Uther Pendragon

Also known as: Uther · Family: Britons · Role: son of Constantine · First appears: Book VI 4–6

Uther Pendragon was the son of Constantine and the brother of Constans and Aurelius Ambrosius. Guethelin was entrusted with his education, and after Uther and Aurelius Ambrosius fled Britain to escape Vortigern, Budes received them in Lesser Britain and arranged an education suitable to their royal birth. They later returned to Britain with ten thousand men to oppose Vortigern.

In Ireland, Uther led an expedition directed by Merlin, defeating Gillomanius and later killing both Gillomanius and Pascentius. He was crowned by universal consent, and after Merlin interpreted a dragon omen, “From this time, therefore, he was called Uther Pendragon, which in the British tongue signifies the dragon's head.” He defeated the Saxons, captured Octa and Eosa, and ordered them imprisoned in London. When Gorlois withdrew from court after Uther’s attention turned to Igerna, Uther invaded Cornwall and besieged his stronghold; with Merlin’s help, Uther took Gorlois’s likeness and entered Tintagel, where Igerna was deceived. That night she conceived Arthur.

After Gorlois’s death, Uther and Igerna lived together with affection and had Arthur and Anne. During Uther’s illness, Lot was entrusted with the care of the kingdom and army, while Uther’s forces defeated the Saxons after Octa and Eosa were killed. Uther was then killed when conspirators poisoned the spring from which he drank: “the next time the king drank of it, he was seized with sudden death.” His body was buried with regal solemnity near Aurelius Ambrosius at the convent of Ambrius, and three years later Constantine, son of Cador was buried close to Uther at Stonehenge.