Wednesday 24 January 2024

M is for... Mordred


Son of Morgaine - a witch-like queen from an alternative dimension. After she had defeated Merlin, he crossed over to our world in search of King Arthur. He possessed a powerful sword - brother of Arthur's Excalibur. On seeing the Seventh Doctor, he recognised him as Merlin. His great rival was Arthur's knight Ancelyn, who had also crossed dimensions. All gathered by Lake Vortigern in the heart of England. Beneath its waters, the dead Arthur rested in his spaceship, having escaped here in ancient times.
Mordred established a base at the ruined Carbury Castle and opened a portal for his mother to join him.
Significantly, Morgaine did not allow her son to lead her armies. This role fell to a Knight-Commander. Irked by his lack of courtesy to their enemies, she paid for his ale drinking.
Later, when he had been threatened by the Brigadier, she was willing to sacrifice him to achieve her own ends.
He and his mother were captured by UNIT.

Played by: Christopher Bowen. Appearances: Battlefield (1989).
  • Bowen auditioned for the role of the Doctor for the 1996 TV Movie.
  • In Arthurian legend, Mordred is the son of Morgana Le Fey (spellings vary, as do the legends). If you've seen John Boorman's Excalibur, you'll have seen how he is also the son of Arthur - he having been tricked into committing incest with her due to her magic. Other versions simply have him Arthur's nephew. Mordred fatally wounds Arthur, but is killed at the dying king's hands.

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