[Arthurian] Enchanter, wizard and prophet who oversees Arthur's conception and birth, enables his ascension and acts as high counsel to the King in the early phase of his reign. Geoffrey of Monmouth is responsible for the Merlin known to literature today. His name, "Merlinus," is a latinized adaptation of the Welsh "Myrddin" - the name of a late sixth century northern bard reported to have the gift of sight who predicted a Celtic uprising. A series of Prophetiae Merlini were written by Geoffrey first and then incorporated into the Historia Regum Britanniae, where he attempts to give weight to his semi-historical character. Geoffrey borrows the story of the "child without a father" from the Historia Brittonum (9th century). A young prophet is brought to Vortigern as a sacrifice but saves himself by displaying feats of magic greater than those of the King's sorcerers. Geoffrey changes the name of this youth to Merlin from "Ambrosius," claiming that this was another name for him. In Geoffrey he is ...
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