Origins of Merlin

Merlin made his first appearance in literature during the twelfth century A.D. in Prophecies of Merlin by Geoffrey of Monmouth. Geoffrey based Merlin from a Welsh legend describing a sixth century northern bard named Myrddin, who was said to have prophetic powers and was apparently slightly mad. Geoffrey, who Latinized the name Myrddin, found it necessary to make additional modifications to the Latinized name to avoid confusion with a similarly sounding obscene French word. Geoffrey therefore settled on the name Merlinus.

The Myrddin from the Welsh tradition stems from a legend dealing with St. Kentigern, the patron saint of Glasgow. Myrddin, who is called Lailoken in this legend, helps start the battle at Arthuret, which occurred around 575 A.D. The conflict ends with tragic consequences, and because of his part, Lailoken was driven mad and cursed with prophetic powers.

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