Gone Medieval – "Prophecies of Merlin"

Podcast: Gone Medieval (History Hit)
Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Dr. Eleanor Janega
Guest: John Matthews, Arthurian expert

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Eleanor Janega explores the recently translated medieval text "The Prophecies of Merlin" with Arthurian scholar John Matthews. They dissect little-known legends of Merlin, the context and content of the prophecies, and the surprising layers of social, religious, and political meaning found in the text. The discussion highlights Merlin’s role as prophet, advisor, and complex character, and the enduring interplay between mythic, pagan, and Christian traditions in the medieval imagination.

Main Discussion Points

The Hidden Origins and Rediscovery of "Prophecies of Merlin"

• Discovery & Translation: The text in focus is a 1498 French book, newly translated into English for the first time by the late Martin Haverkamp and John Matthews.
  • "[The prophecies] actually comes from a largely forgotten and until now untranslated book about Merlin and King Arthur, which includes much that is new and exciting..." – Dr. Eleanor Janega (06:31)
  • Haverkamp, an avid rare book collector, discovered the book in Paris.
  • Previous scholars dismissed the 13th-century manuscript as "rubbish," so it languished untranslated until now. (13:30–14:50)
• Medieval Bestseller: The tradition of Merlin’s prophecies begins in the 6th century with the poet and wild man Merthyn (Merlin), evolving into a medieval craze by the time of Geoffrey of Monmouth and culminating in the 15th-century text discussed here. (09:19–13:00)

What Makes This Version Unique

• New Legends & Rich Content: The book weaves together prophecy, Arthurian legend, political allegory, religious polemic, crusade narratives, and fairy lore:
  • "You have things like crusade narratives, polemics about politics, varying religious allegories. Why do you think we see this…melange of ideas?" – Dr. Eleanor Janega (15:57)
  • Matthews explains these texts allowed for pointed (and often dangerous) commentary on rulers, the church, and current events, all veiled in Merlin's authority. (16:37–17:45)
• Merlin’s “Human” Side: This portrayal presents Merlin not as an aloof magician but as someone "with feelings, he hurts, he's killed…in all, to one sense and purposes, human." – John Matthews (61:24)
• Women & Magic: Variants involving Morgan le Fay and the Lady of the Lake show Merlin sharing secrets with powerful women, who often use that knowledge against him (notably imprisoning him, ensuring his prophecies echo from his tomb). (03:54–05:53, 16:37–17:45, 39:49–43:19)

Medieval Prophecy as Social and Political Commentary

• Free Speech Through Prophecy:
  • Prophetic texts, attributed to Merlin, offered cover for criticizing authority: "You could say what you liked...attack your nobles, your kings, your emperors, your churchmen..." – John Matthews (16:37)
• Antichrist Motif:
  • The book features frequent references to the coming of the Antichrist, sometimes linking specific rulers (e.g., Frederick I/II) to the figure – a risky move only possible under the guise of prophecy. (20:45–22:04)
  • "You can't get mad at Merlin. I mean, what are you going to do? Hunt him down in the cell that Morgan le Fay created for him?" – Dr. Eleanor Janega (21:51)

The Interplay of Pagan, Fairy, and Christian Worlds

• Blended Traditions: Merlin is both son of a devil (or fairy), and baptized—his ambiguous identity straddles paganism and Christianity.
  • "We make a lot of assumptions when we assume that Christianity simply swept the board. That didn't happen entirely." – John Matthews (44:21)
• The Lady of the Lake & Fairy Lore: The text reveals multiple fairy women, rivalries among them, and their crucial influence on Arthurian stories and quests. (39:49–43:19)
• Prester John & the Eastern Mystique:
  • Prester John, legendary eastern Christian monarch, appears and even takes the Holy Grail for safekeeping—suggesting the ever-shifting mythic geography as Europeans learned more about the world. (28:48–34:07, 50:01–53:54)

Magical Objects and the Power of Belief

• Grail and More:
  • The manuscript is studded with magical objects (glowing stones, jewels, the Grail)—symbols of the tangible mysteries medieval people and modern readers alike yearn for.
    • "If they believe it, it becomes real in that sense." – John Matthews (56:40)
  • These objects serve both as spiritual foci and as catalysts for narrative (Galahad and the Grail, magic stones for travel).

Prophecies—Fact, Allegory, or Entertainment?

• Did people believe them?
  • Parallels are drawn with modern belief in prophecy (e.g., Nostradamus, millennium fears).
  • "It's not always a matter of belief, it's a matter of feeling...you're part of something that is real, that has a substance in a way." – John Matthews (58:02)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Merlin's humanity:
  • "Merlin as much more of a human being...We're so used to [him as a] distant, verified being; this one has feelings, he hurts, he's killed physically." – John Matthews (61:24)
• On the Prophecy’s function:
  • "It wasn't about genuinely saying, this is going to happen next week and you'd better look out. It was much bigger than that." – John Matthews (22:04)
• On medieval flexibility between belief and allegory:
  • "Medieval people...they've got a pretty good handle on when you have an allegory, when you're telling a story, and they can choose...the belief aspect of it..." – Dr. Eleanor Jaenega (56:56)
• Magical realism in daily life:
  • "She [Morgan le Fay] didn't get very much sleep because he [Merlin] had these stones that shone all night...That's such a human sort of comment, isn't it? The stones are magical. But on the other hand, you're going, yeah, that would keep me awake." – John Matthews (27:40)

Key Timestamps

• Merlin and the Lady of the Lake Story: 02:32–06:29
• Discovery & Authorship of "Prophecies of Merlin": 06:29–09:19
• Origins and Evolution of Merlin & His Prophecies: 09:19–15:57
• Nature of the Prophecies and Their Politics: 15:57–23:14
• Blending Fairy and Christian Elements: 39:49–47:11
• Magic Objects, Grail, and Belief: 53:54–58:02
• Discussion on Belief in Prophecy: 56:56–60:43
• Personal Favorite Stories in the Manuscript: 61:10–62:28

Final Thoughts & Legacy

• The episode honors Martin Haverkamp's recent passing and his legacy in helping bring this rare text to light.
• Dr. Janega and John Matthews reflect on how Merlin’s myth continues to illuminate the mingling of legend, belief, allegory, and historical commentary in the Middle Ages and today.

Further Information

• The English translation of the "Prophecies of Merlin" is now accessible thanks to Haverkamp and Matthews’s collaboration.
• Look for more episodes on Arthurian and medieval topics from Gone Medieval via History Hit.

For listeners:
This episode is a must for fans of medieval myths and scholars alike, providing both a deep dive into newly revealed Arthurian lore and fresh perspectives on the historical context and enduring allure of prophecy.