King Urien of Gore

King of Gore, husband of Morgan le Fay and father of Ywain and a second son, Ywain the Bastard, whom he fathered wife his seneschal’s wife.

• Gender – Male
• Race – Human
• Occupation – 
• Religion – Celtic Pantheon
• Allies – 
• Enemies – 
• Abode/ Base of operations –  
• Nationality –
• Languages – English
• Alignment –
• Affiliation (s) –
• Significant others – Morgan le Fay (Wife)

Little of Urien’s history is known for sure. He was the son of a certain Cynfarch Oer and seems to have fought against the rulers of the Angle kingdom Bernicia. Early on the relationship between Rheged and its neighboring British kingdoms was erratic, but Urien joined with other northern princes and defeated the rising Angles in several battles.

His victories and his power are celebrated in the Book of Taliesin, the supposed author of which served as his bard. He was assassinated at the command of his ally Morcant who was jealous of his success. The Welsh Triads called him a battle leader of Britain. He had four sons, named Owain, Riwallawn, Run and Pascen, the eldest of which succeeded him.

The legend

His kingdom is the mythical land of Gore, and Kings Lot of Lothian and Auguselus of Scotland are sometimes said to be his brothers. During the reign of Uther Pendragon he marries Arthur’s sister Morgan le Fay. He, like the kings of several other lands, initially opposes Arthur’s ascendance to the throne after Uther’s death. Urien and the others rebel against the young monarch, but upon their defeat, the rebels become Arthur’s allies and vassals.

His marriage to Morgan is not portrayed as a happy one, in one story Morgan plots to take Excalibur, kill Urien and Arthur, and place herself and her lover Accolon on the throne.