Merlin, the legendary wizard from Arthurian legend, had several notable apprentices over the years who studied magic and enchantment under his tutelage. Merlin himself was known as a great shapeshifter, prophet, and counselor in addition to being a powerful wizard. He used his magical abilities and wisdom to serve several English kings, most famously King Arthur, guiding and protecting them throughout his long life.
What was Merlin known for?
Merlin was best known for:
- Being a powerful wizard capable of magic, enchantment, and prophecy
- Serving as a mentor and advisor to several English kings, most notably King Arthur
- Shapeshifting and appearing in different forms, including as an old man
- Helping Arthur gain the throne as the rightful king of England
- Orchestrating the building of Stonehenge through magical means
- Having clashes with Morgan le Fay, Arthur’s half-sister and a powerful sorceress
In addition to his skills in magic, Merlin was known for his wisdom and knowledge. Kings and others would seek him out for counsel at critical moments. He helped steer the course of English history through his mentorship of kings. His legacy lived on through the many apprentices he took on over the years to teach the ways of magic and enchantment.
When did Merlin live?
Merlin lived during the medieval era of English history. Most accounts suggest he was active primarily during the late 5th and early 6th centuries. This places him around the time of King Arthur’s reign. However, the legends of Merlin originate in stories and poems from centuries later. Historically verifiable records of Merlin’s life do not exist, so his life and timeline cannot be stated definitively. The first accounts of Merlin emerge in the 9th century Welsh poem Y Gododdin. But his legend was solidified centuries later in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 12th century History of the Kings of Britain, which is considered the main source of information on Merlin’s life, including his role as mentor to Arthur.
What apprentices did Merlin have?
Merlin had several noteworthy apprentices over the years who studied magic under his tutelage. Some of Merlin’s most well-known apprentices include:
Vivien
One of Merlin’s first apprentices was Vivien, also known as the Lady of the Lake. Vivien was a young woman who came to Merlin wishing to study the ways of magic and enchantment. She became a skilled sorceress under Merlin’s teaching. However, she later used Merlin’s own spells against him to trap him forever in an enchanted prison. Her action made it impossible for Merlin to continue mentoring King Arthur.
Morgan le Fay
Morgan le Fay was another female apprentice of Merlin, though she studied magic on her own before seeking him out. As King Arthur’s half-sister, she wished to harness her powers to aid Arthur’s rule, though her and Merlin’s intentions later diverged. She became an enormously powerful sorceress, in some tales surpassing even Merlin. Merlin regretted mentoring Morgan le Fay, as she later turned against King Arthur and Merlin himself. But he helped shape her into one of the most potent sorceresses in all of history.
Taliesin
Taliesin was a bard and prophet who became apprenticed to Merlin later in the wizard’s life. Merlin taught Taliesin the art of prophecy and shapeshifting. Taliesin then used these skills in service to King Arthur, helping the king avoid pitfalls and traps by foretelling the future. Legend has it Taliesin could shapeshift into the form of a salmon. He authored several prophetic poems recording the history of King Arthur’s reign.
Blaise
Blaise was Merlin’s most trusted apprentice. Also known in some tales as Merlin’s scribe, Blaise faithfully recorded all of Merlin’s deeds and actions over the course of his lifetime. These written accounts by Blaise became the basis for the later legends surrounding Merlin. Blaise also studied prophecy, and he used this gift in service to King Arthur. Following Merlin’s disappearance, Blaise became a hermit, but emerged years later to describe Merlin’s ill fate to one of Arthur’s knights.
Map
Map was another apprentice of Merlin’s who went on to serve King Arthur as a knight. However, he eventually betrayed Arthur’s trust after falling in love with King Arthur’s wife, Guinevere. This betrayal led to war and suffering across Arthur’s kingdom. Map’s actions highlight the mistakes an apprentice wizard can make, despite the wisdom imparted by a mentor like Merlin.
What led Merlin to take on apprentices?
Scholars suggest several reasons why Merlin took on apprentices over the course of his long life:
- To pass on his magical knowledge to new generations
- To aid the rulers he served, like King Arthur, with more magic users
- To document his deeds and wisdom through students like Blaise
- To atone for past mistakes, like indirectly creating the powerful Morgan le Fay
In the legends, Merlin lived an exceptionally long life, even for the standards of magic users. As he aged, he may have wished to prepare new generations to serve coming kings and face future threats. And threats like Morgan le Fay showed him the need to mentor students down the right path, not just the path of power. Taking on students was Merlin’s way of securing his legacy far beyond his own lifetime.
What was it like to be trained by Merlin?
Being trained by Merlin would have been an intense educational experience. Apprentices likely needed to possess innate magical ability to benefit from Merlin’s tutelage. Under his instruction they would learn:
- Spells, enchantments, and incantations
- Potions and alchemy
- Prophecy and divination
- Shapeshifting and transformation magic
- Telekinesis, moving objects with the mind
- Telepathy and reading minds
- Conjuring elements like fire
However, Merlin would have focused as much on wisdom and morals as on magical knowledge. And he prepared his apprentices for roles serving kings, not just developing their raw power. So lengthy study under Merlin was as much about mastering one’s own mind and spirit as mastering the forces of magic.
What happened to Merlin’s apprentices after he disappeared?
Merlin’s apprentices went on to varying fates after the wizard’s disappearance:
- Vivien was cursed by Merlin to be sealed forever in a tree after she imprisoned him.
- Morgan le Fay continued trying to disrupt and at times overthrow King Arthur’s reign.
- Taliesin remained a loyal servant of King Arthur through his gift of prophecy.
- Blaise became a hermit and recorded Merlin’s story for posterity.
- Map’s betrayal of Arthur led to war, though he later repented on his deathbed.
While a few apprentices strayed from Merlin’s path, most remained loyal to protecting England and King Arthur. They used Merlin’s teachings in service to the king and land Merlin had spent his whole life cultivating. And all of Merlin’s apprentices, good and bad, went on to create legends of their own that became intertwined with Merlin’s own mythic legacy.
Apprentice | Fate after Merlin |
---|---|
Vivien | Cursed and sealed in a tree |
Morgan le Fay | Continued opposing King Arthur |
Taliesin | Remained a loyal servant of Arthur |
Blaise | Became a hermit and recorded Merlin’s story |
Map | Betrayed Arthur leading to war, later repented |
Conclusion
Over his long life, Merlin mentored numerous apprentices in the magical arts. While they had varying fates, most used Merlin’s teachings to help England and King Arthur, Merlin’s most famous pupil. Studying with the great wizard would have been a profound experience, one that shaped legends around Merlin and his students alike. Though Merlin eventually disappeared from the world, his teachings and wisdom lived on through the apprentices he empowered to carry on his mystical legacy.