Necromancy

"Necromancy is the most dangerous of all magical practices. Even in the days of the Old Religion, such sorcery was viewed with the utmost suspicion."

- Gaius to Merlin

Necromancy is primarily used to bring the dead back to life. It is one of the darkest forms of magic and is considered the most dangerous of all magical practices.

According to Gaius, even in the days of the Old Religion such sorcery was viewed with the utmost suspicion. This claim may be ironic, as the manipulation of life and death was the main principle of the Old Religion.

History
Nimueh, a High Priestess of the Old Religion, used necromancy to conjure Tristan de Bois from the dead as a wraith (Excalibur).

When Arthur was bitten by the Questing Beast, Nimueh used the power over life and death to cure him. She agreed to take Merlin's life as payment, but struck his mother with a deadly illness instead, leading Gaius to trade his life for hers in Merlin's place. Merlin later mastered the power over life and death and revived Gaius by exchanging Nimueh's life for his (Le Morte d'Arthur).

The legendary sorcerer Cornelius Sigan gained immortality by sealing his soul inside an enchanted jewel (The Curse of Cornelius Sigan).

The High Priestess Morgause summoned the spirit of Arthur's mother Ygraine to tell him the truth about his birth (The Sins of the Father).

Morgause used necromancy to awaken the Knights of Medhir (The Fires of Idirsholas).

During the Great Battle for Camelot, Morgana used the Rowan Staff to summon an army of undead skeletons from the tombs beneath the citadel (The Tears of Uther Pendragon).

After they gained possession of the Cup of Life, Morgause and Morgana used its power to create an immortal army and conquer Camelot, forcing Merlin, Arthur, and their allies to go into hiding. Merlin took the Avalon Vial with him when he escaped and later discovered that he could contact Freya's spirit through its waters. With her help, he retrieved Excalibur from the Lake of Avalon and used it to destroy the immortal army (The Coming of Arthur).

In the time of the Old Religion, the High Priestesses would gather on the Isle of the Blessed at Samhain's Eve (when the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest) and perform a blood sacrifice to release the Dorocha. Many years later, Morgana revived this tradition in order to exact revenge on her enemies (The Darkest Hour).

Morgana used an enchanted coin to summon Lancelot from the dead as a Shade. Though initially thrilled to have Lancelot back, Merlin soon grew suspicious of his odd behavior and used a pentacle to expose his true form. He later freed Lancelot from Morgana's influence and laid his soul to rest (Lancelot du Lac).

In the time of the Old Religion, the High Priestesses would meet at the Great Stones of Nemeton on Beltane and use the Horn of Cathbhadh to invoke the spirits of their ancestors.

Many years later, Arthur journeyed to the Stones and used the Horn to summon Uther's spirit, accidentally releasing him into the living world (The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).

Known Spells

 * Used by Nimueh to conjure a wraith of Tristan de Bois (Excalibur):
 * "Gehíere mé wan cniht áwæce. Beo strangra ond steacra for brecþ wáne. Uprærest wærc, Uther Pendragon!"


 * Used by Morgause to summon Ygraine from the Spirit World. This spell doesn't last for long, and once the doorway is closed, it is closed forever (The Sins of the Father):
 * "Arise mid min miclan mihte þín suna to helpe. Hider eft funde on þisse ne middangeard þín suna wæs."


 * Used by Morgause to summon the Knights of Medhir (The Fires of Idirsholas):
 * "Cnihtas Medhires, éower sáwla sind min sáwol. Onwic and cóm hér eft. Rid eft ond forsliehð eft. Gehðu, Uther Pendragon."


 * Used by Merlin to enchant a pentacle (Lancelot du Lac):
 * "Onluc tha sothan treow!"


 * Used by Merlin to lay Lancelot's soul to rest (Lancelot du Lac):
 * "Grið fæstne mid þisse tintregian sawle."

Appearances

 * Series 1
 * Excalibur
 * Le Morte d'Arthur


 * Series 2
 * The Curse of Cornelius Sigan
 * The Sins of the Father
 * The Fires of Idirsholas


 * Series 3
 * The Tears of Uther Pendragon: Part Two
 * The Coming of Arthur


 * Series 4
 * The Darkest Hour
 * Lancelot du Lac


 * Series 5
 * The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

Trivia

 * Necromancy appears to be an area of great importance to High Priestesses. It was a cornerstone of many of their traditions and Nimueh, Morgause, and Morgana have all practiced it on at least one occasion.