Arthur Pendragon was the greatly prophesized and long awaited man who would be a great king. Everything about Arthur screams of mystical intervention and divine predestination, especially his conception. In most chronicles, books, and movies, the parents of Arthur are Uther (Uter, Vter, Vther) Pendragon and Igraine (Igerne, Igrayne, Igerna, Ygraine, Ygerna, Ygerne, Eigyr) of Cornwall. The general story is that while Igraine is married to the Duke of Cornwall Uther greatly desires to be with her. Through some trickery of Merlin, Uther enters the castle Tintagel and satiates his desire for Igraine, conceiving Arthur. The two are the conduits for the coming of Arthur. Their magical consummation is the beginning of the entire Arthurian saga.

          There are many movies, novels, plays, poems, romances, comic books, and children's books that deal with the affair between Uther and Igraine. Characterizations vary from story to story, as does the relationship between the characters. Not all of the stories of Uther and Igraine follow the basic pattern. Some delve into matters of love between the two and others point to the lack of anything but lust. Sometimes the story is changed or cleaned up and even excludes a connection between Uther and Igraine. In some variations, the illicitness and the sinfulness of their union is a great issue.

           Descriptions of Uther vary throughout the many versions of the story. The chronicle of Geoffrey of Monmouth is one of the first accounts of King Arthur and his father Uther Pendragon. Uther is described as a great warrior. He fights valiantly and even when poisoned and near death he marches into battle against the Saxons. He is, however, characterized as having a short temper. Depictions of Uther usually make him a strong warrior with a tendency towards anger and an impatient nature. Warwick Deeping differs from this characterization in the novel Uther and Igraine. Disguised as Pelleas, a wandering knight, Uther shows his compassion for others when he saves Igraine. He is also a depicted as warm natured and pious. Even when he knows that Igraine loves him, he will not let her make the decision to leave the convent he believes she entered. Gentle and kind, Uther's longing for Igraine drives him into being a great leader in battle. Uther's childhood and training are presented in Jack Whyte's Uther. In this story, Uther is determined and very intelligent. His one downfall is his quick temper and his tendency towards savageness. Uther has internalized battles with his civilized and barbaric upbringings. He is driven to impress his father, grandfather, and his mother who fears his savageness. These three depictions represent most of the characterizations of Uther.

           The portrayals of Igraine, like those of Uther, vary from author to author. Most choose not give her character much depth. Geoffrey describes Ygerna only as beautiful. It is not until John Hardyng's chronicle that Igerne is depicted as faithful and virtuous woman who believed her affair with Uther "was so done in clene spousage" (line 475, p. 78). Thomas Malory describes Igrayne as a good and a fair woman. One of the few authors to characterize Igraine very deeply is Warwick Deeping. Igraine courageously leads the nuns and novices of Avangel to safety and holds back the Saxons by herself. She is very self-reliant and extremely independent. Her spirit cannot be broken even by her cruel husband, Gorlois. Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon creates a more in depth picture of Igraine as well. Igraine is a very lonely and isolated character in the beginning. She has followed the orders of her sister and married Gorlois, ultimately she fights against the fate revealed to her. When she finally accepts her love for Uther, she is an extremely devoted and loyal wife.

           Descriptions of Uther and Igraine's relationship varies much more greatly than their characterizations. In the earliest accounts, their union is driven by Uther's lust. Geoffrey of Monmouth, John Hardyng, and Thomas Malory describe his feelings as a great desire to lie with her. But this is true not only in early accounts. In John Boorman's Excalibur, Uther stares at Igraine with lust in his eyes. When he finally has her, he is impatient and takes her in an almost animalistic way. The Uther of Jack Whyte's story strongly desires to be with Ygraine. The two engage in a physical relationship while she is held captive. Love is not discussed until Ygraine finds herself pregnant.

           On the other hand, some of the stories show how great their love can be. Deeping's novel depicts the great love that blossoms between the two on their journey. Even when separated for years, they still long to be together. John Conlee's article highlights the fact that neither Igraine nor Pelleas is aware of the other's true identity. They both fall in love with each other's true selves. Uther loves the fearless and gentle nature of Igraine and Igraine loves Uther's caring and self-sacrificing attitude. The story ends with the reunion of Uther and Igraine without describing a consummation. Marion Zimmer Bradley portrays the love of Uther and Igraine as so great that it follows them throughout their lives. Inexplicably drawn to one another, Igraine thinks that her feelings for Uther are some trick of Viviane's to push her into fulfilling her destiny. It is not until she dreams of life long past, that Igraine realizes that she and Uther were great loves in another life. Even in Geoffrey's chronicle there is some hint that the two really did have feelings for one another. The account of Uther and Ygerna ends by saying "from that day on they lived together as equals, united by their great love for each other" (208). Perhaps they had the kind of love that grew over time. One thing, however, that is not mentioned in most stories, is whether or not Igraine discovers Uther's deception and how she feels about it.

          An interesting thing about some stories is the way in which the relationship between Uther and Igraine is cleaned up. In children's books like King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Henry Frith, Uther does fall in love with Igraine who is already married to the Duke of Cornwall. However, he does not attempt to be with her until the Duke is slain in battle. The same thing happens in Sir James Knowles King Arthur and His Knights. The basic problem that requires Merlin's assistance is the fact that Igerna is locked up in Tintagel. It is for this that Merlin helps Uther and Uther promises his first-born son. While it is mostly children's books that clean up the story for their audiences, other works change the story in a similar fashion. Lord Alfred Tennyson's Idylls of the King suggests a completely different origin for Arthur. Tennyson's version has Merlin finding baby Arthur who is brought to the shore by the ninth wave that crashes down aflame in the dark night. This variation makes Arthur a much more divine and mystical character. Perhaps Tennyson devised this story because of the illicitness of the affair seemed a bit too shocking to Victorian readers.

          Within most of the accounts of the affair of Uther and Igraine, there is usually some reference to the legitimacy of their union or of the Arthur's birth. Some stories say that Gorlois died before Uther lies with Igraine while others claim he was not slain until after his wife was deceived into making love to Uther. Often, at the same time that Uther comes to Igraine, Gorlois is killed in battle. Deeping's novel differs quite a bit from most other accounts in this regard. Uther does not trick Igraine into thinking he is Gorlois. In fact, it is Gorlois who uses Merlin's magic to look like Pelleas and fools Igraine into marrying him. Gorlois is killed before the pair are reunited. In the Scottish chronicle of John of Fordun, Arthur's conception is declared illegitimate and, thus, Anna and Loth's sons are the rightful heirs to the throne. In his article on the Scottish Chroniclers, Karl Goller mentions the prevalence of this opinion among Scottish chroniclers. He writes that there were very few chroniclers in Scotland who believed in Arthur's right to be king. By presenting Arthur's birth as illegitimate, they defend the rebellion of Mordred as an attempt to claim the throne that was rightfully his.

          One element of the tale of Uther and Igraine has important ramifications for some authors. Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall, is slain and his wife and land are taken from him because of Uther's desire for Gorlois's wife. Some authors suggest that effect of the unfair treatment of the Duke can be felt throughout Arthur's life. The reign of King Arthur, who is the product of what is sometimes called an illicit and sinful affair, ends in tragedy because of the offense against Gorlois. Michael Fraley's comic book Arthur: King of Britain follows the text of Geoffrey of Monmouth's chronicle. At the end of the first book of his series, he writes that it that Uther and Ygerne were haunted by the death of Gorlois. T. H. White tells the story of Uther and Igraine in an interesting way. The young sons of Lot tell the story to one another and swear to avenge their wronged granny. The eerie storytelling seems to foreshadow the ultimate defeat of King Arthur. Thomas Hughes's tragic play The Misfortunes of Arthur opens with the ghost of Gorlois telling his sorrowful tale and calling for revenge. The play depicts Arthur's tragic fall, which results from Gorlois's curse. At the end of the play, Arthur and Mordred fight in Cornwall, the same place where Gorlois was betrayed. The sin of Uther had come back to his son and led to his ultimate demise.

          Although tales of Uther and Igraine are not as common as some Arthurian stories, the story prevails throughout time. There are several reasons why this story remains an important part of the Arthurian legend. First, it is an intriguing story with sex and violence. Great battles rage on between Gorlois and the armies of Uther while Uther deceives Igraine into to sleeping with him. Another reason is that this beginning to the tale of Arthur is the cause for the king's tragic end. The basis of Thomas Hughe's play is the revenge of the wronged Gorlois on the son of Uther Pendragon. Arthur pays the price for his father's sins. Most importantly, the story of Uther and Igraine is where the legend begins. Without their encounter, King Arthur would not exist nor would the wealth of stories about him.