Mordred and the Death of Arthur
Mordred (sometimes Modred) was one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table, and his name is now synonymous with treachery. Mordred’s relationship to Arthur varies between sources; sometimes he is the illegitimate son of Arthur, sometimes Arthur’s nephew. Most descriptions of him in Arthurian literature are not kind, labelling him a traitor, corrupt and wicked. However, a few works of the Middle Ages and some modern interpretations portray him less as a traitor and more a conflicted opportunist, or even a victim of fate. Maybe he’s just misunderstood.
Mordred, while ferocious in strength of arms and for the most part a stalwart warrior under Arthur, is described as having a lust for power he kept hidden from his father/uncle (depending on the version) and his brother knights until the time was right. He discovered the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, and exposed it to Arthur to disrupt the balance of Arthur’s kingdom. When Arthur went to Brittany to besiege the fleeing Lancelot, Mordred, who had been appointed regent in Arthur’s stead, tried to force Guinevere to marry him, and took control of a large part of Arthur’s forces. When Arthur returned in wrath, the Battle of Camlann was fought, the last of Arthur’s reign. Mordred and Arthur fought in a single combat that was surely the most epic of duels ever, ending with Mordred being slain, and Arthur being fatally wounded.
Knowing the severity of his wound, Arthur had Excalibur thrown back into the lake, where a hand grabbed it and pulled it down. Now, Arthur doesn’t technically die in these stories. He boards an enchanted ship bound for Avalon, the magic isle, to be cured of his wounds, that he might one day return to lead the Britons once more. It is from here we get the label of Arthur as “The Once and Future King.” He’ll be back, just you wait.
I love Arthurian legend.
