Morgause

In Arthurian legend, Morgause or Morgase (also known as Anna-Morgause or Ann-Morgause) is the half-sister of King Arthur who slept with him and produced Mordred, the incestuous heir that would lead to Camelot's downfall. She is the daughter of the Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall and Lady Igraine. She is married to King Lot, an enemy of Arthur in the rebellions following Arthur's coronation.

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She has several siblings:

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• Elaine, her sister
• Morgan le Fay, her sister
• Arthur Pendragon, her half-brother from her mother's affair with Uther Pendragon

She has five children, all sons. From eldest to youngest they are:

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• Gawain, who becomes one of King Arthur's greatest knights
• Agravaine
• Gaheris
• Gareth
• Mordred, her son with Arthur

Her children play key roles in the story of Arthur and his kingdom. She is active in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, and the Vulgate and Post-Vulgate versions of Merlin.

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In Le Morte d'Arthur and the Post-Vulgate, her husband is killed by King Pellinore in battle, starting a blood feud between the families of Pellinore and Lot. Pellinore is killed by Gawain and Gaheris, and Morgause later has an affair with Lamorak, son of Pellinore and one of the best knights of the Round Table. Her son Gaheris catches them together, and kills Morgause in bed, though he lets Lamorak go. Thinking it is Lamorak that killed their mother, Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris and Mordred (Gareth takes no part) ambush Lamorak and kill him. The brothers do eventually find out that Gaheris was the real killer, and he is banished from the court (though he appears later in the narrative).

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In modern variations, Morgause's character is often combined with Morgan le Fay's, and her role as the mother of Mordred is transferred to Morgan.

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Arthurian: redirect King Arthur...

King Arthur: :For the 1691 opera by Dryden and Purcell, see King Arthur (opera)....

Mordred: This entry is on the King Arthur character. For other meanings, go to Mordred (disambiguation)....