Constans, eldest son of king Constance of England, inherits his father's kingdom, but defends his country so poorly against the invading Danes, led by Angys, that his barons murder him and enthrone his treacherous steward, Vortigern.
Fearing an invasion by Aurelius and Uther, Vortigern tries to build a castle for his own protection at Salisbury, but every night the walls collapse.
This child, Merlin, is baptised by the girl's confessor, Blasi [fr], and as he begins to grow it is discovered that he is good, not evil, and that he has magical powers and great wisdom.
When they are dug up the white dragon kills the red one, and Merlin explains that this is an omen of Vortigern's coming expulsion by the rightful heir.
With Merlin's help, Uther reigns long and prosperously, conquering foreign lands and setting up the Round Table as an order of chivalry.
[9] The first recension of the poem is believed to have been written in Kent or the London area in the second half of the 13th century, making it the oldest known English Arthurian romance.
[10][11][12] The name of the original author is unknown, but stylistic, thematic, dialectal and other similarities have led some scholars to believe that he was the same poet who wrote the romances King Alisaunder, Richard Coer de Lyon, and perhaps The Seven Sages of Rome.
It simplifies the story of the Estoire de Merlin by omitting passages of psychological subtlety and concentrating on simple narrative action; the element of courtly love is downplayed while battle and feasting scenes are expanded.
[2] Of the first, pre-Arthurian, section of this romance John Edwin Wells observed that "the incidents...are attractive, partly because they are presented fluently, realistically, and dramatically",[19] while Dieter Mehl conceded that it "is held together by a certain tension and unity of plot".
[23] Several critics have approved the poet's smooth handling of his metre, the four-stress couplet,[21][24][25] Likewise there has been praise for the lyrical verses on the seasons of the year with which the romance is sprinkled.