Merlin: The Demon-Born Wizard Who Could See the Future

Join this channel to get early access to episodes, ad-free watching, and priority access to our live events: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join Our whole series on King Arthur is available here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA_FScIjINX8 What are the origins of Merlin, the powerful wizard and King Arthur’s advisor? Who was Geoffrey of Monmouth, and what role did he play in evolving the tales of Arthur and the Round Table? And, was Merlin based on a real historical figure from the Saxon invasion of Britain in the 5th century, and the totemic battle of Badon…? Join Tom and Dominic as they delve into the true origins of history’s greatest wizard: Merlin…. Your next discovery is waiting on TikTok. Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Social channels: https://www.instagram.com/theresthistory/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theresthistory https://x.com/TheRestHistory https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social https://www.threads.com/@theresthistory 00:00 Merlin: The Wizard Behind King Arthur 01:45 Geoffrey of Monmouth and the Birth of Arthurian Legend 06:51 How King Arthur Became a Medieval Legend 09:12 Did Geoffrey of Monmouth Invent Britain's History? 14:07 King Arthur's Conquests and the British Empire 16:33 Merlin's Powers, the Sword in the Stone and His Fate 21:53 Merlin's Prophecies and Their Influence 29:42 Nostradamus and Merlin's Political Legacy 34:06 TikTok 35:11 Did Merlin Really Exist? 38:17 Vortigern and the Collapse of Roman Britain 40:28 The Saxon Invasion and Betrayal of the Britons 43:32 Merlin, Vortigern and the Red and White Dragons 47:14 Arthur's Victories and the Origins of Stonehenge 50:13 The Ancient Welsh Sources Behind Merlin 53:42 The Earliest Written Evidence for King Arthur 56:21 Gildas, Bede and the Historical Evidence for Arthur 59:47 Did King Arthur Actually Exist? Video Editor: Jack Meek, Harry Swan & Adam Thornton Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Aaliyah Akude & Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Callum Hill Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley