book VIII 19, Igerna was married to Gorlois, duke of Cornwall, and was described as “the greatest beauty in all Britain.” When Gorlois moved her to Tintagel while he fortified himself at Dimilioc, Uther Pendragon entered the town disguised as Gorlois and deceived Igerna into accepting him; that night she conceived Arthur.

In Book VIII 20–23, after Gorlois’s death, Uther Pendragon married Igerna, and they lived together with much affection. They had a son, Arthur, and a daughter, Anne.

Relationship record

Life events

• Gorlois moved Igerna to Tintagel while he fortified himself at Dimilioc.(Book VIII 19 · 📍 Tintagel)
  • With: Gorlois
  • “he put her into the town of Tintagel, upon the sea-shore, which he looked upon as a place of great safety. But he himself entered the castle of Dimilioc”
• Disguised as Gorlois, Uther entered Tintagel and deceived Igerna into accepting him.(Book VIII 19 · 📍 Tintagel)
  • With: Uther Pendragon
  • “The king therefore stayed that night with Igerna, and had the full enjoyment of her, for she was deceived with the false disguise which he had put on”
• Igerna conceived Arthur after Uther deceived her in Gorlois’s likeness.(Book VIII 19 · 📍 Tintagel)
  • With: Uther Pendragon Arthur
  • “The same night therefore she conceived of the most renowned Arthur”
• Uther Pendragon and Igerna live together and have a son, Arthur, and a daughter, Anne.(Book VIII 20–23 · 📍 Tintagel)
  • With: Uther Pendragon Arthur Anne
  • “After this they continued to live together with much affection for each other, and had a son and daughter, whose names were Arthur and Anne.”

Book VIII 19

• married with Gorlois “Among the rest was present Gorlois, duke of Cornwall, with his wife Igerna, the greatest beauty in all Britain.”
• courtship with Uther Pendragon “No sooner had the king cast his eyes upon her among the rest of the ladies, than he fell passionately in love with her, and little regarding the rest, made her the subject of all his thoughts.”
• child: Arthur “The same night therefore she conceived of the most renowned Arthur, whose heroic and wonderful actions have justly rendered his name famous to posterity.”
• admirer: Uther Pendragon “No sooner had the king cast his eyes upon her among the rest of the ladies, than he fell passionately in love with her, and little regarding the rest, made her the subject of all his thoughts.”

Book VIII 20–23

• married with Uther Pendragon “he was sorry for the death of Gorlois, but rejoiced that Igerna was now at liberty to marry again. Then he returned to the town of Tintagel, which he took, and in it, what he impatiently wished for, Igerna herself. After this they continued to live together with much affection for each other”
• married with Gorlois (The text indicates that Igerna had previously been married to Gorlois.) “he was sorry for the death of Gorlois, but rejoiced that Igerna was now at liberty to marry again”
• child: Arthur “After this they continued to live together with much affection for each other, and had a son and daughter, whose names were Arthur and Anne.”
• child: Anne “After this they continued to live together with much affection for each other, and had a son and daughter, whose names were Arthur and Anne.”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of The History of the Kings of Britain. Made with Rho MD.