History Main / Merlin

For the 2008 British TV series, see ''{{Series/Merlin}}''. For the 1998 miniseries, see ''[[Series/{{Merlin1998}} Merlin]]''.

* The 1998 mini-series ''[[{{Series/Merlin-1998}} Merlin]]'' is a retelling of the story of King Arthur with Merlin as the main character.
* Merlin is the star of the BBC series ''{{Series/Merlin}}''.

* Merlin has appeared from time to time in Franchise/TheDCU, usually in connection with heroes linked to the Arthurian myths. In particular, he plays a key role in the origin story of TheDemon and several of the lead characters in ''ComicBook/DemonKnights''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', Merlin curses Jason Blood for betraying Camelot, binding him to [[ComicBook/TheDemon Etrigan the Demon.]]

* SemiDivine: Merlin is often portrayed as the child of a demon and mortal, although in the original myths he was depicted as something of a fey spirit, so half-fairy was more likely.

* HalfHumanHybrid: Merlin is traditionally depicted as the son of a woman (sometimes a witch, occasionally a nun) and an incubus. Or, sometimes, [[DistaffCounterpart a man and a succubus]]. This is often given as an explanation for his magical and prophetic abilities. Modern interpretations of the legends vary significantly on Merlin's parentage.
** This was the result of the Christianization of the legend, to explain how Merlin could wield magic powers (which are [[AlwaysChaoticEvil always Satanic]]), but still be a good guy. The woman incidentally is nearly always a raped nun who dunks her newborn into holy water to wash evil away from him as soon as he is born, but he still grows up a horny bastard with a taste for young virgins—the modern tellings tend to forget that aspect of his character.
** Pretty sure in both the Christian and non-Christianized versions of the Arthurian Tradition Merlin was depicted as something of a fey spirit. So, half fairy was more like it. See works like the Elfin Knight, which predates most of the Malory as we know today. In the ''Literature/HistoryOfTheKingsOfBritain'', Merlin was depicted as born from a rather consensual experience. Try not to think about that too much.
** And if you want to go back to the source material with the myth of Myrddin and his sister, it's implied that they both have 'magical' heritage. However, the emphasis is more on Myrddin's far-reaching Sight than anything else.

* CompositeCharacter: In his original appearance in Geoffrey of Monmouth's ''[[Literature/HistoriaRegumBritanniae History of the Kings of Britain]]'', Merlin is based on the WaifProphet Ambrosius from the earlier ''[[Literature/HistoriaBrittonum History of the Britons]]'' attributed to Nennius. But Geoffrey renamed him "Merlin" based on the figure of Myrddin from Welsh tales, and later wrote a ''Life of Merlin'' equating the two further. (Ambrosius in turn appears to be based on a real person, Ambrosius Aurelianus, who Geoffrey ''also'' used under the name "Aurelius" as Uther's brother and Arthur's uncle.)

* WaifProphet: His first appearance in the medieval stories is as ione.

* AdaptationDisplacement: Merlin is based on the now almost unknown Welsh figure Myrddin, who has his own set of legends.
* TheAntiChrist: In some stories, Merlin was the antichrist but instead of destroying the world, [[AntiAntiChrist became good]] and decided to help Arthur become the [[KingArthur King of Britain]].

* CanonForeigner: Merlin did not appear in the original myths, although he's been around longer than Lancelot and the Holy Grail.

* TheChooserOfTheOne: Merlin is basically behind the creation of King Arthur and why Arthur becomes king. Not to mention he's basically behind many of the factors and events in Arthurian legend, such as the creation of the Knights at the Round Table, Excalibur, the Sword in the Stone, etc.

* MagicStaff: Merlin's WeaponOfChoice.

* GeniusBruiser: Merlin is both powerful and a genius.

* Merlin has appeared from time to time in Creator/DCComics, usually in connection with heroes linked to the Arthurian myths. In particular, he plays a key role in the origin story of TheDemon and several of the lead characters in ''ComicBook/DemonKnights''.

For the 2008 British TV series, see ''{{Series/Merlin}}''. For the 1998 miniseries, see ''[[Series/{{Merlin-1998}} Merlin]]''.

* ''Camelot 3000''

Merlin's final fate varies from telling to telling. In some recountings, he loses his wits when Arthur is slain. In others, [[MerlinAndNimue he is tricked and imprisoned by the witch Niviane (or Nimue)]], whom he deeply loved and taught magic.

In one legend, Merlin was intended to be an [[TheAntichrist Antichrist]] figure, begotten on a virgin by the [[{{Satan}} Devil]]. His mother, however, had the boy baptized at birth, [[AntiAntiChrist freeing him from the Devil's influence]]. His demonic heritage gave him the ability to see into the past and future, a gift that is often carried over to myths that do not include this origin story. In other myths, his father is an angel, [[TheFairFolk a fae]], or even [[TheMessiah no one]]. He is also frequently depicted as a shapeshifter and with a [[TricksterMentor trickster's personality]].

* TheMessiah: Merlin is the most powerful wizard or sorcerer to ever exist.

* Similar to the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' example, Merlin is a historical personality in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' (as is Arthur), a founder of the White Council of wizards, and one time guardian of the holy sword Amoracchius (aka Excalibur). The head of the white council is traditionally given the title of "The Merlin". The current bearer of the title is Arthur Langtry, whom Harry note that he "resembles what you'd think Merlin would look like".

Before there was [[Franchise/HarryPotter Dumbledore]]... before there was [[TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms Elminster]]... before there was [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]]... there was '''Merlin'''. The [[UrExample original]] [[WizardClassic bearded old wizard]], this PublicDomainCharacter was added to the Arthurian mythos around 1100 AD. Merlin was the trusted advisor and surrogate parental figure to KingArthur.

Before there was [[Franchise/HarryPotter Dumbledore]]. Before there was [[TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms Elminster]]. Before there was [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]]. There was '''Merlin'''. The [[UrExample original]] [[WizardClassic bearded old wizard]], this PublicDomainCharacter was added to the Arthurian mythos around 1100 AD. Merlin was the trusted advisor and surrogate parental figure to KingArthur.

* Similar to the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' example, Merlin is a historical personality in ''TheDresdenFiles'' (as is Arthur), a founder of the White Council of wizards, and one time guardian of the holy sword Amoracchius (aka Excalibur). The head of the white council is traditionally given the title of "The Merlin". The current bearer of the title is Arthur Langtry, whom Harry note that he "resembles what you'd think Merlin would look like".

* In Manga/NanatsuNoTaizai, there is a character named Merlin but is a GenderFlip version of the character.

* The film {{Film/Excalibur}}

* The Doctor of ''Series/DoctorWho'' ''is'' Merlin. Possibly. In the future of an AlternateUniverse. It's... [[TimeyWimeyBall complicated.]]

** he is in fact a celtic druid rather than the usual sorcerer.

* Old Welsh tales and triads tell of a wild man of the woods living with pigs beneath apple trees, who had been a prophet and maybe a shaman. Myrrdin, or Lailoken (northern reaches, a Scottish variant), who lived in Coed Celiddon, the Caledonian Woods. After he had published his grand history, Geoffrey of Monmouth apparently found some older poetry or sources and published the Vita Merlini, Life of Merlin, and a very different Trickster from the king-maker of Uthyr and Arthur was he. Taliesin was a rough contemporary, a famous poet later given some magical or prophetic prowess as well.

[[folder:TableTop Games]]
* Dungeons & Dragons have some Merlins Expy's on the Forms of Elminster the Saga Chosen of Mystra from Forgoten Realms and Fisban the fabulous From Dragon Lance.

* ''[[{{Visionaries}} The Visionaries]]'' was set on an alien planet, but had multiple allusions to the Arthurian mythos (such as a bad guy named Mortdred). Most notably, the series's central wizard was named Merklynn (although he was [[TrueNeutral decidedly less benevolent]] than the Merlin of legend.

* Merlin is one of the most widely used recurring extra characters in the Belgian comic book series ''DeRodeRidder''.

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* Disney's ''Disney/TheSwordInTheStone''[[/folder]]

* Star Swirl the Bearded in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFrienshipIsMagic'', a famed figure in pony folklore, appears to be the Equestrian equivalent of Merlin. Twilight Sparkle once dressed up as him on Nightmare Night, and at the end of Season Three Celestia gave her the task of completing an unfinished, destiny-determining magic spell found in his journal. [[spoiler: Twilight's success in this task, creating ''new'' magic in the process, was the catalyst for her transformation into an alicorn princess.]]

* "Star Swirl the Bearded" on My Little Pony: Frienship is Magic it a lengendary figure of Equestria History that can be seen as one, For all the Spell and Magic he made, for why he is famous and also Twlight Sparkle is a fan of him and his work, so much so that even She made a disguise for the pony equivalent of Halloween.

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