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King Urien

Arthurian Legend
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A historical and Arthurian figure, king of Rheged and husband of Morgan le Fay, father of the knight Ywain.

Detailed Definition
Urien appears in Welsh and continental sources as a historical king absorbed into legend. In poetry, his marriage to Morgan adds political complexity to her schemes, symbolizing the uneasy alliance between magic and mortal power.
Example
Example in poetry:
King Urien of Gore marries Morgan le Fay in some traditions; Poets depict him as wise but cuckolded ruler; His son Ywain becomes a Grail knight despite parental strife; In political verse, Urien represents northern alliances with Camelot; Modern retellings explore his tolerance of Morgan’s schemes; Urien’s court becomes setting for intrigue and reconciliation.
Additional Notes
King Urien is husband of Morgan le Fay and father of Owain (Ywain); historically a real 6th-century ruler, he’s woven into Arthurian legend as a loyal but peripheral figure—poets may use him to bridge historical and mythical Britain or explore Morgan’s complex marital ties.
Also Known As
Urien Rheged Uriens King Uriens
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