Uther Pendragon (415-482), also known as Emrys, was Duke of Hwicce from 446 to 482, succeeding Ambrosius Aurelianus and preceding Arthfael ap Emrys. He was the father of King Arthur, the ruler of Dyfneint.
Biography[]
Uther Pendragon was born in 415, the son of Ambrosius Aurelianus. Aurelianus became King of Britain after burning his father's killer Vortigern in his castle, and Uther later led expeditions to Ireland and against Vortigern's son Paschent and his Saxon allies. On his way to battle, Uther saw a comet in the shape of a dragon, which the wizard Merlin believed represented Aurelianus' impending death and the rise of Uther; Uther had his army fly dragon standards, and he was victorious in battle. After Aurelianus was poisoned by an assassin, Uther became Duke of Hwicce in 446. Uther secured Britain's frontiers and quelled Saxon uprisings with the aid of his retainers, including the Cornish duke Gorlois. However, Uther's obsession over Gorlois' wife Igraine led to war between the two men. Merlin used magic to allow himself to be disguised as Gorlois, allowing for him to impregnate Igraine with his child, the future King Arthur. Uther then assassinated Gorlois and married Igraine. Unfortunately, Uther fell ill, and the wars began to go badly against the Saxons. The ailing Uther defeated Hengist's son Octa at Verulamium, but the Saxons poisoned the spring near Verulamium, and Uther died after drinking from its waters.
Derfel's chronicle[]
According to Derfel's chronicle, Uther was born in 428 AD and fathered Arthur in 455 AD. However, Derfel wrote that Uther had another son, Mordred, who was the heir to his throne until he was killed by the Saxons at the Battle of the White Horse. After this battle, a false rumor spread that Arthur had caused his brother's death in order to become the new heir, causing Uther to disinherit Arthur and make Mordred's posthumous son, also called Mordred, his heir. In addition, Derfel's Uther was a pagan who worshipped the old gods, even as Christianity took over Britannia.
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