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Traditionally regarded as King Arthur's adversary, yet also his half-sister, Morgan le Fay remains a relatively mysterious character in literature. Known by many names - among them, Morgaine, Morgana, and Morgenshe appears in a wide variety of stories in the Arthurian tradition. Almost always portrayed as a magical character, she casts spells, heals people, and generally influences the other characters.
Many stories describe Morgan as Arthur's older half-sister, the child of Queen Igerna and her first husband Gorlois. Morgan is also said to be married to King Uriens, with whom she had a son, Sir Uwain. Morgan's relationships with her family commonly play a prominent role in these stories. Many tell of feuds with Arthur or his wife, Guinevere. These arguments often escalate into attempts on her brother's life. Yet, extreme as this behavior sounds, Morgan le Fay was not always such a meddlesome character.
A Shapeshifter and Healer
The first Arthurian story in which Morgan appears is Vita Merlini, a poem written in Latin by Geoffrey of Monmouth in a.d. 1150. Monmouth briefly describes her as the first of nine sisters who dwell on the Isle of Apples. A fertile place, overflowing with plants and trees, this island would eventually become known as Avalon....