[muawiyah]

That may well be the case when it comes to more recent dramatic ripoffs of the original story. Still, no one is saying that the Merlin of the 6th century is anyone other than the Merlin of the 6th century ~ and he shows up in France, Brittany and Britain.

The characters in the Anglo Saxon stories are dramatic representations of the earlier British tales (which were kept perfect and sacred in their Welsh principalities for hundreds of years after the disasters to the East).

[dangus]

>> Still, no one is saying that the Merlin of the 6th century is anyone other than the Merlin of the 6th century ~ and he shows up in France, Brittany and Britain. <<

Largely, not disagreeing. But “Merlin’” real name was, to largest extent, Ambrosius Aurenlianus, a person Geoffrey of Monmouth conflated with Merddyn Wyllt. Merddyn certainly is a real person, but the Arthurian legend stuff comes from Ambrosius.