Ambrosius Aurelianus
Despite the film's alleged historical angle, Merlin was not originally part of the legends. It is generally agreed that he is based on two figures—"Myrddin Wyllt" (Myrddin the Wild), and Aurelius Ambrosius, a highly fictionalised version of the historical war leader Ambrosius Aurelianus. The former had nothing to do with Arthur and flourished after the Arthurian period. The composite Merlin was created by Geoffrey of Monmouth.