The House of Gorlois refers to a noble family that resides in Camelot. In the time before the Great Purge, they were close friends and allies of the House of Pendragon.
History
Gorlois married Vivienne and they had one daughter, Morgause. Shortly after her birth, Morgause was smuggled out of Camelot and entrusted to the High Priestesses of the Old Religion and Uther was led to believe that she died (The Sins of the Father).
While Gorlois was fighting on the Northern Plains, Vivienne had an affair with Uther Pendragon that produced a daughter, Morgana Pendragon. It is unknown whether Gorlois adopted Morgana or truly believed that she was his biological child, but he raised her as his own and they shared a very close relationship (To Kill the King, The Crystal Cave, His Father's Son).
When Morgana was ten years old, Gorlois was killed in battle after Uther failed to send him reinforcements and Uther adopted her as his ward (To Kill the King).
Roughly twenty years after the Great Purge, Morgause returned to Camelot seeking revenge against Uther. She recruited Morgana to her cause and taught her to use her magic, and together they conquered Camelot. Arthur and his allies destroyed their immortal army, however, and Morgause was severely wounded in a skirmish with Merlin (The Coming of Arthur).
In the year following their failed conquest of Camelot, Morgause's health began to worsen due to the injuries she'd incurred and she eventually realized she was dying. She chose to end her suffering by having Morgana use her as a blood sacrifice to take revenge on their enemies (The Darkest Hour).
As Morgause died without issue, Gorlois' bloodline is presumably extinct. However, his family line remained extant through Morgana until she was killed by Merlin after the Battle of Camlann (The Diamond of the Day).
Notable Members
Member | Status | Title | Relations | Photo |
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Gorlois | † | Knight of Camelot |
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Morgana Pendragon | † | Lady |
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Morgause | † | Lady |
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Vivienne | † | Lady |
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Family Tree
Gorlois + Vivienne + Uther Pendragon + Ygraine Pendragon | | | | | | | | | +-------------+--------------------+ Morgause Morgana Pendragon Arthur Pendragon
Trivia
- It is unknown how or when Vivienne died.
- Though both of her daughters possessed magical abilities, it is unknown what (if any) connection Vivienne herself had to magic (The Nightmare Begins, The Sins of the Father).
- According to Gaius, Morgause was the only person besides Morgana who had cause to wear Gorlois' family crest. This strongly implies that they were the only remaining members of his family (The Sins of the Father).
Oddities & Errors
- Gaius refers to Morgause as Morgana's half-sister in The Sins of the Father, but doesn't learn of Morgana's illegitimacy until The Crystal Cave. This could be taken to mean that Gorlois is not Morgause's true father, but since their relationship is never called into question at any other point in the series, Gaius' knowledge is more likely a writing error or something that was retconned.
- It is also possible that Gaius was aware Gorlois was not Morgana's biological father, but not that Uther was.