THE FIREDRAKE

 In the turbulent times preceding Arthur's reign, the land was ruled (according to Geoffrey of Monmouth) Arthur's grandfather, Constantine. On his assassination (he was poisoned by a Pct) the wily Vorgigern saw an opportunity to seize the throne.

 Constantine had three sones, the oldest of whom was a monk named Constans. Vortigern encouraged Constans to leave his monastery adn take up the crown. Constans followed the advice of Vortigern, but not much time passed before he too was assassinated. vortigern then made his move and took the throne.

 Under such dangerous conditions, the guardians of Constantine's two younger sons had the children taken out of the country to Brittany, safe from teh ambitions of Vortigern. Residing here was the future hope of Britain--two boys, Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther, later to be the fathe ro fArthur. In the days ahead, the people of Britain would draw strength from whispering their names and rumous of their ultimate return.

 While the boys grew, learned the arts of war, and raised an army, the policies of Vortigern plunged Britain into darkness. The Saxon mercenaries he had invited to Britain now entertained thoughts of conquering it for themselves. Despite this threatening undercurrent,

Vortigern, drunk and driven by desire, offered Hengist, their leader, the land of Kent in trade for his daughter Rowena. This arrangement had disastrous consequences. The Britains were outraged at having a Saxon queen and her kinsmen set about conquering the surrounding land. It was said that the cruelty of their ways drove the people of Britain ever westward: some may have even left the isle. Aside from these troubles, "the council of the Britons" had want of Vortigern as, whether true or nto, charges of incest with his daughter now hung over his head.


In light of this, Vortigern fled to Wales (as you saw earlier). It is here, to these dire times, that we see the triumphant return of Ambrosius and Uther. They crossed the channel and led their army into Wales., trapping Vortigern in a fort. The fort caught fire in the battle that followed, .the flames put an end to Vortigern and his tyranny.


The brothers then turned their attention to the Saxons and captured Hengrist, who was put to death for the murders of British noblemen. His remaining followers were consequently driven back.


Britain began a slow recoveryunder the wise rule of Ambrosius. At the news of his death by poison, the people, still suffering from their traumatic past, braced themselves and gingerly looked for favorable signs of the future. It is during this precarious time that a beautiful comet traced the sies above teh Isle of the Mighty. Its unusual shape resembled a dragon, which led Merlin to proclim that it portended to Uther the Pendragon ("Head Dragon") the success of his coming reign, and h is son who would unite and bring peace to the land. Uther also drew inspiration from the omen and gave instructions to have two dragons fasioned of gold, one of which would become his battled tandard. Uther would then come to be known as the Pendragon--the name, title and standard that he would later pass on to his son.





From Ferguson, Anna-Marie. Keeper of Words. 1995 Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, Minnesota. (98-99)







 

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