Morgana le Fay is a character portrayed as a sorceress in Arthurian legend.
The Matter of Britain character Morgan le Fay (often known as Morgana, and sometimes also as Morgaine and other names) has been featured many times in various works of modern culture, often but not always appearing in villainous roles. Some modern stories merge Morgana's character with her sister Morgause or with aspects of Nimue (the Lady of the Lake). Her manifestations and the roles given to her by modern authors vary greatly, but typically she is being portrayed as a villainess associated with Mordred.
Her stereotypical image, then, is of a seductive, megalomaniacal, power-hungry sorceress who wishes to rule Camelot and overthrow King Arthur, and is a fierce rival of the mage Merlin. Contemporary interpretations of the Arthurian myth sometimes assign to Morgana the role of seducing Arthur and giving birth to the wicked knight Mordred, though traditionally his mother was Morgause, Morgana's sister; in these works Mordred is often her pawn, used to bring about the end of the Arthurian age. Examples of modern Arthurian works featuring Morgana in a role a major antagonist include characters in both the DC Comics (Morgaine le Fey) and Marvel Comics (Morgan le Fay) comic book universes. Some other Arthurian fiction, however, casts Morgana in the various positive or at least more ambivalent roles, and some have her as a protagonist and sometimes a narrator.
Overview
Morgan le Fay has become ubiquitous[1] in Arthurian works of modern culture, spanning mostly fantasy and historical fiction across various mediums including literature, comics, film, and television. As Elizabeth S. Sklar noted in 1992: "Currently a cornerstone of the new Arthurian mythos, [she] occupies a secure position in the contemporary Arthurian pantheon, as familiar a figure to modern enthusiasts as Merlin, Lancelot, or King Arthur himself."[2] Additionally, she has become an archetype serving as a source of tropes for many characters in other modern works, some of them borrowing her name in the form Morgana. As in the case of other modern Arthuriana, Le Morte d'Arthur is the dominant source today.[1]
Prior to her 20th-century resurgence,[1] however, Morgan had been largely absent from modern Arthuriana. The relatively few exceptions of an actual Morgan character include William Morris's epic poem The Earthly Paradise (1870), retelling the story of Morgan and Ogier the Dane.[3][4] In his popular and often-adapted satirical novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889), Mark Twain cast Morgan le Fay as a deceptively charmful representative of feudal corruption,[5] who is also capable of the most vicious behavior and flirts with the time-travelling protagonist Hank Morgan, her namesake and essentially similar character[6] or even a double[7] (one film adaptation, A Knight in Camelot, stars Whoopi Goldberg as the female protagonist Vivien Morgan who is the only Morgan character in this version, sharing her first name also with one of the names of the Lady of the Lake; Kim Iverson Headlee also wrote the book's continuation novel from Morgan le Fay's own perspective, King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court).
Since the early 20th century, most modern works feature Morgan as a sorceress and sometimes a priestess, and usually a half-sister of Arthur and sometimes a femme fatale, but some also have her in other roles, including as a fairy or an otherwise non-human character. Many authors effectively merge Morgan with Morgause (traditionally a sister of Morgan and the mother of Mordred from an incestuous union with their brother Arthur) and combine her with the less savory aspects of the Lady of the Lake (this is further positioning a modern Morgan as a nemesis for Merlin, who has never been truly her foe in the medieval Arthurian lore). Such a composite character is then often turned into Mordred's mother or partner.[1][2][8] An early instance of such simplifications used to "streamline the plot" was Henry Irving's 1895 stage production King Arthur originally written by W. G. Wills.[9]
Modern authors' versions of Morgan have her usually appear in conventionally villainous roles of a witchlike and irreconcilable enemy of Arthur, recurrently in league with Arthur's bastard son Mordred;[5] be it in the time of the legend or still continuing her feud in the modern era, where she also may be just ruthlessly questing for power or even represent motiveless malevolence. Such Morgan is often devoid of nuances as a merely one-dimensional caricature,[5][10] examples of which include the portrayals of her in several television films such as Merlin and the Sword (1985, played by Candice Bergen), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1995, played by Theresa Russell) and Arthur's Quest (1999, played by Catherine Oxenberg).[11] According to Kevin J. Harty, already in the 1953 film Knights of the Round Table she did exhibit "the sexual wiles as well as the deceit and jealousy by now stereotypical for her character."[12] Sklar described a modern stereotype of Morgan as "the very embodiment of evil dedicated to the subversion of all forms of governance, express[ing] the fears that inevitably accompany the sort of radical cultural change represented by the social realities and ideological imperatives of escalating female empowerment during this (20th) century...a composite of all the patriarchal nightmare-women of literary tradition: Eve, Circe, Medea and Lady Macbeth compressed into a single, infinitely menacing package," and whose "sexuality exceeds even that of her prototype and serves as the chief vehicle for her manipulation of others."[2] Notable examples of this pattern are two comic book supervillainesses, Morgan le Fay (created by Stan Lee and Joe Maneely in 1955) in the Marvel Universe and Morgaine le Fey (created by Jack Kirby in 1972) in the DC Universe. A modern Morgan is often an antagonist character for Arthur, Merlin and their followers to overcome and save Camelot, Avalon, or the entire world. Even in Excalibur (1981), John Boorman's film adaptation of Le Morte d'Arthur, the evil Morgana le Fay (played by Helen Mirren) meets her end at the hands of Mordred, her son in the film, instead of accompanying Arthur to Avalon as she did in the source material.
Nevertheless, other modern versions of Morgan's character can be more sympathetic or ambiguous, or even present her as in an entirely positive light, and some also feature her as a protagonist of a story.[13] Alan Lupack noted in 2007 that a modern Morgan has evolved to become "a woman whose own values and concerns [have] become central in some retellings of the Arthurian story;"[14] Fiona Tolhurst pointed out how "some contemporary novelists sanitize or justify" Morgan's origins as "the oversexed counter-hero in most medieval Arthurian texts."[15] One notable example of this trend is Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon (1983), an influential novel that was later adapted into a television miniseries;[16] other such positions in modern literature, sometimes told in first person from her point of view, include Mary Pope Osborne's series Magic Tree House, Welwyn Wilton Katz's The Third Magic (1988), Fay Sampson's Daughter of Tintagel (1992), Nancy Springer's I Am Morgan le Fay (2001), J. Robert King's Le Morte D'Avalon (2003), and Felicity Pulman's I, Morgana (2014). Cindy Mediavilla praised two still antagonistic but in her opinion non-stereotypical portrayals of Morgan in the 21st-century television series Merlin (2008, played by Katie McGrath) and Camelot (2011, played by Eva Green) "as being among the most fully realized versions of her character in any medium."[11] Some modern authors, especially women, are also particularly interested in the theme of a love-hate relationship between Morgan and Arthur, as studied by Raymond H.Thompson.[17]
Furthermore, since the late 20th century, some feminists have also adopted Morgan as a representation of female power or of a fading form of feminine spirituality supposedly practised by the Celts or earlier peoples.[18] These interpretations draw upon the original portrayal of Morgan as a benevolent figure with extraordinary healing powers.[18] According to Leila K. Norako, "in addition to her appearances in literature, television, and film, Morgan le Fay is also frequently mentioned in the context of neo-pagan religious groups. She is alternately worshipped as a goddess, hailed as a symbol of feminine power, and adopted as a spiritual name." This development was attributed to the influence of The Mists of Avalon, a revisionist retelling of the legend from a feminist and pro-pagan perspective.[19][20] People who have been named or named themselves specifically after Arthurian figure of Morgan include Morgana Le Fay O'Reilly[21] and Elizabeth Le Fey.[22] Norako wrote:
Like many characters in the Arthurian legends, Morgan le Fay has been consistently transformed and interpreted by authors and artists for nearly a millennium. [S]he is alternately cast as a healer, villain, enchantress, seductress, or some combination thereof, depending on the needs of the work in question. This versatility has no doubt played a part in the continued cultural relevance that this character has enjoyed across the centuries and continues to hold in contemporary culture as well.[20]
In literature
The bolded titles mark the character's an appearance as the work's main character and/or narrator.
Series
21st century
Title
Year
Nature
Character
Notes
Camelot 2050
2018
Evil
Morgana le Fay
A series of science fantasy novels by David J.R. Cartwright.[23]
Daughters of Avalon
2018
Good
Morgan Pendragon
A series of historical romance novels by Tanya Anne Crosby, in which Morgan's descendants Elspeth and Morwen's are respectively the protagonist and antagonist characters.[24]
Fata Morgana
2017
Good
Morgan the Fae
A series of historical fantasy novels by Jo-Anne Blanco, planned as six trilogies telling about the childhood and early youth of Morgan.[25]
The Legends of King Arthur
2017
Morgana le Fay
A series of historical fantasy novels by Ben Gillman.[26]
A series of children's fantasy novels by Julie Leung. The evil Morgan is introduced in Voyage to Avalon[28] and is the antagonist of Merlin's Last Quest.[29]
Prophecies of Fate
2017
Evil
Morgan le Fay
A series of historical fantasy novels by T. J. Mayhew.[30][31][32]
A series of children's fantasy novels by Cressida Cowell, comprising The Wizards of Once (2017), Twice Magic (2018), Knock Three Times (2019), and Never and Forever (2020).[34] The series provides a shared backstory for Morgana (originally known as Wish), King Arthur (Xar), and Sir Lancelot (Bodkin) in which thirteen-year-old Wish, an untrained but unprecedentedly powerful Wizard, works with Xar and Bodkin to end the war between their tribes and defeat the Witches, the series's villains. Wish changes her name to Morgana at the end of the series to mark her coming-of-age.[35]
Woven
2017
Other
Morgan le Fay
A series of fantasy novels by Bree Moore,[36] including Morgan-centered Bound.[36]
The Archimage Wars
2016
Evil
Morgain, Morgana
A series of fantasy novels by Philip Blood.
Avalon Chronicles
2016
Morgana
A series of historical fantasy novels by Alexa Whitewolf.[37]
Camelot Reborn
2016
Evil
Morgan LaFaye
A series of romance novels by Sharon Ashwood, including Enchanted Warrior,[38]Enchanted Guardian,[39]Royal Enchantment,[40] and Enchanter Redeemed.[41]
A series of historical fantasy novels by Kim Iverson Headlee, including Dawnflight, Morning's Journey, and Raging Sea. Lady Morghe is introduced in Dawnflight as the youngest child of Uther and Igraine, and she bears little love for her older brother Arthur for wielding control over her life. In Morning's Journey, she assists her betrothed, Arthur's nemesis Chieftain Urien, in a plot against the firstborn son of Arthur and his wife Gyanhumara (Guinevere).[42] Morghe, now the Chieftainess of Clan Muray,[43] and Urien marry in Raging Sea, and they continue their anti-Arthur agenda.[44]
Guinevere's Tale
2016
Morgan
A trilogy of novels by Nicole Evelina in which Morgan is the villain.[45] She a mysterious orphan and gifted priestess of Avalon who becomes Guinevere's rival in the first book, Daughter of Destiny.[46][47] In 2016's Camelot's Queen, Morgan converts to Christianity. Evelina also plans to write a Morgan's story book.[48]
A series of romance novels by Nina Mason, starting with Knight of Wands.
Merlin's Secrets
2016
Evil
Morgana
A series of novels by Carmel Niland, beginning with A Darker Magic This Way Comes.[54]
Morgana's Handmaid
2016
Morgana
Nine Morgans
2016
Good
Morgan le Fay
A series of novels by A.L. Tyler, including Morgan in the Mirror[55] and Morgan on the Run.[56]
Space Lore
2016
Good
Morgan Le Fay
A series of science fiction novels by Chris Dietzel.[57]
The Queen of the North
2016
Other
Morgan
A series of fantasy novels by Lavinia Collins.[58]
The Return of Sir Percival
2016
Evil
Morgana, Megaera Igaris
A series of romance novels by Alexander O'Keefe, beginning with Guinevere's Prayer.[59]
The Traveller
2016
Evil
Morgana le Fay
A series of novels by S.E. Wright, including Children of Avalon,[60]City of the Gods,[61] and Atlantis Bound.[62]
Arthur's Legacy
2015
Morag
A series of novels by J. Hannigan, beginning with The Maid of Camelot, a story of Morag's daughter.
Fay Morgan Chronicles
2015
Other
Morgan le Fay, Fay Morgan
A series of urban fantasy novels by Katherine Sparrow, including The Magician's Mistake, The Dragon's Secret, The Witch's Hunger, The Demon's Revenge, The Hunter's Prey, and The King's Leash. It features an immortal Morgan as a Wiccan supply store in modern-day Chicago.[63]
A series of fantasy novels by Lavinia Collins: The Witches of Avalon, The Curse of Excalibur, and The Fall of Camelot.[65] Collected as Morgan: An Arthurian Fantasy.[66]
New Camerlot
2015
Evil
Morgan
A series of fantasy romance novels by Torie James.[67]
A series of novels by Chance Glenn, beginning with Flames of Camelot.
Albion's Circle
2014
Other
Morgana
A series of novels by Jessica Jarman.
Arthur Dies at the End
2014
Morgan le Fay
Jeffrey Wikstrom's series of comedic retellings of Le Morte d'Arthur, including Morgan le Fay, Queen of Gore.[72]
Avalon Relics
2014
Good
Morgana
A series of novels by J.L. Clark (Jennifer Yen) featuring the young protagonist Sophia Bennett as a modern descendant of Morgana.[73]
The Camelot Wars
2014
Evil
Morgana, Morgan Le Fay, Morgause
A novel series by Michael Clary. In it, the evil sorceress Morgana invades the modern world, casting a spell that makes all modern technology useless and makes her forces travel the world searching for Arthur to end his life before he can claim the Excalibur and unite the people against her.[74]
The Children of Arthur
2014
Good
Morgan le Fay, Morgana
A series of novels by Tyler R. Tichelaar, including Arthur's Legacy (2014) and Melusine's Gift (2015).[75] Lady Morgana is a druid priestess Lady of Avalon, an ally and former disciple of the wizard Merlin, and mother to Mordred, here a good prince son of Morgana and her half-brother King Arthur from before his marriage at the urging of Merlin. The villains are Constantine and Guinevere's half-sister, the Witch Queen Gwenhwyvach. Later, in the third book in the series, Ogier's Prayer, Morgan is the lover of Ogier the Dane and mother of his son.[76]
Children of Avalon
2014
Good
Morgan le Fey
A series of novels by Meredith Bond, in which the Lady Morgan le Fay is the ruler of Avalon and a sister to the power-hungry Nimue, the villain of the story: Air: Merlin's Chalice, Water: Excalibur's Return, Fire: Nimuë’s Destiny.
The Children of Camelot
2014
Good
Morgana
A young adult novel series by Donna Hosie, starting with The Ring of Morgana and continued in The Fire of Merlin and The Spirit of Nimue, wherein the teenage protagonist Mila Roth's parents are "the awakened King Arthur and Gorian druid queen, Morgana," and the Lady of the Lake is the antagonist.
The Devices
2014
Evil
Morgan le Fay
A novel series by Philip Purser-Hallard, beginning with The Pendragon Protocol and continued in The Locksley Exploit.
Forever Camelot
2014
Evil
Morgana
A novel series by J. Lynn McCoy, in particular Prophecy.[77][78]
Forever Avalon
2014
Evil
Morgana le Fay
A series of novels by Mark Piggott, in particular The Dark Tides.[79][80]
A novel by Felicity Pulman, in which an elderly Morgana tells the story of her life.[82] It was followed by The Once and Future Camelot (2016), the story of Morgana's descendants: the medieval troubadour Marie and a 21st-century botanist Morgan.[83]
The novels by Peter Roman: The Mona Lisa Sacrifice, The Dead Hamlets, and The Apocalypse Ark.[89]
Daughters of Avalon
2013
Evil
Morgan le Fay
A series of novels by Darryl Jouett, including The Wizard's Book.[90]
Heirs of the Magykal Realm
2013
Evil
Morgan le Fey
Two novels by Dawna Ravers: Colour Wielders and Severed Colours.
King Arthur and Her Knights
2013
Good
Morgan le Fey
A series of novels by K.M Shea.
Merlin Chronicles
2013
Evil
Morgana le Fay
A series of novels by Daniel Diehl in which Morgana has been denied the throne because of her gender and became a powerful evil sorceress. She has stayed alive for 1,600 years by using sex to drain vitality from men. Now she owns a giant global corporation and works to find a way to bring back dragons. Merlin, who has escaped her survived by hiding inside a magic sphere, and a young archaeologist Jason Carpenter join forces to find and defeat Morgana before it is too late.[91]
A series of science fantasy novels by Julia Golding.
AD 491 to AD 517
2012
Good
Morgan Le Fay
A series of novels by Aenghus Chisholme, including AD 491: Merlin the Sorcerer, AD 494: Gwenhwyvar the Queen, and AD 499: Sir Guaen and the Green Knight.
The Amethyst Dragon
2012
Other
Morgan le Fay
A series of novels by D.C. Grace, including Dragon Wings and Pixie Dust.[95]
Avalon
2012
Evil
Morgana le Fey
A series of novels by Robert Larrison, including Ghosts of Avalon (2012), Queen of Avalon (2012), and the prequel The Last Battle for Camelot (2013).
The Avalon Legacies
2012
Good
Morgaine Le Fay
A series of novels by Nicole Hill, including Legacy Forgotten and Legacy Foretold.
Children of Merlin
2012
Evil
Morgan Le Fay
A series of modern fantasy romance novels by Susan Squires.[96] Also known as the Magic series.[97]
The Knights of Camelot
2012
Good
Morgana Avallach
Morgana is a featured character in this novel series by Sarah Luddington, including in Lancelot's Burden (2012), Lancelot's Challenge (2012), Betrayal of Lancelot (2013), Passion of Lancelot (2013), and Revenge of Lancelot (2014).[98]
Otherworld Chronicles
2012
Evil
Morgaine
A juvenile novel series by Nils Johnson-Shelton, including The Invisible Tower (2012), The Seven Swords (2013), and The Dragon King (2013).[99][100]
Pendragon Legacy
2012
Evil
Morgan Le Fay
A series by Katherine Roberts, beginning with Sword of Light and continued in Lance Of Truth (2012), Crown of Dreams (2013), and Grail Of Stars (2014). In it the witch Lady Morgan is now dead, having first drowned her druid mentor Merlin, but her spirit advises her evil son Mordred from the underworld of Annwn.
Spell Sisters
2012
Evil
Morgana Le Fay
A series of children's novels by Amber Castle, including Sophia the Flame Sister (2012), Lily the Forest Sister (2012), Isabella the Butterfly Sister (2012), Amelia the Silver Sister (2012), Grace the Sea Sister (2012), Evie the Swan Sister (2012), Olivia the Otter Sister (2013), and Chloe the Storm Sister (2013). In it, "Morgana is the elder sister of the other eight Spell Sisters who live on Avalon. She grew jealous of her sisters, and decided she wanted to take all of their powers and have Avalon all to herself."[101]
Tales from Camelot
2012
Good
Morgan la Fay
A series by Paul Green, where Morgan is "an innocent victim of abuse who was rescued and brought in under her big brother's protective wing."[102]
Wicked Little Things
2012
Other
Morgan le Fay
A series of romance novels by Kendra Leigh Castle, including Reflected Desire[103] and Taming the Dragon.[104]
Excather
2011
Evil
Morgan
A series of novels by Gregory J. Downs, beginning with Mordred.[105]
Carol Weakland's trilogy consisting of Dreamspell, Child of Destiny and Epiphany.[107] Morgen is a faerie goddess and Queen of Avalon dedicated to teaching people about peace, healing and their connection to the divine. She assumed mortal form as a changeling child to become King Arthur's healer and his true love, and helps him create a peaceful Britannia through her powers of healing and prophecy. Later books also feature a daughter of Morgen and Merlin, Eliana.
The Perilous Order of Camelot
2011
Other
Morgeu the Fey
A series of novels by A. A. Attanasio, including The Dragon and the Unicorn,[108]The Wolf and the Crown,[109] and The Eagle and the Sword.[110]
Spell
2011
Evil
Morgana le Fay
Lady Morgana le Fay is the villain of this children's novel series by C.J. Busby, including in Frogspell, Cauldron Spells (2012), Swordspell (2013), and Icespell (2014).[111] Morgana is the most powerful sorceress in the kingdom who is secretly plotting to kill her brother Arthur so that she could be queen.
The Megaverse Series
2010
Good
Morgana Le Fay
A series of novels by Angela Knight, including Morgana's book The Oath of Service.
Merlin Prophecy
2010
Other
Morgan
A prequel series to M K Hume's King Arthur Trilogy, wherein Morgan is especially featured in Hunting with Gods (2013).
Dark Britannia
2009
Evil
Morgana le Fey
A series of novels by Bill Coffin, including Pax Morgana (2009), Pax Arcadia (2011), and Pax Britannia (2013).
King Arthur Trilogy
2009
Other
Morgan the Fay
A series of three novels by M K Hume: Dragon's Child (2009), Warrior of the West (2009), and The Bloody Cup (2010).
Pendragon's Banner Trilogy
2009
Good
Morgaine
A series of novels by Helen Hollick in which Morgaine is a pagan priestess known as the Lady of the Lake and the mother of Arthur's son Medraut (Mordred).
The Red Monocle
2009
Evil
Morgan le Fay
A series of children's novels by Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin, including The Taker and the Keeper (2009) and The Death of the Good Wizard (2011). Its Morgan is a contemporary world-threatening sorceress and an enemy of Merlin and his modern students, able to take the form of a snake (small or large) and work great magic.
Twilight of Avalon
2009
Morgan of Avalon
A series by Anna Elliott in which Morgan is dead before the story begins. Dawn of Avalon is a stand-alone novella set in the world of Twilight of Avalon, telling the story of Morgan's and Melin's youth as lovers.[112]
Doomsday Brethren
2008
Evil
Morganna le Fay
A series of novels by Shayla Black, including Tempt Me with Darkness (2008), Possess Me at Midnight (2009), Seduce Me In Shadow (2009), and Entice Me at Twilight (2010).
The Matter of Britain
2008
Evil
Morgana
A series of novels by Mark Adderley, including and The Hawk and the Wolf (2008) and The Heroes of Annwn (2013).
Merlin Investigation
2008
Evil
Morgan Le Fay
A series of novels by J.M.C. Blair: The Excalibur Murders (2008),[113]The Lancelot Murders (2009), and The Pendragon Murders (2010).[114]
Otherworld
2008
Morgaine
A series of novels by Yasmine Galenorn, wherein Morgaine, the half-fae Queen of Shadow and Dusk is introduced in Darkling (2008) and returning in several of later books including Dragon Wytch (2008), Demon Mistress (2009), Night Huntress (2009), Bone Magic (2010), Harvest Hunting (2010), Courting Darkness (2011), Haunted Moon (2013), Priestess Dreaming (2014), and Panther Prowling (2015).
Realm of the Bear
2008
Evil
Morgan le Fay, Morgana
A series of novels by S. R. Sorel.
Guardians of Eternity
2007
Evil
Morgana le Fay
A series of novels by Alexandra Ivy, including Embrace the Darkness (2007), Darkness Revealed (2009) and Bound By Darkness (2011).
PenDragon's Requite
2007
Other
Morgana Cornwall, Morgana Le Fey
The "fallen princess of Cornwall, Morgana the renegade Fey" is introduced in Victor C. Brice's King Arthur Triumphant (2007) and featured in The Queens of Nightmares and Dreams (2011).[115] The third book, The Sovereign Prince (2014), features two children of Arthur's son Michael and Morgana.[116]
The Three Damosels
2007
Evil
Morgan le Fay, The Morrigan
A trilogy of novellas by Vera Chapman, starting with The Green Knight and continued in King Arthur's Daughter.
Camelot
2006
Good
Morgan le Fey
A series by Cynthia Breeding, including Fate of Camelot (2008) and Camelot's Enchantment (2011).[117] In it, Morgan is Faerie queen engaged to her demigod consort Cernunnos.[118]
A series of juvenile fiction novels by Derek Benz and J. S. Lewis, featuring an immortal Morgan as an antagonist in The Revenge of the Shadow King and The Rise of the Black Wolf. The story, while set in present day, is loosely tied to Arthurian mythology, via a blood line connecting the hero directly back to Arthur.
Knights of the Round Table
2006
Good
Morgana
A series of novels by Gwen Rowley, including Knights of the Round Table: Lancelot (2006) and Knights of the Round Table: Gawain (2007).
Lords of Avalon
2006
Evil
Morgan Le Fey
A series of novels by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Kinley MacGregor) in which Morgen Le Fey is a beautiful but heartlessly evil Queen of the Fey who will not stop until she restores her son Mordred to life and takes the throne of Camelot.
The Promethean Age
2006
Good
Morgan le Fey, Morgan of Cornwall
A series of novels by Elizabeth Bear, including Ink and Steel[120] and Blood and Iron.[121] It combines elements of secret history of Elizabethan Age[122] and fantasy, the immortal Morgan le Fay is one of the rulers of an actually existing Kingdom of Faerie, secretly allied with the England of Elizabeth I. In this depiction, Morgan le Fay took the playwright Christopher Marlowe into Faerie in 1593, when history records his death, and made him her lover. The reluctant Marlowe is seen as compelled by magic to have sex with her.
Luke Lancelot
2005
Evil
Morganna
A series of children's books by Giles Andreae, including Luke Lancelot and the Treasure of the Kings[123] and Luke Lancelot and the Golden Shield.[124]
Nightside
2005
Evil
Morgan La Fae
A series of novels by Simon R. Green, in which she is mentioned in Hex and the City and Paths Not Taken, before appearing as a modern-era antagonist in A Hard Day's Knight.
In this series by Michael Buckley, the beautiful Morgan le Fay, who used to be King Arthur's trusted advisor in Camelot, is an Everafter who was part of a coven of witches called The Three to keep the humans of Ferryport Landing none the wiser of the existence of Everafters. She has a son named Mordred and is married to Mr. Seven in the Council of Mirrors.
The Paths to Camelot
2004
Evil
Morgaine, Morgaine the Goddess, Morgaine the Sleepless, Morgan the Fey
In this series by Sarah Zettel, Morgaine is an evil sorceress who wants to destroy Merlin and take Camelot. She has the son her son Mordred and a good twin sister of Queen Morgause, who along with Merlin has once captured and imprisoned her. In the first book, In Camelot's Shadow, Morgaine acts through her apprentice and adoptive daughter Kerra and sorceress Euberacon. In For Camelot's Honor, Morgaine orks with Gwiffert, using magic to make the Welsh chieftain Elen, whose brother was Urien kills, betray Arthur. Elen escapes her power with Merlin's help and uses a magic spear of the Green Man to kill Morgaine's beloved husband Urien the Bull. In Under Camelot's Banner, Morgaine manipulates various people to break minor lands away from Camelot. She plots with the traitorous prince Colan against Lynet and Gareth and to overthrow the rule of Cambryn, where she, Morgaine and Guinevere grew up together, and also disguises as Guinevere to seduce Lancelot. In Camelot's Blood, Morgause's son Agravain and the half-water spirit Laurel Carnbrea, the Queen of Cambryn, help to defend the land of Gododdin from the Pictish invasion led by Morgaine and Mordred who have caused the disappearance of Morgause and drove King Lot to madness. In the end, Agravain defeats them and Laurel tricks and destroys Morgaine after a shapeshifting duel.
Die Legende von Camelot
2001
Evil
Morgaine
A series of three novels by Wolfgang Hohlbein and Heike Hohlbein.
Tales of Guinevere
2001
Good
Morgana
A series of novels by Alice Borchardt, beginning with The Dragon Queen.
Rexcalibur
2001
Evil
Morgan
The Magic Returns and Eternity's Hope by Mitzi Kleidon.
Shalott
2001
Other
Morgan le Fay
A series of young adult novels by Felicity Pulman, including Shalott (2001), Return to Shalott (2002) and Shalott: The Final Journey (2003).
Morgana kills Pendragon and travels to the 20th century in search of Excalibur[125]
The Tales of Annwn
1999
Other
Morgan le Fay
Morgan is an ancestress of the sorceress Morgana in this series by Alison Baird, including The Hidden World and its prequel The Wolves of Woden.[126]
Knights Quest
1998
Evil
Morgan le Fay
A trilogy by Peter McElhinney: Knights Errant, Search for the Swords and Larthingal.
Merlin's Legacy
1998
Evil
Morgana
Dawn of Camelot and Daughter of Camelot by Carla Simpson.
The Squire's Tales
1998
Good
Morgan Le Fay
A series by Gerald Morris. In The Squire's Tale, Lady Morgan first appears as a shapeshifting (introducing herself in form of a dragon) Arthur's half-sister and Gawain's aunt and a chaotic enchantress. Morgan has an elder sister Morgause who appears to be reincarnation of the evil goddess known as The Enchantress and is plotting to kill Arthur. In The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady, the readers learn about Morgan's failed attempt to heal Gawain's young sister Elaine and of her forbidden love of Arthur. In The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf, Morgan tutors the protagonist Lady Lynet in magic. In The Princess, the Crone, and the Dung-Cart Knight, Morgan disguises herself as a crone to protect her young niece Sarah from Morgause's minion Meliagant. In The Lioness and Her Knight, a young Luneta of Orkney, a daughter of Lynet, goes to the fairy realm Other World and is thought by her great-aunt Lady Morgan to become an enchantress just like Morgan has also trained her mother and dozens of other sorceresses. In The Legend of the King, Morgan goes to a forever sleep together with Arthur.
In the franchise's lore, Morgan was a very powerful Dark witch, especially very adapt with transformation (into a bird) and healing spells, who lived during the Middle Ages. She was the half-sister of King Arthur and an enemy of Merlin and she played a role in many events during her lifetime. Like her half-brother, she was a monarch, ruling as queen of the island of Avalon. She is mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and appears on famous wizard cards in some Harry Potter games. In 2011, Royal Mail issued a series of stamps featuring magical figures, including Morgan le Fay based on the Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling.
The Mordred Cycle
1995
A trilogy of novels by Haydn Middleton, including Morgan-centered The Queen's Captive.[127][128]
A series of historical-fantasy novels by Bernard Cornwell beginning with The Winter King and continued in Enemy of God (1998) and Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur (1999). Horribly disfigured in a fire that claimed her husband, she is the bastard daughter of Uther Pendragon, High King of Britain, and beloved half-sister of Arthur. She is a relatively minor character who begins the series as the chief lieutenant of the druid Merlin, but is eventually supplanted by the younger Nimue. Through a friendship and eventual marriage to Sansum, a bishop, Morgan ultimately converts to Christianity. She is portrayed as wise and waspish, and once referred to by the narrator Derfel as the most poorly tempered woman in Britain and called a saint in heaven. Also known as The King Arthur Trilogy.
The Crossroads
1994
Evil
In Nick O'Donohoe's The Magic and the Healing and Under the Healing Sign (1995), Morgan the evil queen of Anavalon, Arthur's former kingdom and now a wasteland, who invades Crossroads, a magical realm where the paths to many worlds intersect.
A series of novels by Fay Sampson, telling the story of Morgan from five various perspectives (including her own): Wise Woman's Telling, White Nun's Telling, Blacksmith's Telling, Taliesin's Telling, Herself. Reprinted in 2005 as Morgan le Fay.
Le Cycle du Graal
1992
Morgane
A series of books by Jean Markale, including La fée Morgane.
The lead characters of Mary Pope Osborne's long series of this children's books, Jack and Annie, are taken on secret missions throughout history by Morgan in the majority of the books, travelling through time in her magical treehouse.[129]
Dark Ages of Britain
1988
Good
Morgan of Avalon
In Joan Wolf's The Road to Avalon, Born of the Sun (1989) and The Edge of Light (1990), Morgan is at once Merlin's daughter, Mordred's mother, and Arthur's lover.[130] In The Road to Avalon, Morgan is the youngest daughter of Merlin and loves Arthur, who refuses to marry him and conceals her pregnancy with their child Mordred for the good of Britain. Also known as Warrior Kings trilogy.
In L. J. Smith's Night of the Solstice, Morgana is a half-fairy and largely sympathetic character and an ally of the children protagonists. In the sequel Heart of Valor (1990), one of her enemies is the evil Merlin.
The Wizard of 4th Street
1987
Good
Morgan LeFay
In Simon Hawke's original The Wizard of 4th Street and the sequels The Wizard of Whitechapel (1988), The Wizard of Sunset Strip (1989), The Wizard of Rue Morgue (1990), The Samurai Wizard (1991), The Wizard of Santa Fe (1991), The Wizard of Camelot (1993), and The Wizard of Lovecraft's Cafe (1993), the half-breed magical alien/human Morgan, her son Modred, two descendants of her sisters Elaine and Morgause, Merlin, Gorlois's spirit and the descendants of his daughters all join forces with modern characters to fight evil through time and space.
The New Magic
1985
Evil
Morgan Le Fay
A series of novels by Pamela F. Service, set in Britain after five centuries of nuclear winter that cast it into "a new Dark Age that is, once again the setting for a conflict between Arthur and Merlin and their old enemy Morgan La Fay."[130] It includes Winter of Magic's Return, was followed by Tomorrow's Magic (1987), Yesterday's Magic (2008), and Earth's Magic (2009).
A series of science-fantasy novels by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison wherein Morgan is one of the ancestors of the titular protagonist of the first cycle, Tales of Aeron. In the second cycle, Morgan appears as an important character in The Hawk's Gray Feather (1990) and The Hedge of Mist.[131] She is a great sorceress and a sister of Arthur, opposing her evil twin Marguessan (Morgause), and married to Taliesin who narrates the story.[132]
Children's fantasy books by Rosemary Manning, where Morgan is introduced in The Dragon's Quest and is Leodegrance's daughter in addition to Arthur's half-sister.
The third book of the Dragon Lord Chronicles series by Miles O'Neal takes place in early 16th century Scotland. A long dead Morgan le Fay mysteriously allies with Argyll- an evil dragon- to wreak havoc on Gerald the youngest dragon lord and those he loves.
King Judy
2017
A novel by David Clow.
L.A. Knight
2017
Morgana
A novel by Amy Wolf.
Last Quest for Camelot
2017
Good
Morgan
A novel by Steve Manuel.
Lord Protector's War
2017
Evil
Morgan Le Fay
The second book in the Chronicles of the New Earth series of fantasy novels by Sean C. Helms.
A novel by Stephen Sim in which Lady Morgan is a protagonist against the Queen Guinevere.[151]
King Arthur's Sister in Washington's Court
2014
Other
Morgan le Fay, Morgan the Wise
A science-fiction/fantasy crossover novel by Kim Iverson Headlee, sequel to Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and written as if by Mark Twain. Queen Morgan, upset that the Yankee has destroyed her world, casts a spell trying to get to Connecticut of 1879 to kill him before he can travel back to the sixth century. But her spell misses by 300 miles and 200 years, landing her in the Washington, DC of 2079, where she decides to rebuild her kingdom.[152][153][154]
Merlin's Daughters
2014
Evil
Morgana
A novel by John Andrucci.
The Merrikan King
2014
Good
Fay Stone, Morgana Le Fay
A novel by Gerry Green.
Lady Morgana
2014
Good
Morgana Dawson
A novel by Desy Giuffrè.
Mordred and the King
2014
Evil
Morgan le Fay
A novel by John Michael Curlovichè.
The Prophecy
2014
Evil
Morgana
A novel by Lisa Jones.
Saving Artur
2014
Good
Morgana the Fey
A novel by Hayley Shaver.
Seeking the Eagle
2014
Evil
Morgana Le Fay, Madame Lafayette
A novel by Cameron Dickie.
Sword Across Time
2014
Evil
Morganna
A novel by Cathy Walker|When the realm of Avalon disappears into the mist, it leaves behind a powerful and dangerous legacy of curses invoked in the heat of anger and passion. The words of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake have faded to a mere whisper over the centuries, yet their power remains strong and deadly.In the present, Gavin and Tamara delve into the ancient diaries left by their forebears and strive to keep the power of the legendary Sword Excalibur out of the hands of a dark and twisted Morganna. To prevent Morganna from harnessing the sword’s power, they must overcome the curse without becoming part of the blood ritual needed to ignite the power of the sword.
But with Morganna growing stronger with each passing day, the stakes have never been higher. Will the descendants of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake be able to summon the strength and wisdom needed to triumph over evil and safeguard the sword’s power for generations to come?
Sword Across Time is a gripping tale of magic, bravery, and sacrifice that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.
Der Traum von Camelot
2014
Morgana
A novel by Viktor Goldmann.
Beyond the Myst: The Lost Years of King Arthur
2013
Evil
Morgana
A novel by Shari Prestwood, Ashley Kuppersmith, and N. K. Schlaudecker.
A young adult urban fantasy novel by Teddy Jacobs.
Beloved Wizard
2011
Morgan Le Fey
A romance fantasy novel by Shannan Albright.
Broken: A Paranormal Romance
2011
Morgana
By David H. Burton.
The Circle Cast: The Lost Years of Morgan Le Fay
2011
Other
Anna, Morgan, Morgan Le Fay
A novel by Alex Epstein, speculating about what could have happened in the legend to Morgan, born as Anna, between her being sent into an exile to Ireland at the age of 11 after the murder of her father Gorlois by Uther Pendragon, and her return years later as a powerful witch seeking revenge.[156][157]
The Death Catchers
2011
Good
Morgan le Faye
A young adult novel by Jennifer Anne Kogler in which the protagonist Lizzy Mortimer is the descendant of Morgan le Fay and Lancelot who opposes Morgan's evil sister, Vivienne le Mort.
Kingdom Jumper
2011
Evil
Morgana
The novel by Emily Lark in the Children of Avalon series.
Marco
2011
Celeste DeCumpania, Morgan
A novel in the Books of Insanity series by KT Pinto.
A novel by Nancy McKenzie, originally published as The Child Queen (1994) and The High Queen (1995).
The Dragon's Son
2001
Other
Morgan
A novel by Sarah L. Thomson in which Morgan is Arthur's half-sister and embittered former wife, and a mother of his two twin sons, including Medraud. It is written partially from Morgan's point of view.[170][171]
A novel by Shahrukh Husain in which the fairy Morgan, "long painted as her half-brother King Arthur's foe, is shown to have been testing his worthiness, selflessly allowing herself to be thought of as a villain in order to train him to be a better, more careful ruler."[173]
Women of Camelot: Queens and Enchantresses at the Court of King Arthur
In this novel by Anne Eliot Crompton, Morgan steals Calibur (Excalibur) out of her hatred for Arthur, but Merlin and Ninniane retrieve it and Arthur's son Mordred from her. She is later seen transporting the dead Arthur to Avalon.
Morgan le Fay, called Morgana, is a sympathetic character in Firelord by Parke Godwin, where she is presented as a fiery leader of the wild Prydn Pictish people who live north of Hadrian's Wall, and Mordred is her illegitimate son. The original novel was followed by the sequel Beloved Exile in 1984. The series' prequel, The Last Rainbow, tells the story of Morgana's ancestors.
Morrigan, Rigan (1) / Morgan Lefevre, Morgan LeFay (2)
A young adult novel by Welwyn Wilton Katz. Morgan Lefevre, a 20th-century Canadian, is transported to the Celtic kingdom of Nwm, to become Morgan LeFay. Arthur's sister is Morrigan, also known as Rigan.
In this children's book by Jane Louise Curry, "four children discover Arthur and his knights sleeping underground. With the help of Myrddin, they prevent Morgan and Medraut from destroy the Sleepers and stealing the thirteen Treasures of Prydein (Britain)."[130]
A novel by Poul Anderson in which Morgan le Fay makes great efforts to seduce the protagonist, the risen Ogier the Dane - who had been her lover in an earlier incarnation - and divert him from his quest. Though clearly an Antagonist, in this depiction (as is often the case with Anderson's villains) Morgan le Fay has some redeeming features: she seems to be genuinely fond of Ogier and to welcome the prospect of dallying with him at Avalon - though, to be sure, removing him from the field would be a great coup for her side in the book's titanic war. Anderson attributes to Morgan le Fay a kind of amoral Nietzschean philosophy: "My belief is in joy, in the fulfillment of life, which I taught you once and would fain teach you again.(...) What is there about dull Law which drives you to defend it? You're but bulwarking loutish peasants and fat-gutted burghers, when the mirth and thunder and blazing stars of Chaos could be yours!".
A novel by Dion Fortune about Vivien Le Fay Morgan, a modern reincarnation of Arthurian character. It was continued in the novel Moon Magic (1956) and the short story "The Death of Vivien Le Fay Morgan".
King Arthur's Knights: The Tales Retold for Boys and Girls
A satirical novel by Mark Twain. The tale's Morgan le Fay represents an archetypical corrupt and cruel feudal aristocrat, keeping prisoners for decades in her dungeon.
In this version, Morgana was raised and thought in black arts by the evil Unseelie faeries, traded to them by Merlin for Arthur. When Morgana returns, she sends Merlin several years into the future, makes a fake copy of Excalibir, and challenges Arthur to war.
A parody story starring Miss Piggy as Morgana who tries to undermine Kermit the Frog's Arthur with the help of Robin the Frog's Mordred. in the end, after Arthur gives up Camilla the Chicken's Guinevere to The Great Gonzo's Lancelot, he proposes to Morgana "and they all lived happily ever after".
A Ghostbusters comic miniseries in which Morgan has been banished into a pocket dimension by Merlin, but breaks free and returns to the physical plane with a plan to conquer the world and reign for all time. She is tricked and destroyed by the time-displaced Ghostbusters when Peter Venkman flirts with her and set his Proton Pack to overload.
Morgan Farrel is one of the students of Vanessa Fenway, Lara Croft's old college friend and a fellow archaeologist. later it is revealed her actual identity is of the immortal Morgan le Fay, who has been searching for the time-portal artifact Merlin Stone for centuries. When Lara destroys the stone, Morgan gets trapped in the prehistoric era.
In the spin-off miniseries Warrior Nun Brigantia, Fata Morgana (Morgen le Fay) steals the head of the king Bran the Blessed in 1940 and delivers it to Heinrich Himmler Nazis to enable them conquer Britain. The British government calls on Brigantia, aided by the awakened Arthur's sister (and Morgen half-sister) Anna the White Nin, to recover the head. Anna defeats Morgen with Excalibur's sister blade Ganieda, but Morgen apparently escapes to another realm.
Morgan is a time-travelling rogue Time Police agent from the future who has been mistaken for a witch in medieval times due to her use advanced technology. Jughead's Time Police foil Morgan's world-domination scheme and arrest her.
Queen Morgane, Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, and the Queen of North Galis bear the wounded King Arthur away to Avalon after his battle with Mordred.[207]
Princess Morgan conspires with Merlin, Mordred and the "Black Teutonic Knights" to kill King Arthur to claim the throne, but is betrayed by the time-traveller Dr. Tom Redfield who went back in time to retrieve Excalibur from the 6th century whom she tried and failed to seduce, and who defeats them and burns her and Merlin with the exhaust of his jet fighter.[209]
The disguised Queen Morgan steals Excalibur from Arthur, but it is retrieved by Bingo and Glum and a ring from the Lady of the Lake blows up her castle.[211]
The witch Lady Morgana is the wife of the Knight of the Griffin, an enemy of Arthur, and use treachery to substitute Galahad's sword with a broken one, but Galahad wins and kills his opponent anyway thanks to Merlin's help.[216] Later, her men accidentally capture Galahad's squire Garlan and she sends a monster after Galahad when he comes for rescue him.[217]
The time-travelling Ghost expels Merlin from King Arthur's court. Merlin swears revenge and talks Queen Merlin into sending her knights to conquer England and dispose of King Arthur. They capture Ghost and Morgan orders him executed, but he escapes and helps Arthur beat back the attack using his 20th-century weapons.[218]
Weird Comics
1940
Evil
Morgana le Fay
Queen Morgana attempts to rid Camelot of Sir Gareth, who is a rival to her son Mordred for the hand of Lady Elaine. But Gareth is protected by the time-travelling Sorceress of Zoom (an also villainous protagonist), who wants Gareth for herself and so she decides to get rid of Elaine, who is in Morgana's captivity, and defeats Morgana's men and magic. Morgana surrenders to her, but then Merlin's magic sends the Sorceress of Zoom back in time to the future.[219]
An anime film entry in the manga and TV anime series. Morgan le Fay, voiced by Ayako Kawasumi, is a Faerie princess and the film-only character.
Arthur's Quest
1999
Evil
Morgana
The treacherous and power-hungry Morgana (played by Catherine Oxenberg[223]) is the dark-magic wielding "greatest warrior in the land" King Pendragon's former consort,[227] who travels into future to the modern-day America in pursuit of the Excalibur and the teenage Arthur, posing as his teacher.[228] In the end, Arthur, aided by Merlin, defeats and destroys her in a magical sword duel.
Morgan, played by Candice Bergen,[223] is the "most vile and demented creature on earth" who plots to kill Arthur so her beloved son Mordred can take the throne.[227]
Played by Anne Crawford.[223] Morgan believes she deserves the throne of Britain as Uther's only legitimate child, but Merlin has Arthur being proclaimed king. Morgan and her lover Modred fight against Arthur and his allies; Morgan poisons Merlin and Modred kills Arthur before being defeated by Lancelot and dying in Morgan's arms.
Morgan le Fay (played by Pat Barton), Arthur's half sister and a magician, helps him fight against the evil Merlin's magic and the Saxon invaders.[230][223]
Voiced by Lena Headey. In Trollhunters, Morgana (also known as, among others, the Pale Lady and Baba Yaga) is an ally of Gunmar and a fallen apprentice of the wizard Merlin. She is described as a being of shadows and is responsible for the war between humans and trolls, as well as the creation of shapeshifting troll changelings. She is revered as a goddess by some trolls.
Older sister to Artoria (female version of Arthur) and neglected by her family, thus developing a hatred for Artoria and her reign. As a result, Morgan gave birth to Mordred and led the child onto the path to usurp Artoria. Here, portrayed as unconditionally evil.
In the episode "And The Rule of Three", Morgan appears as Lucinda McCabe (Alicia Witt), the head of an educational software company sponsoring a prominent science fair. In truth, she is using the fair as an opportunity to absorb the energy generated by the use of a magical app, resulting in a feedback loop that is only broken at the last second by the Librarians. She also infiltrates the Library itself, revealing her true identity. At the end, she vanishes abruptly, but not before warning the Librarians that a terrible catastrophe will soon befall the Library.
Morgan (played by Eva Green[223]) functions as the main antagonist of the series. She is a beautiful and ruthlessly ambitious daughter of Uther Pendragon, who dabbles in witchcraft and sees herself as the rightful heir to her father's throne. In her pursuit of power and revenge against those who harmed her in her youth in order to bring Arthur to the throne, which he legitimized, Morgan gives herself over to dark forces that allow her to threaten the court of Camelot from within.
Het Huis Anubis en de Vijf van het Magische Zwaard
Voiced by Tatyana Yassukovich in the episode "Day of the Dark Knight", in which Morgaine petrifies Arthur and his entire court, forcing Merlin to pull Batman and Green Arrow into the past to combat her.
Played by Katie McGrath.[223] Initially a friend, ally and potential love interest of both Merlin and Arthur; both being kept in ignorance of her magical heritage by Merlin and Court Physician Gaius, and feeling sympathy as well as both fear (due to the realisation that she herself has some form of magic) and increasing anger over Uther's unexplained hatred for Druids and magic-users leads to both emotional and real conflict with several characters, as well as within Morgana herself - she is also manipulated (sometimes unaware) by several figures from the very beginning, including the 'good' characters, Merlin and Gaius - culminating in her alliance with her half-sister Morgause. This results in a deep and lasting hatred for her former friends and home. (For more information, see the list of Merlin characters.)
Played by Helena Bonham Carter,[223] She is the half sister of Arthur and mother of Mordred. Initially depicted as the disfigured daughter of Igraine and Lord Cornwall, Morgan allies with Queen Mab and her servant Frik, in exchange for beauty and ultimately the throne. She sleeps with Arthur, fully knowing he is her half brother, so that her son can one day be king. However, she is eventually betrayed and killed by Mab, who throws her down the stairs of her castle. As she lays dying, the spell granting her beauty fades. She asks Frik, whom she has fallen in love with, if she is still beautiful, and Frik reassures her that she is beautiful beyond words. This portrayal is closer based on Morgause than Morgan.
In this science fiction series, Morgan (played by Sarah Strange[223]) is depicted as one of the Ascended Ancients, aiding the main characters in their quest for the Holy Grail. The show's version of Merlin "is of particular interest because of her largely benevolent characterization in this series one that differs markedly from more common characterizations. Unlike the other, famous intergalactic take on the Arthurian legend seen in Camelot 3000, the Morgan in Stargate is not a villain so much as a figure reminiscent of the Celtic 'fae' formidable creatures with greater powers than humans and different codes of conduct and behavior."[20]
In this American loos adaptation of a Japanese video game series Darkstalkers, the evil sorceress Morgana is an ancestor of the antagonist succubus Morrigan Aensland.[229] Her spirit appears, and is apparently destroyed by the spirit of Merlin, in the episode "Donovan's Bane".
Voiced by Deborah Allison. A thousand ago, Morgana was the leader of the evil ancient wizards, as well as the original creator and wielder of the Dark Stone. Having been defeated and banished into wild magic by Merlin, Morgana returns with a vengeance after the Dark Stone restores her physical form in her lair in the second season, allying herself with the first season's Lady Kale to destroy Merlin and take over the magic of Avalon. The Jewel Riders must ensure this will not happen and help Merlin vanquish Morgana's dark powers again. (For more information, see the list of Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders characters.)
In this cartoon series, Queen Morgana (voiced by Kathleen Barr) is the evil sorceress who serves as the primary antagonist of the series. She was responsible for sealing Arthur and his knights into the Cave of Glass. She despises Merlin and has great magical prowess. Among other things, Morgana constructed her "Warlord" warriors out of stone and can reassemble them using her magic. Her second-in-command is Lord Viper, who leads the Warlords and seems to be the only human in Morgana's army.
A cartoon series adaptation of Prince Valiant comics where the villainous Lady Morgana (voiced by Patty Duke & Diana Muldaur) is Arthur's half-sister and Mordred's lover with a great knowledge of alchemy and herbalism.[229]
In the two-part episode "Good Knight MacGyver", a concussion sends MacGyver to King Arthur's Court, where his strange ways help Merlin to free Galahad's lady Cecilia and bring the evil wizardry of Queen Morgana of Caledonia (played by Robin Strasser) to an end.
'Morgan le Fur', played by the character Catnip, is the antagonist of the stage theater play in the cartoon's episode "Paws of the Round Table", where she tries to steal Excalibur before she is fought off by Arthur (played by Hello Kitty).[229]
A descendant of Morgana named Melinda is the villain of the episode "Merlin", in which she attempts to recover Arthurian relics, and ultimately Excalibur (who she claims had been owned by Morgana before Arthur stole it), in an attempt to rule the world. The Centurions, aided by Merlin himself, thwart them and the villain Doc Evil.[229]
Fables and Legends: English Folk Heroes
1986
Evil
Morgan le Fay
In this cartoon series, she is the villain of the episode "The Round Table" in which she had rejected "the true church" out of envy of King Arthur and became a powerful sorceress "through terrible pagan ceremonies" of "the ancient and dark eays of the false druids". She is the mother of Mordred and puts a spell on Lancelot to forget his wife Elaine.[229]
Episode "The Last Defender of Camelot", played by Jenny Agutter. In this episode, she is a sharp-tongued yet honorable sorceress, who laments her modern-day villainous reputation as "horrible press" courtesy of Merlin and Thomas Malory.[223]
Morgan witch who is the villain of the episode "Smurfs of the Round Table", where the Smurfs and shrunk Lancelot need to recover Excalibur from her and save Camelot from a total destruction.[229]Papa Smurf manages to vanquish Morgan by turning her into a rat which is then chased off by a cat.
The wicked sorceress Morgana appears in the episode "Morgana's Revenge" (also known as "Pegasus' Odysse") in which she is Hercules' scorned former lover who captures his Pegasus and enslaves Hercules himself. The rest of the Freedom Force, which includes Merlin, rescue them from her castle.
In the episode "Merlin the Magician", Merlin and jester Gronk are pursued from the Great Beyond by their nemesis Morgan, played by Ina Balin,[223] who intends to trap them in this era. The Ghost Busters befriend and assist the broken-down magician in his battle with the beautiful sorceress.
Played by Laura Rees in the episode "Knight's Choice".[223] Previously banished from Camelot for trying to murder her brother Arthur, Morgan hopes to return if she can get her son Rupert to become a knight of the Round Table. Her plan is thwarted by Merlin.
In video games
Title
Year
Nature
Character
Notes
Guinevere
2022
Good
Morgana
A roleplaying game were the player is in the position of Guinevere, who suffers from visions predicting the downfall of both Camelot and Arthur and Lancelot, both of whom the player can have Guinevere romance: "Promised to the legendary ruler of Camelot, you carry a secret that may be your new home's salvation... or its destruction." Made by Pixelberry Studios.
Both a boss character and a summonable Servant. This version of Morgan is the queen of Fairy Britain, an alternate timeline where fairies are the dominant species instead of humans, and considers herself a separate being from the Fate/Apocrypha version of Morgan le Fay. She is a tyrant who rules with an iron fist, yet her rule is a necessary evil; without her, the fairies and humans would perish, either due to infighting caused by the fairies' capricious natures or due to the Great Calamities that periodically plague Fairy Britain.
A narrative adventure game set in the 19th-century London. According to official synopsis: "The legendary sorceress suffered her curse during the fall of Camelot and has been forced to live in canine form ever since. It has been a constant struggle for Fey to reconcile how the world sees her and her personhood, her femininity, her desires. Will she ever regain her human form, but more importantly who will she be when that happens?"[235] Voiced by Perdita Weeks.
A legendary hero summon character: "Morgan was the first human to ever learn fairy magic. Her first use of the power was to grant herself eternal youth and beauty, but her body has not been able to withstand the spell and the surging power has marred her skin. She continues searching for a way to heal herself, and has joined the Cult of Shadows to achieve such ends. She is one of the few on the order who still retains free will." Her secret identity is of Queen Fersona, another character.
A strategy/RPG hybrid in which Morgan is a half-Sidhe sorceress and one of the leading characters of the game. She goes with her army in a search for her mentor, Merlin, who was kidnapped by Nimue. But it turns outs Morgana worked not to help him, but to increase her power.[242][243]
Legend of the Cryptids
2012
Evil
Morgan le Fay
An MMORPG card game in which Morgan was added in the "Knights of Camelot" limited card pack that was available only in 2013.
In this card-based video game, Morgana Le Fay is one of the Hero cards used to build a deck in the game.[244] The magical leader of the green colored Danann Covenant also appears predominantly in the game's promotion and is used as the application icon.[245]
A puzzle game in which the ambitious great sorceress Morganna has turned to evil and was vanquished by Melin but managed to escape. Years later, Morganna return to get her revenge and take over Avalon. Now Merlin's apprentice Evelyne must defeat Morgana and save both Merlin and Avalon.[246][247] In the follow-up game, Runes of Avalon 2 (2008), Morganna was defeated by Evelyne in a fierce magical battle and is apparently gone forever[248] but her curses are still in force and so Evelyne now must destroy Morganna's legacy of dark magic and heal Avalon.[249]
An action-adventure game in which Morganna is a powerful sorceress and a half-sister to King, who has lives in seclusion in a floating part of Avalon since the Great War when she and Merlin defeated Mab.[250] During the course of the game, it is discovered that Morganna orchestrated the monster invasion to keep the Knights of the Round Table busy as she sent her son Mordred in Camelot to steal Excalibur.[251][252] Eventually, it turns out that Morganna and Mordred have been only bewitched and corrupted by Mab in order to let her escape her magic crystal prison. After Mab is defeated, her influence is broken and they are reverted to their normal selves, remembering nothing.[249]
A first-person slashed in which the evil sorceress Morgana is the antagonist of the game and Arthur uses the Excalibur to slay her in the final fight.[253]
In this RTS / action-RPG hybrid, Morgan is a power-hungry evil sorceress who has killed her father Uther Pendragon. The player is cast in the role of young Arthur on a quest to unite the Kingdom of Camelot and destroy Morgan.[254][255][256]
Morgan is a fairy Mother Goddess, a temptress who despises the hero Bradwen because of his rejection of her in favour of Morgan's sister Rhiannon. She tried to arrange for her champion, the Pied Knight, to kill Bradwen, but the situation is resolved without a fight, and Bradwen later also rescues St. Joseph who has been put under a sleeping spell by Morgan when he tried to convert her.[257][258][259]
Morgan is a great goddess whom Bradwen must outwit to get the fairies of her domain Avalon to help him against the evil sorcerer Morganor's ally known as the Witch of Winter. Later Bradwen refuses Morgan's advances and frees Gawain from her power, and they escape from Avalon.[260][261]
Dark Camelot (cancelled)
-
Other
Morgan le Fay
An early version (circa 1996) of the game that would eventually become the stealth game Thief: The Dark Project featured Mordred as a misunderstood hero and Morgan as the protagonist Mordred's "sort of good" advisor.[262]
A first-person shooter with the mod titled Excalibur: Morgana's Revenge about a space marine's mission is to stop the time-travelling Morgana in three time periods.[263]
An adventure game where a woman named Kay is sent back in time to put out a threat from witch Morgana and rescue Merlin.[264] The game ends with Key finding and eliminating Morgana.[265][266]
In this tactical role-playing game, Morgana is the good Queen of Avalon and a sister of both Queen Gloriana of Albion and Prytania the Witch Queen of Annwyn.[269]
In this adventure game, the wicked Morgana, angry that Arthur has refused to accept her son Modred as one of the Knights of the Round Table has cast a spell that plunged the entire land into neverending winter. The player is cast in the role of Arthur who sets out to remove the curse.[271] At the end of the game, Arthur finds and rescues the enchanted Merlin, who defeats Morgana.
A post-apocalytpic version of the role-playing game Hypercorps 2099 where Morgan and Merlin are among the "Warlords of the Wasteland" ruling this world.[276]
A role-playing game where the Witch Queen Morgan is a default adversary and the gamemaster is supposed to "always blame evil events on her, if she is not responsible. Any suspected ill-doing is her fault."
A Lawful/Neutral Half-Elf Cleric/Druid antagonistic character in the Arthurian scenario "The Pillar of Clinschor" in the Wizards book in the Role Aids series.
Knights of Camelot
1980
Evil
Morgan Le Fay
A board game with role-playing elements, in which Morgan if not avoided can seduce the players to enter her service.[291]
Merlin
1980
Evil
Morgane le Fay
A board game by Greg Stafford in which the players play as either Merlin or Morgane.[292]
In this opera by Mary Knickle, Morgan represents female power on an isle threatened by fearful male religious fanatics exploiting Mordred's unconcern with women's welfare. She is also hostile to Uther as the murderer of Gorlois, and to her own mother. She has an uneven relationship with her sister Elaine, who (coerced by the clerics) convinces her to return to Britain. Merlin appears as her lover, but she refuses him to save Avalon by withdrawing it from the world. Much of the libretto is drawn from Celtic druidic chants, the Old Testament and modern spiritual eco-feminism conceptions of power drawn from contemplation, calm and enjoying nature.
A Rodgers and Hart musical, in which Morgan sings about why and how she murdered sixteen of her husbands in Larry Hart's witty and final lyric, To Keep My Love Alive.
An egregore of the human spirit of rebellion and the ex-wife of egregore of conquest Aleph (who is derived from King Arthur both in and out of universe). She allies herself with the protagonist, offering them the opportunity to escape the island of New Wirral in exchange for being used for her own ends.[316]
Novels by David Alastair Hayden and Pepper Thorn, The Shadowed Manse and The Warlock's Gambit.
The Far Kingdoms: Elements
Morgana
2014
Evil
The Far Kingdoms (2013): In this sequel to The Far Kingdoms, Morgana have survived her battle with Princess Arianna and returned to cast a powerful spell that turned all of Arianna's subjects into stone. Now Arianna needs to again defeat Morgana and remove the curse from her kingdom.[318]
A normal girl is accused of being a witch. Upon her death she lingers as a ghost and gains the ability to curse souls, causing those who wronged her to reincarnate and live tragic second lives.
The After Cilmeri
2011
Good
In this series of novels by Sarah Woodbury, Anna and David are confused for Morgana and Arthur in Prince of Time and Crossroads in Time.
In Highschool DxD light novel series, Morgana Le Fay was a legendary witch in ancient times and a contemporary of the Great Wizard Merlin, her descendant Le Fay Pendragon who inherited her magic talent is a prodigy witch of the Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn, is the love interest of the protagonist Issei Hyoudou.
The Far Kingdoms
Morgana
2013
Evil
A hidden object puzzle game in which the dark witch Morgana and her minions took over the kingdom of Princess Arianna and bewitched everyone into believing she is the queen. Now Arianna needs to defeat Morgana's sorcery and save the kingdom from evil.[319][320]
The misunderstood celestial being Morgana is one of the many Champions (player characters) in this video game. Originally was to be named "Morgana Le".
The dark sorceress named Queen Morganthe,[322] is the second main villain of this MMORPG, where she tries to learn the secrets of the magic of the lost world of Celestia at all costs.[323]
In this video game, manga and anime franchise, Morgan is a Gaelic female warrior, a wife of the protagonist great demon king Arawn, and a friend of Arthur (here also a Gael warrior).
Morgaine the Sorceress
Morgaine Fabiano
2004
The protagonist in the series of novels by Joe Vadalma.
The former queen of Tir Nan Og (inspired by Tír na nÓg) and the Earth Fairies and mother of Princess Roxy of Earth, of the show's protagonists. She first appears in the episode "Love & Pet".
An evil entity originally tasked with giving birth to Aura that traps Tsukasa inside The World and alters his memories to make him more miserable in the hopes that it will corrupt Aura.
A spirit medium of the Fey clan branch family who wishes to usurp the title of heir to the Master of the clan from her niece, Maya Fey. She first tries to frame Maya for murder and later attempts to have her killed.
Heart of the Dove
Faye Morgan
1999
A novel by Tracy Fobes featuring a witch named Faye Morgan, considered a descendant of Morgana Fay.
Morgana and Xenoc are leaders of a group of evil wizards and sorceress serving of the antagonist Alamar and based in the city of Sandcaster. The good sorceress Astra gives the player a quest to kill them and wipe out their followers.[325]
A reformed evil sorceress who has become Darkwing Duck's love interest and a member of the Justice Ducks.n She has first appeared in the episode "Fungus Amongus" (chronologically, in "Ghoul of My Dreams" that was aired out of order).
Popular Arthurian Traditions edited by Sally K. Slocum (feat. "Morgan le Fay: Goddess or Witch?" by Charlotte Spivack and "Thoroughly Modern Morgan" by Elizabeth S. Sklar). Popular Press, 1992.
The New Arthurian Encyclopedia by Norris J. Lac and Geoffrey Ashe. Garland Pub., 1996.
King Arthur on Film: New Essays on Arthurian Cinema edited by Kevin J. Harty. McFarland, 1999.
A Bibliography of Modern Arthuriana (1500-2000) edited by Ann F. Howey, Stephen Ray Reimer. Boydell & Brewer, 2006.
Morgan Le Fay, Shapeshifter by Jill Marie Hebert. Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
^ abc"Thoroughly Modern Morgan: Morgan le Fey in Twentieth-Century Popular Arthuriana". Sklar, Elizabeth S., in Popular Arthurian Traditions p. 24-32. ISBN0-87972-562-1.
^Dobski, Bernard J.; Kleinerman, Benjamin A. (2007). ""We should see certain things yet, let us hope and believe": Technology, Sex, and Politics in Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee". The Review of Politics. 69 (4): 599–624. doi:10.1017/S0034670507000976. ISSN1748-6858. S2CID154153484.
^Hoffman, Mary (2000). Women of Camelot: Queens and Enchantresses at the Court of King Arthur (9780789206466): Mary Hoffman, Christina Balit: Books. ISBN978-0789206466.