Ferrex was the son of the legendary kingGorboduc of theBritons, and fought with his brotherPorrex for the throne, according toGeoffrey of Monmouth.[1]
When his father had become old, he quarrelled with his brother Porrex over who would succeed to the kingship. Ferrex discovered that Porrex planned to kill him, and fled toGaul, where he enlisted the help of Suhard, the king of theFranks. Upon his return, he fought a battle with his brother and died there. The Gaulish army was also destroyed.
Ferrex had been his mother Judon's favourite son, and she avenged his death by killing Porrex in his sleep. This led to a long civil war between five kings inBritain.
Ferrex was a central character inThomas Norton andThomas Sackville's playGorboduc (1561).