SexViolHist Bib: Cases: Mythological Cases: Rape of Igraine

»In the Matter of Britain, Igraine (/iːˈɡreɪn/) is the mother of King Arthur. Igraine is also known in Latin as Igerna, in Welsh as Eigr (Middle Welsh Eigyr), in French as Ygraine (Old French Ygerne or Igerne), in Le Morte d'Arthur as Ygrayne—often modernised as Igraine or Igreine—and in Parzival as Arnive. She becomes the wife of Uther Pendragon, after the death of her first husband, Gorlois.
In Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, Igerna enters the story as the wife of Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall. (...)
Geoffrey describes her as one "whose beauty surpassed that of all the women of Britain." High King Uther Pendragon falls in love with her and attempts to force his attentions on her at his court. She informs her husband, who departs with her to Cornwall without asking leave. This sudden departure gives Uther Pendragon an excuse to make war on Gorlois.
Gorlois conducts the war from the castle of Dimilioc but places his wife in safety in Tintagel Castle. Disguised as Gorlois by Merlin, Uther Pendragon is able to enter Tintagel to satisfy his lust. He manages to rape Igraine by deceit – she believes that she is lying with her husband and becomes pregnant with Arthur. Her husband Gorlois dies in battle that same night. Geoffrey does not say, and later accounts disagree, as to whether Gorlois died before or after Arthur was begotten. Uther Pendragon later marries Igraine.« (Extract from: Wikipedia)

K e y w o r d s

I. Chronological Index: Medieval History: 12^th Century, 13^th Century, 15^th Century | II. Geographical Index: European History: English History | III. Topical Index: Types: Circumstances: Rape by Deception

B i b l i o g r a p h y

Literary Texts: Thomas Malory | Historiographical Texts: Geoffrey of Monmouth, Layamon, Wace