- NOTE: This article is about the novel version of the Horned King. You may be looking for information on his Disney counterpart.
The Horned King is the secondary antagonist of the Chronicles of Prydain novel series, appearing as the main antagonist of the first novel The Book of Three.
Biography[]
The Chronicles of Prydain: The Book of Three[]
In The Chronicles of Prydain series, the Horned King appears only in the first book "The Book of Three". He is Arawn's champion and the War Leader of Annuvin. The Horned King is described as a huge man wearing armor (except for his arms, which are naked and stained crimson), a red cape and an antlered skull mask. The antlers are presumably where he gets his name.
Arawn sends the Horned King to capture the oracular pig named Hen Wen from Caer Dallben. He follows Taran across Prydain in search of Hen Wen, but cannot find her. In the end, he marches his army to Caer Dathyl and attacks Taran when he and Eilonwy try to warn the Sons of Don of the impending attack. Taran tries to fight him with the sword known as Dyrnwyn, but is nearly slain by the sword's fire in his attempt to draw it.
Gwydion is able to defeat the Horned King by speaking and uttering his true name (Cornelius presumably), and upon the utterance of his name, the Horned King is struck by a flash of lightning and destroyed by flames.
Appearance[]
The Horned King has the appearance of a muscular man with a skull face and deer antlers. He wears a long, red cape. He is also seen riding on a brown horse.
Trivia[]
- A loose adaptation incarnation of the Horned King, who has the same name, appears as the main antagonist of the Disney animated movie The Black Cauldron, a loose adaptation of the entire The Chronicles of Pydrain books as a whole.