Morgan le Fay

Morgan le Fay (/ˈmɔːr.ɡən lə ˈfeɪ/; Welsh and Cornish: Morgen; Modern French: Fée Morgane), alternatively known as Morgan[n]a, Morgain[a/e], Morgant[e], Morg[a]ne, Morgayn[e], Morgein[e], and Morgue[in] among other names and spellings, is a powerful and ambiguous enchantress from the legend of King Arthur, in which most often she and he are siblings. According to the different authors, she is a fairy or a human; beneficial or harmful; either a sister, half-sister, or unrelated to Arthur. A significant aspect in many of Morgan's medieval and later iterations is the unpredictable duality of her nature, with potential for both good and evil.

Her character may have originated from Welsh mythology as well as from other ancient and medieval myths and historical figures. Early appearances of Morgan in Arthurian literature do not elaborate her character beyond her role as a goddess, a fay, a witch, or a sorceress, generally benevolent and connected to Arthur as his magical saviour and protector. The earliest documented account, by Geoffrey of Monmouth in Vita Merlini (written c. 1150) refers to Morgan in association with the Isle of Apples (Avalon), to which Arthur was carried after having been fatally wounded at the Battle of Camlann, as the leader of the nine magical sisters unrelated to Arthur. Therein, and in the early chivalric romances by Chrétien de Troyes and others, Morgan's chief role is that of a great healer. Romance authors of the late 12th century established Morgan as Arthur's supernatural elder sister.