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Merlin is the famouus wizard and advisor to [[King Arthur]]. He was also advisor to Arthur's father King [[Uther Pendragon]]. In the earliest sources, such as Nennius, Merlin is apparently the same person as [[Ambrosius Aurelianus]], but later these two figures became two distinct individuals. Merlin, a native of Carmarthen in [[Wales]], was a boy born without a father, but his father was actually a Roman [[consul]] (according to Nennius at any rate). After serving as advisor to both Uther Pendragon and Arthur for many decades, Merlin, now a very old man, fell in love with a nymph named Nimue, Maeonia, Vivian, or perhaps even [[Morgan la Fay]], depending on which account you read. She stole his magical power and imprisoned him in a crystal cave, where he still is, it is said. In other sources Merlin's real name is Lailoken, and he lived in Scotland, and went mad after a battle and ran into the woods to live as a hermit. Many, many different stories are told about Merlin, often completely contradictory. This is still happening today, because it is clear that the wizard [[Gandalf]] in J.R.R. Tolkien's [[Lord of the Rings]] is based on Merlin.

Merlin is the famous wizard and adviser to [[King Arthur]]. He was also adviser to Arthur's father King [[Uther Pendragon]]. In the earliest sources, such as Nennius, Merlin is apparently the same person as [[Ambrosius Aurelianus]], but later these two figures became two distinct individuals.  

 

Merlin, a native of Carmarthen in [[Wales]], was a boy born without a father, but his father was actually a Roman [[consul]] (according to Nennius at any rate). After serving as adviser to both Uther Pendragon and Arthur for many decades, Merlin, now a very old man, fell in love with a nymph named Nimue, Maeonia, Vivian, or perhaps even [[Morgan la Fay]], depending on which account you read. She stole his magical power and imprisoned him in a crystal cave, where he still is, it is said. In other sources Merlin's real name is Lailoken, and he lived in [[Scotland]], and went mad after a battle and ran into the woods to live as a hermit.  

 

Many, many different stories are told about Merlin, often completely contradictory. This is still happening today, because it is clear that the wizard [[Gandalf]] in J.R.R. Tolkien's [[Lord of the Rings]] is based on Merlin.{{fact}}