View source for Merlin

{{Character infobox
| theme           = Auradon
| image           = 
<tabber>
|-|Current= [[File:Merlin in Graphic Novel.png]]
|-|Younger= [[File:Principal Merlin.jpg]]
</tabber>
| caption         = 
| originfilm      = ''[[The Sword in the Stone]]''
| films           = ''[[Descendants: The Rise of Red]]''
| books           = ''[[Return to the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel]]''<br>''[[Escape from the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel]]''<br>''[[Return to the Isle of the Lost: The Graphic Novel]]''<br>''[[Beyond the Isle of the Lost: Wonderland: A Descendants Novel]]'' {{small|(mentioned in Barnes & Noble exclusive edition)}}
| alsoknown       = The world's most powerful Wizard<br>Marvin<br>Old Goat<br>The Sorcerer<br>The Usher<br>Principal Merlin<br>Headmaster Merlin
| home       = [[Auradon]], [[Camelot Heights]]
| gender          = Male
| eyes            = Black
| hair            = White
| skincolor       = Fair
| allies          = [[Archimedes]]<br>[[King Arthur]]<br>[[Artie]]<br>[[National Association of Far Far Away]]
| enemies         = [[Madam Mim]]<br>Sir Ector (formerly)<br>Sir Kay (formerly)
| pets            = [[Archimedes]] (owl)
| powers          = Magic<br>soothsaying-like foresight into the future<br>metamorphosis<br>time-travel
| possessions     = Magic cane<br>magic wand<br>spell books
| occupation      = Sorcerer<br>Arthur's mentor<br>Principal of [[Merlin Academy]] (formerly)
| actor           = [[Jeremy Swift]]
| originalvoice   = [[wikipedia:Karl Swenson|Karl Swenson]]
}}
'''Merlin''', also known as '''Principal Merlin''', is a powerful wizard and the deuteragonist in Disney's 1963 animated film ''[[The Sword in the Stone]]'', where he is the mentor and friend of [[King Arthur|Arthur]]. Merlin is also the magical rival of [[Madam Mim]]. He was the founder and the principal of [[Merlin Academy]].

He is a supporting character in the novel ''[[Return to the Isle of the Lost]]'', and a minor character in ''[[Escape from the Isle of the Lost]]''. Merlin is portrayed by [[Jeremy Swift]] in the film ''[[Descendants: The Rise of Red]]''.

== History ==
===Before the formation of Auradon===
{{further|The Sword in the Stone}}
[[File:Merlin Sword in Stone.webp|thumb|left|180px|Merlin as he appears originally in ''The Sword in the Stone''.]]
Merlin is a powerful wizard who, after meeting a pre-teen orphan named Arthur, commonly known as Wart, offers to be his tutor, because he senses that he will be someone important in the future. Merlin uses his magic to show Wart different lessons about life. However, when Wart shows enthusiasm for becoming a squire, Merlin becomes enraged as he hopes for a better future for him, causing the wizard to leave. But finally, after Wart extracts the famous Sword in the Stone, he is named king, becoming known to everyone as King Arthur, which leads the boy to call Merlin after feeling under pressure. Merlin, happy that Arthur has become someone who will go down in history, stays by his side during his reign.

=== ''[[Return to the Isle of the Lost]]'' ===
He and [[Ben]] found out in the book that [[Madam Mim]] was attacking [[Auradon]], so he used [[Merlin's Wand|his wand]] to not only bring [[Mal]], [[Evie]], [[Jay]], and [[Carlos De Vil|Carlos]] back to [[Auradon]], but also to banish [[Cruella De Vil]], [[Madam Mim]], [[Jafar]], and the [[Evil Queen]] back to the [[Isle of the Lost]].

===''[[Escape from the Isle of the Lost]]''===
It is mentioned that in the past [[Prince Phillip]], for his Senior Quest, had slain a dragon, although it was an illusion crafted by Merlin.<ref>{{cite book |book=Escape from the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel|chapter=8|page=60|data=It is mentioned that Merlin crafted the illusion of a dragon for [[Prince Phillip]]'s Senior Quest}}</ref> He appears as the representative of [[Camelot]] in the [[National Association of Far Far Away]], were when the members of the council argued that the goods of their respective kingdoms were the most valuable, he comments that the magic potions from Camelot are far more valuable than the diamonds from [[Charmington]] that [[Grumpy]] mentions in the reunion.<ref>{{cite book |book=Escape from the Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel|chapter=14|page=89|data=Merlin takes part in the [[National Association of Far Far Away]] meeting}}</ref>

=== ''[[Descendants: The Rise of Red]]'' ===
Merlin appears inside his [[Merlin Academy|namesake academy]] where he finds [[Chloe Charming]] and [[Red]] and believes them to be late for their class, he meets up with them as Chloe attempts to explain their situation as Red phrases Chloe's sentence differently to prevent her from explaining that they are both from the future though when Red insists they are transfer students, Merlin notes that he would have known about the transfer due to his Principal status and goes through his robe in search for the papers to no luck though believes they would appear eventually as he takes the two to his office for their lesson in Honors Alchemy. There, he asks [[Queen of Hearts|Bridget]] and [[Cinderella|Ella]] to split up and help Red and Chloe with their assignment as the two comply. Throughout the class, Merlin asks the class to focus on their work and to not be so loud with their conversations just before the class ends.

The night before Castlecoming, Red and Chloe break into Merlin's office in order to retrieve the Sorcerer's Cookbook to prevent [[Uliana]] and her [[Uliana's Gang|group]] from taking it first. Merlin is then summoned by one of the enchanted owls when the enchantment on the book is then activated, after entering his office, he finds Uliana, [[Hades]], [[Maleficent]] and [[Captain Hook|Hook]] in their frozen states where he gives them a longtime detention for attempting to take one of the forbidden books.






==Trivia==
*He is one of the few characters originally from Disney animated films to have appeared in the ''Descendants'' film series (in a non-cameo role) without a descendant of them also appearing.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Navigation==
{{Return to the Isle of the Lost}}
{{Escape from the Isle of the Lost}}
{{Beyond the Isle of the Lost}}
{{Descendants: The Rise of Red}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Male Characters]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Return to the Isle of the Lost Characters]]
[[Category:Rise of the Isle of the Lost Characters]]
[[Category:Book Characters]]
[[Category:Sword in the Stone Characters]]
[[Category:Auradon Residents]]
[[Category:Classic characters]]
[[Category:Descendants: The Rise of Red Characters]]