Armorica = Little
Britain = Brittany = Breton (149) British colony in what is now western
France, established by Maximianus. Ties of kinship link this area of the continent
to the British Isles, and it became a retreat for Britons in times of threat to
the continent. In HKB Utherpendragon and Aurelius Ambrosius were taken
here to be raised.
Maximianus (149) Roman
senator whose
father was a Briton. In a bid for seizing the throne from Emperor Gracinus,
Maximianus married the daughter of the British king, Octavius, and became King
of Britain. With Britain’s wealth and war hordes backing him, Maximianus
attacked Brittany, then Gaul, and went on to Rome, where he was stopped and
killed. Sutcliff makes him Arthur’s grandfather.
Constantine (150)
Three Constantines figure in this history. Constantine I was king of
Britain and went on to become Emperor of Rome. Constantine II, another king of
Britain, was the father of Utherpendragon and Aurelius Ambrosius. Constantine
III, son of Cador, succeeded Arthur.
Constans (151)
Eldest son of
Constantine II; became a monk but was called out of the monastery to be king,
actually Vortigern’s puppet. Vortigern eventually had him poisoned.
Aurelius Ambrosius
(151) Second son of
Constantine II, who defeated Vortigern and took his rightful place as king of
Britain, as foretold by Merlin. Defeated Hengest, was poisoned, and was then
buried at Giants’ Ring, a memorial built for him by Merlin.
Utherpendragon
(151) Third son of Constantine II; with
Merlin’s help, brought the stones of the Giants’ Ring from Ireland. Fashioned
two gold dragons after seeing a dragon-like meteor betokening the death of his
brother Ambrosius; became enamored of Ygerna at the court of Eastertide; was
disguised by Merlin as Gorlois, Ygerna’s husband, so that he might have access
to her in the castle of Tintagel. Fathered Arthur and Anna.
Vortigern (151)
Leader of the
Gewissi who seized the throne of Britain after the assassination of Constantine
II; collaborated with Saxon invaders; married Renwein, a Saxon princess; was
killed by Aurelius Ambrosius.
Picts (153) Wild tribes in the northern part of the island who were a
constant threat to Britons.
Hengist and Horsa
(155) Saxon noblemen who immigrated to
Britain from German Saxony and were received hospitably by Vortigern. Vortigern
married Hengist’s daughter, Renwein. After Hengist and Horsa settled in Kent
and brought many more kinsmen from Saxony to Britain, they betrayed Vortigern
at a peace conference and cut the throats of all the weaponless Britons; killed
by Aurelius Ambrosius.
Renwein (159)
Daughter of Hengist who married Vortigern; she arranged the poisoning of
Vortigern’s son by an earlier marriage, Vortimer.
Vortimer, Katigern,
Paschent (160) Sons of Vortigern before his marriage to Renwein. All
tried at various times to defeat the Saxons whom their father had allowed to
disinherit them.
Octa and Ebissa (161)
Sons of Hengist; Octa surrendered to Aurelius Ambrosius and was
pardoned. After settling in Scotland, he armed against the Britons again and
was killed by Utherpendragon’s army.
Cherdic (161)
Saxon companion of Octa and Ebissa
Merlin (167)
Discovered as a fatherless boy in Kaermerdin. Merlin was almost
sacrificed by Vortigern as an incubus needed to strengthen the foundations of
Vortigern’s fortress. Merlin solved the problem of Vortigern’s disappearing
foundations. He moved the stones of the Giants’ Ring from Ireland to Salisbury
plain for use as a monument to Aurelius Ambrosius. He interpreted the
dragon-like meteor. Merlin’s last big feat was helping Utherpendragon gain
access to Ygerna at Tintagel.
Giants’ Ring (197) Stone structure in Ireland which
Merlin contrived to move to Salisbury plain and reconstructed for use as a
memorial to Aurelius Ambrosius; better known as Stonehenge.
Saxons
Invaders from German Saxony who were a major threat to British
civilization. Led by Hengist and Horsa.
Gorlois
Duke of Cornwall and husband of Ygerna; ally of Utherpendragon in
battle; Gorlois was killed by Utherpendragon’s men while Uther lay with Ygerna
at Tintagel.
Ygerna (205) Husband of Gorlois. Mother of Arthur
and Anna by Utherpendragon.
Tintagel (205) Fortress home of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall,
and his wife, Ygerna; site of Arthur’s conception.
Ulfin (206) Nobleman who adviseed Utherpendragon
to seek Merlin’s advice in securing Ygerna’s bed. Ulfin went to Tintagel with Merlin and Uther, disguised as
Jordan.
Anna (209) Arthur’s sister in HKB. Her
parents are Utherpendragon and Ygerna. Confusion clouds the facts of her
marriage. Geoffrey says she married Loth, but also says Arthur’s nephew Hoel is
the son of Anna and Budicius; elsewhere Geoffrey says Anna was married to
Aurelius Ambrosius.
Caledon Wood (215) Site in Scotland of a major battle
between Arthur and the Saxons
Caliburn (217) Arthur’s sword, first mentioned in
the battle of Bath (217); forged in the Isle of Avalon.
Guinevere (221) Girl of noble Roman birth, brought
up by Duke Cador or Cornwall; married Arthur; lived adulterously with Mordred
when Arthur went off to fight the Romans; became a nun and retired to the City
of Legions.