King Uther Pendragon
(c.AD 410-495)
(Welsh: Gwthyr; Latin: Uturius, English: Uther)
Most people have heard about King Arthur and the legends of the Knights of the Round Table. Uther was one of the two younger brothers that fled Britain after their father King Constans was murdered by Vortigern. As a young man, Uther returned to Britain with his elder brother, Ambrosius, and together they fought for their ancestral rights of the throne, eventually defeating Vortigern and placing Ambrosius on the throne.
Throughout Ambrosius' reign, Uther was his brother's strongest ally. He commanded the King's forces and was victorious in numerous battles.
Uther took the crown under the title of "Uther Pendragon" after a dragon-shaped comet appeared in the sky at the time of his brother's death. Most of his reign was taken up with campaigning against Saxon and Irish invaders in the North of Britain, where he held court at Pendragon Castle in Westmorland.
It is at this point that the most famous episode in Uther's life is related. Returning to London, Uther met the wife of the Duke of Cornwall, and fell instantly in love with her. Determined to see her again he persuaded Merlin to use his powers of magic. Uther was transformed into the likeness of the Duke. He seduced the lovely Duchess, who some time later bore Uther’s son. The price for this deception was that Uther's son, the future King Arthur had to be given to Merlin to be brought up as he saw fit. Robert de Boron says Uther was responsible for the founding of the Order of the Round Table.
In old age, the sick and aging Uther was drawn into a renewed war with the Northern Angles. He eventually won, but the Germans poisoned the water supply and Uther, along with many of his men, died in the days that followed.
The sword above is a replica of King Uther’s sword; also know as the Pendragon sword.