- “The High Priestesses will have trained Morgause from birth. Her magic will be powerful.”
- — Gaius to Uther[src]
Morgause was the daughter of Gorlois and Vivienne and the elder maternal half-sister of Morgana Pendragon. The main antagonist of Series 2 and 3, she was a skilled warrior, a powerful sorceress and High Priestess of the Old Religion, and a member of the House of Gorlois.
After masterminding the Fall of Camelot, Morgause sustained serious injuries during Arthur's Rebellion that left her permanently weakened and physically disfigured. With no hope of recovery, she had Morgana use her as a blood sacrifice to "bring their enemies to their knees".
Biography
Early Life
Morgause's bracelet bore the mark of her birth family, the House of Gorlois.
Morgause was born into the House of Gorlois, a Knight of Camelot, and his wife Vivienne at some point before the Great Purge. Shortly after her birth, Gaius, the Court Physician, smuggled Morgause out of Camelot and gave her to the High Priestesses of the Old Religion. The reason for this unknown, but Gaius swore a solemn oath never to reveal his actions and Uther was led to believe that Morgause had died.
Morgause was raised as an initiate in the Old Religion and studied magic for many years. She possessed exceptional magical power and was chosen to become a High Priestess.
Morgause was one of the few Priestesses to survive the Great Purge. After the death of Nimueh, she became the last surviving High Priestess and began actively seeking revenge on Uther and Camelot (The Sins of the Father).
Challenging Arthur
Morgause returned to Camelot over twenty years after the Great Purge. She fought her way to the throne room dressed as a knight, killing five guards along the way, and challenged Arthur Pendragon to a duel. After her challenge was accepted, she removed her helmet and revealed her true identity.
The next day, Morgause defeated Arthur in their duel, but spared his life after he agreed to meet her in three days and accept whatever challenge she set to him. She departed from Camelot the following day, but not before speaking to Arthur and piquing his curiosity by mentioning that she once knew his mother.
Morgause also introduced herself to her half-sister, Morgana, though she chose not to mention their true relationship at this time. She also gave Morgana a healing bracelet that once belonged to their mother to relieve Morgana's nightmares.
Gaius later recognised the bracelet as bearing the mark of the House of Gorlois and deduced Morgause's true identity. Fearing her intentions, he broke his oath and revealed the truth of Morgause's identity and survival to Uther.
Meanwhile, Arthur and Merlin had gone to meet Morgause against Uther's wishes. When they arrived at her fortress, Morgause told Arthur to place his head on a chopping block so she could kill him. After he did so, Morgause revealed that the challenge had been a test of his character and rewarded Arthur by granting him one wish.
Morgause summons Ygraine's spirit to tell Arthur the truth about his birth.
At Arthur's request, Morgause used her magic to summon the spirit (or possibly an illusion) of his mother Ygraine, who told Arthur the secret of his birth; that he had been conceived by magic because Uther wanted an heir, and as a direct result she had died.
Enraged at Uther for his presumed selfishness and hypocrisy, Arthur returned to Camelot and attempted to kill him. However, Merlin convinced him that Morgause had tricked him before he could deliver the fatal blow.
Later, Morgause used her scrying crystal to view Camelot and was shocked and enraged to see that Uther was still alive. Meanwhile, Arthur's distrust of magic was further cemented by her deceit (The Sins of the Father).
Invasion of Camelot
Having failed to sway Arthur, Morgause next attempted a more direct method of revenge on Uther and Camelot. She first awoke the Knights of Medhir, then met with Morgana in secret. They discussed their shared hatred of Uther and Morgana's previous attempt to assassinate him, and Morgana agreed to help Morgause bring about his downfall (though she remained ignorant of what Morgause's plan entailed).
Morgause placed a spell on Morgana that made her the source of a powerful sleeping enchantment. After Morgause returned Morgana to Camelot, the enchantment put everyone in the city to sleep with the exception of Morgana, Arthur, and Merlin, who were away when the spell began its work. However, the spell began effecting them as well shortly after they returned.
Meanwhile, Morgause rendezvoused with the Knights of Medhir and led them to the citadel. They eventually cornered Merlin, Arthur, Morgana, and slumbering Uther in the throne room and their victory seems assured. However, Merlin had learned from the Great Dragon that Morgana was the source of the enchantment. With himself and Arthur in danger of falling asleep, he reluctantly tricked her into drinking water laced with hemlock.
As the poison took effect, Morgause heard Morgana's telepathic cries and forced her way into the throne room. She demanded to know what Merlin had poisoned her with, but Merlin refused to tell her unless she stopped her attack. Morgause threatened to kill Merlin, but after he pointed out that Morgana would die with him she relented and called off the attack.
Merlin handed Morgause the hemlock bottle as the sleeping enchantment began to break; Uther woke up and Arthur rushed into the room with several Knights of Camelot. Though surrounded, Morgause quickly used her magic to teleport herself and Morgana to safety. She cured Morgana of the hemlock poisoning and the sisters were united to plan their next attempt on Camelot (The Fires of Idirsholas).
Great Battle For Camelot
- “The tears of Uther Pendragon have only begun to fall.”
- — Morgause to Morgana[src]
Morgause seeks an alliance with King Cenred against Camelot.
One year after Morgause's failed invasion, Morgana returned to Camelot as a spy. The sisters conspired to cast a powerful enchantment on Uther that caused him to see hallucinations of people he'd killed, making it appear as though he was losing his mind and unfit to rule.
As rumours of Uther's condition began to spread, Morgause approached King Cenred, the ruler of a neighbouring kingdom, and convinced him to march on Camelot. She later met with Morgana to inform her of Cenred's agreement and they caught Merlin spying on them. Morgause bound Merlin in magical chains and held him prisoner while Morgana returned to Camelot, then left him to be killed by Serkets.
Morgana met up with Cenred's army and rode with them to Camelot, where they lay siege to the citadel. Shortly before the battle began, gave Morgana the Rowan Staff to summon an army of the undead, forcing the Knights of Camelot to fight a battle on two fronts. However, Camelot ultimately won the battle after Merlin destroyed the Staff, reducing the undead army to dust.
Unwilling to risk his men trying to take the citadel on his own, Cenred called off his bargain with Morgause and ordered his army to retreat. However, the sisters managed to achieve one small victory when Morgana took credit for destroying the Rowan Staff, silencing Merlin and strengthening her cover (The Tears of Uther Pendragon).
Quest For the Throne
Morgause plans to secure Morgana's claim to the throne by killing Arthur.
On the night of Morgana's birthday, Morgause sent her a magic mirror with a message to meet her in the Darkling Woods. Two days later, after Morgana failed to show up or contact her, Morgause infiltrated the citadel to check on her and learned that Morgana had discovered she was Uther's illegitimate daughter.
Though Morgana was outraged by the news, Morgause was delighted because it meant that Morgana had a legitimate claim to the throne should anything happen to Arthur. She was concerned by Morgana's thirst for vengeance, but had to leave when the warning bell began to sound and could only urge her not to do anything rash (The Crystal Cave).
Sometime later, the sisters made their first attempt on Arthur's life. They conspired with Cenred to kidnap Gwen's brother Elyan and held him hostage at the Castle of Fyrien. Morgana accompanied Arthur, Merlin, and Gwen on their mission to rescue him, and Morgause gave her an enchanted ring that would guide Cenred's men to the group so they could capture them.
However, Arthur and Merlin soon escaped from their cell and freed Gwen and Elyan. Arthur went in search of Morgana and found her in the throne room, where Cenred was pretending to hold her hostage. Morgause tried to kill Arthur by summoning a column of fire, but Merlin caused the column to explode and knocked Morgause and Cenred unconscious (The Castle of Fyrien).
Before Arthur left on a quest to retrieve the Fisher King's trident, Morgause met with Morgana in the market disguised as an old woman. She gave Morgana a Phoenix Eye bracelet to give to Arthur and instructed her to use it to drain his life force (The Eye of the Phoenix).
After Morgana had recurring prophetic dreams of Gwen becoming Queen of Camelot, Morgause snuck into the citadel to meet with her and advised her to stop it from coming true by destroying the relationship between Arthur and Gwen (Queen of Hearts).
Fall of Camelot
When Morgana reported that Arthur had been sent on a quest to find the Cup of Life, Morgause went to Cenred and convinced him to help them steal it. Cenred's men successfully retrieved the Cup from Arthur and Morgause used it to make Cenred's army immortal. However, she then betrayed Cenred and took control of his army, ordering one of his soldiers to kill him.
Morgause led the the immortal army in conquering Camelot. They captured Uther and the Knights of Camelot and installed Morgana on the throne as Queen. However, Arthur escaped with a small group of allies and went into hiding in the Darkling Woods.
The sisters later discovered that Gwen was feigning loyalty to Morgana and planned to escape with Sir Leon and find Arthur. They tricked her into ingesting a tracking potion that led Morgause and a small contingent of immortal soldiers straight to Arthur and his allies, but were prevented from capturing them by a rockslide caused by Percival and Lancelot.
The next day, when Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table infiltrated the citadel to rescue Uther, Morgause found Merlin and Lancelot looking for the Cup of Life and attacked them with her magic. Before she could finish off Merlin, however, Gaius revealed himself and attacked her with his own magic, catching her off guard. Merlin then defeated Morgause by smashing her against a pillar with a powerful stunning spell, incapacitating her.
Shortly after Merlin emptied the Cup of the soldiers' blood, destroying the immortal army, Morgana rushed into the throne room. Devastated by Morgause's injuries and the loss of her throne and army, Morgana's anguished screams brought the room crashing down around them. However, a later search of the rubble found no trace of Morgause or Morgana, leaving their fate uncertain (The Coming of Arthur).
Death
Morgause offers herself as a blood sacrifice to avenge their defeat.
Morgause survived the injuries incurred by Merlin's attack, but was left with severe scarring on the right side of her face as well as various unspecified health problems. Morgause eventually realised she was dying and spent her final months training Morgana to take over her role as High Priestess.
One year after the Fall of Camelot, Morgause formulated a plan to avenge their defeat. On Samhain's Eve, she had Morgana take her to the Isle of the Blessed and use her as a blood sacrifice to tear the veil between the worlds, unleashing the Dorocha on Camelot.
Morgana was reluctant to go through with killing her sister, but Morgause was adamant that she was dying anyway and had nothing left to live for. Though heartbroken, Morgana ultimately honoured her sister's wishes by sacrificing her at the stroke of midnight (The Darkest Hour).
Personality
Morgause possessed a cunning and distinctly Machiavellian personality.
Morgause was highly intelligent, cunning, and vengeful with a distinctly Machiavellian personality. Examples of her manipulative and scheming ways include her using Arthur's curiosity about his mother to try to turn him against Uther, and playing on Morgana's hatred toward Uther and desire for vengeance to persuade her to join her evil plots.
Morgause was so consumed with hatred and rage as a result of the Great Purge that she would stop at almost nothing to destroy Uther and Camelot. Morgause was largely callous and cold towards others, viewing most of them as tools to be used to gain power and disposed of when they served no further use. She was contemptuous of almost all others and was particularly dismissive of low class people such as servants, who she considered beneath her.
Despite her ruthless nature, Morgause did have a softer side, particularly where Morgana was concerned. Morgana appeared to be the only other person for whom Morgause had any real affection, as she abandoned her attempt on Uther's life to save her life, tried to kill Merlin for poisoning her, and often acted as a confidant and advisor to her sister. However, though she evidently cared for Morgana, Morgause was undoubtedly the more dominant in their relationship until Morgana became Queen, after which they began treating each other more like equals.
Morgause's arrogance was ultimately her downfall.
Though Morgause was well acquitted with King Cenred, who was clearly attracted to her, she generally treated him as a puppet. She often used her beauty and charm to manipulate him, but held no real affection for him, and her treacherous nature was exemplified when she decided he was of no further use to her and had him killed.
Morgause was also very astute and self assured. She was confident in her abilities, magical or otherwise, and never backed down from a challenge. However, her confidence often crossed the line into arrogance and was ultimately her downfall when she underestimated Gaius and Merlin.
Relationships
Morgana Pendragon
Morgause embraces her half-sister, Morgana.
Morgana Pendragon was Morgause's younger maternal half-sister and the only person she seemed to have any genuine affection for. They first met when Morgana visited Morgause after she defeated Arthur in a duel. Morgause was drawn to Morgana and even gave her a healing bracelet once owned by their mother to help her sleep. However, she kept their true relationship to herself at this time (The Sins of the Father).
Morgause cared very deeply for Morgana, as evidenced by her distress when Merlin poisoned her and her willingness to abandon her attempt on Uther's life to save her. When Morgana returned to Camelot as her spy, Morgause remained in close contact with her and risked her life to meet with her on several occasions. They sometimes displayed affection for each other by hugging, and Morgause even kissed Morgana on the cheek at one point (The Fires of Idirsholas, The Crystal Cave, Queen of Hearts).
Though she was surprised to learn that Morgana was Uther's illegitimate daughter, Morgause was delighted by the news because it meant that Morgana had a claim to the throne. From this point on, she became focused on helping Morgana claim her birthright and later watched proudly as Morgana was crowned Queen of Camelot (The Crystal Cave, The Coming of Arthur).
However, though she clearly loved her sister, Morgause was not above manipulating Morgana for her own purpose, such as when she played on her feelings of hatred and insecurity to convince her to turn against Uther. Morgause appeared to be the more dominant one in their relationship and was the driving force behind most of their joint schemes, while Morgana was utterly devoted to her and participated wholeheartedly (The Fires of Idirsholas).
Morgana is devastated by her sister's injuries.
Morgana was devastated when Morgause incurred serious injuries during Arthur's Rebellion and transported her to safety. Morgause survived her injuries, but was left weakened and disfigured and her health problems persisted until she finally came to realise she was dying.
Feeling she had nothing left to live for, Morgause spent her final months training Morgana to succeed her as High Priestess and contacting a plan to avenge their defeat on Camelot. Though Morgana was clearly unhappy with the prospect of sacrificing her sister, Morgause was determined to use her inevitable death to benefit her and persuaded Morgana to go through with it (The Darkest Hour).
Uther Pendragon
Morgause takes her revenge on Uther.
Like most sorcerers, Morgause loathed Uther for his persecution of magic. She lost many loved ones during the Great Purge, to the point where she became the last High Priestess left in existence.
Over twenty years after the Great Purge, Morgause began seeking revenge on Uther and Camelot. She made multiple attempts on Uther's life, attempted to turn his son Arthur against him, and succeeded in turning his ward (and her own half-sister) Morgana against him (The Sins of the Father, The Fires of Idirsholas).
After discovering that Morgana was Uther's daughter, Morgause turned her attention to conquering Camelot so Morgana could take the throne. The sisters eventually succeeded and Morgause took great pleasure in taunting Uther as he was forced to watch Morgana's coronation (The Crystal Cave, The Coming of Arthur).
Though Arthur and his allies soon retook Camelot, the discovery that Morgause had turned Morgana against him left Uther devastated and emotionally broken (The Darkest Hour).
Arthur Pendragon
Morgause spares Arthur's life.
Initially, Morgause appeared to have a fairly neutral opinion of Arthur. She spared his life when they dueled, respected him as a man of honour, and displayed sympathy for his mother's death (The Sins of the Father).
Morgause showed Arthur the true circumstances of his mother's death in the hopes that it would turn him against Uther. When he failed to do so, Morgause's opinion of him soured. She began viewing him as an extension of his father and had no qualms with killing him to achieve her revenge (The Fires of Idirsholas).
After discovering Morgana's true parentage, Morgause masterminded several attempts on Arthur's life so Morgana would become sole heir to the throne of Camelot. On one occasion, Morgause directly tried to kill Arthur with a column of fire, but failed due to Merlin's interference (The Crystal Cave, The Castle of Fyrien).
Merlin
Because Merlin was only a servant, Morgause was initially very dismissive of him and considered him inferior. She often ignored his presence, at one point addressing an unconscious Morgana before deigning to acknowledge him (The Sins of the Father, The Fires of Idirsholas).
Morgause's opinion of Merlin shifted somewhat after he poisoned Morgana. She hated him for his attempt on her sister's life, but was also intrigued by his extreme loyalty to Arthur (The Tears of Uther Pendragon).
But though Merlin was a frequent thorn in her side, mysteriously escaping her traps and upsetting her plans, Morgause continued to dismiss and underestimate him and was unconcerned with discovering his secret. Her arrogance was ultimately her downfall when an attack from Merlin's magic left her seriously and permanently injured, and eventually led to her death (The Coming of Arthur, The Darkest Hour).
Cenred
Cenred and Morgause were frequent allies.
Morgause was an associate of King Cenred, who was clearly attracted to her. Morgause did not return his feelings and openly thought herself superior, but was not above using her beauty and charm to manipulate him.
Cenred respected Morgause's abilities and was comfortable deferring to her authority. However, he was willing to stand up to Morgause if he deemed it necessary, such as when he ordered his army to retreat after the loss of their skeleton reinforcements in the Great Battle for Camelot (The Tears of Uther Pendragon).
Cenred could also be cheeky and appeared unintimidated by Morgause's threats, which he seemed to regard as bluffs. His assumption was later disproven when Morgause took control of his army and ordered one of his men to kill him (The Castle of Fyrien, The Coming of Arthur).
Abilities
Morgause attacks Arthur with a pillar of fire.
As a High Priestess of the Old Religion, Morgause was an extremely powerful sorceress who had mastered multiple branches of magic. She was able to use necromancy to awaken the Knights of Medhir; elemental magic to conjure a pillar of fire; and cast a sleeping enchantment powerful enough to effect the whole of Camelot (The Fires of Idirsholas, The Castle of Fyrien).
In addition to this, Morgause was capable of casting teleportation, stunning, and tracking spells; disguising herself with glamour enchantments; and communicating with telepathy (The Fires of Idirsholas, The Tears of Uther Pendragon, The Castle of Fyrien, The Eye of the Phoenix, Queen of Hearts, The Coming of Arthur).
It is possible that Morgause was a Seer, as she often advised Morgana about her nightmares and was capable of scrying with the use of a crystal. However, she was never shown viewing anything but events happening in the present (The Sins of the Father, The Tears of Uther Pendragon, Queen of Hearts).
One of Morgause's strongest feats of magic was using the Cup of Life to make Cenred's army immortal. Not only did her enchantment transform the soldiers into the living dead, but it gave her complete control over them by binding them to her will (The Coming of Arthur).
It is unclear how strong Morgause's magic was compared to Merlin's. Merlin was unable to free himself from her enchanted chains on one occasion, but was able to explode her pillar of fire on another, and though Morgause overpowered Merlin during Arthur's Rebellion by slamming him into a wall with a nonverbal spell, she did so by catching him off-guard rather than defeating him in direct combat (The Tears of Uther Pendragon, The Castle of Fyrien, The Coming of Arthur).
Morgause was one of only four people to defeat Arthur in a duel.
In addition to her magical skills, Morgause was an expert swordswoman. She killed five Camelot guards with ease and is one of only four people known to have defeated Arthur in combat. However, Arthur claimed he lost because of his chivalry, as he disarmed her at one point in their duel, but allowed her to retrieve her sword.
Though Morgause frequently wore armour and followed her armies into combat, her duel with Arthur is the only time she displayed her skill with a sword, as she primarily relied on her magic to fight her enemies (The Sins of the Father).
Appearances
- Series 2
- The Sins of the Father
- The Fires of Idirsholas
- Series 3
- The Tears of Uther Pendragon
- The Crystal Cave
- The Castle of Fyrien
- The Eye of the Phoenix
- Queen of Hearts
- The Coming of Arthur
- Series 4
- The Darkest Hour: Part One
- A Servant of Two Masters (Mentioned only)
- The Secret Sharer (Appears in a dream) (Deleted scene only)
- Lancelot du Lac (Mentioned only)
Trivia
- In a deleted scene from The Secret Sharer, Morgause appeared to a dying Morgana in a vision of the Spirit World and gave her the magical coin she used to resurrect Lancelot in Lancelot du Lac. Unfortunately, this scene has not been released, and only photos and audio commentary exist to confirm this information.
Oddities & Errors
- Gaius refers to Morgause as Morgana's half-sister in The Sins of the Father, but doesn't learn of Morgana's illegitimacy until The Crystal Cave. This could be taken to mean that Gorlois is not Morgause's true father, but since their relationship is never called into question at any other point in the series, Gaius' knowledge is more likely a writing error or something that was retconned.
- It is also possible that Gaius was aware Gorlois was not Morgana's biological father, but not that Uther was.
In the Legend
Morgause is the Queen of Orkney in Arthurian legend. She is usually depicted as a full or half-sister of King Arthur and the wife or widow of King Lot. In most versions she is the mother of Gawain, Agravain, Gareth, Gaheris, and often Mordred. In some versions the latter is only her nephew, but she typically has a hand in raising him, which usually led to no good.
Morgause is often presented as a promiscuous character. In Enfaces Gawain, she has a liaison with her page Lot that results in the birth of their son Gawain. In Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, she is Lot's queen, but gives birth to Mordred as the result of an amorous encounter with Arthur (who did not know they were related). She is later slain by her son Gaheris when he finds her in bed with Lamorak, whose father, Pellinore, had slain Lot.
Though most legends present her as Arthur's sister through his mother, Igraine, in some lesser-known versions she (and presumably Morgana, as well) is instead related to Arthur through Uther. An example of this tradition is Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy, where Morgause is depicted as Uther's daughter. It is likely that the writers of Merlin drew some inspiration from this in their choice of making Morgana Uther's daughter, as they did mention Mary Stewart's books in an interview.
Gallery
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To view the Morgause gallery, click here.
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External Links
| Series 2 Enemies |
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| The Curse of Cornelius Sigan: Cedric † • Cornelius Sigan † • Living Gargoyles The Once and Future Queen: King Odin • Myror The Nightmare Begins: Serkets • Uther Pendragon † Lancelot and Guinevere: Kendrick • Hengist • Wilddeoren Beauty and the Beast: Troll † • Lady Catrina (indirect) † • Jonas • Uther Pendragon (indirect) † The Witchfinder: Aredian • Uther Pendragon † The Sins of the Father: Morgause † • King Odin • Uther Pendragon † The Lady of the Lake: Halig • Freya (indirect) † Sweet Dreams: King Alined • Trickler • Lady Vivian (indirect) • King Olaf The Witch's Quickening: Alvarr • Morgana † • Mordred † • Enmyria • Kilgharrah The Fires of Idirsholas: Morgause † • Morgana † • Knights of Medhir • Kilgharrah The Last Dragonlord: Kilgharrah • Asgerd |
| Series 3 Enemies |
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| The Tears of Uther Pendragon: Morgause • Cenred • Morgana • Serkets • Undead Skeletons • Ghost Boy Goblin's Gold: Goblin • Gaius (indirect) Gwaine: Dagr • Ebor • Cylferth The Crystal Cave: Morgause • Morgana The Changeling: Sidhe elder • Grunhilda • Elena (indirect) The Castle of Fyrien: Morgause • Cenred • Morgana • Fermin The Eye of the Phoenix: Morgause • Wyvern • Morgana Love in the Time of Dragons: Manticore • Alice (indirect) Queen of Hearts: Morgause • Morgana • Uther Pendragon • King Odin The Sorcerer's Shadow: Gilli • Tindr • Nollar • Morgana The Coming of Arthur: Morgause • Morgana • Cenred • Jarl |
| Series 4 Enemies |
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| The Darkest Hour: Morgana • Morgause • The Dorocha • The Cailleach • Agravaine • Wilddeoren • Wyvern The Wicked Day: King Odin • Morgana • Agravaine • The Gleeman • Geldred Aithusa: Julius Borden • King Odin His Father's Son: Morgana • Agravaine • Queen Annis • King Caerleon • Derian A Servant of Two Masters: Morgana • Agravaine • Fomorroh • Merlin (indirect) The Secret Sharer: Morgana • Agravaine • Alator of the Catha • Orn Lamia: Lamia • Agravaine Lancelot du Lac: Morgana • Lancelot (Shade) • Agravaine • Dochraid A Herald of the New Age: Shrine Boy • Elyan (indirect) The Hunter's Heart: Morgana • Agravaine • Helios The Sword in the Stone: Morgana • Agravaine • Helios • Aithusa • Nathair |