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King Uriens

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 historic King of Rheged and husband of Morgan le Fay in Arthurian legend; featured as a heroic sovereign in medieval romance.

Detailed Definition
King Uriens is a northern British ruler remembered in Welsh and later Arthurian traditions. His kingdom and family connect courtly romance with older heroic histories, especially through his son Owain and the mysterious Laudine. In poetry, Uriens can represent the aging sovereign whose authority is shadowed by succession, loyalty, and political marriage. His presence gives the legendary world a texture of dynastic memory and contested inheritance.
Example
Example in poetry:
King Uriens can represent the complicated bond between political authority and family loyalty; A poet may invoke Uriens as the king whose marriage to Morgan places him near both power and enchantment; “Uriens wore a crown dimmed by his queen’s dark counsel” presents kingship under domestic strain; His name can enrich a poem about rulers who must survive the ambitions of those closest to them.
Additional Notes
King Uriens is a ruler of Rheged, a northern British kingdom, and is best known in Arthurian romance as the father of Owain, or Yvain. Some traditions also connect him with Morgan le Fay through marriage, though relationships differ by source. Uriens illustrates how Arthurian stories combine legendary British history, family alliances, and marvel-filled romance.
Also Known As
King Urien Urien of Rheged
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