Galad Damodred
Encyclopedia
Lord Galadedrid of House Damodred, called "Galad" for short, is a fictional character in the Wheel of Time
fantasy series by Robert Jordan
.
He is the son of Tigraine Mantear, fathered by Taringail Damodred, and half-brother to Elayne
and Gawyn Trakand
through his father. He is also (though he does not know it) Rand al'Thor
's half-brother through his mother. His sign is a winged silver sword, point-down. He is known for his virtuous
nature, and sometimes despised for it, as he "always does the right thing, with no regard for who it hurts." His physical beauty is also often commented on by several characters.
He and his brother Gawyn trained with the Warders
at Tar Valon
; of the two, Galad was accounted the better swordsman, though both were excellent and (as of the series' eleventh novel, Knife of Dreams
) had become blademasters by defeating an acknowledged blademaster in combat. During The Fires of Heaven
, he is found to have joined the Children of the Light, where he was quickly promoted due to his skill with a sword and zeal for righteousness. Having said that, Gawyn believes that Galad joined the Whitecloaks partly because he wanted to find Egwene al'Vere
, with whom they are both besotted. As a Whitecloak, he was of service to his half-sister Elayne and her traveling companion Nynaeve al'Meara
, taking action to secure a boat for their escape; however, this action was to seize the boat under the auspices of the Children, sparking an all-out riot which, in Elayne's opinion, would inevitably engulf the entire nation of Ghealdan in war. He did this purely to facilitate Nynaeve's and Elayne's escape, which he considered to be the right thing to do.
Galad is not present again in the series' narrative until the novel Knife of Dreams. Upon hearing that Eamon Valda, the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light, had assaulted and killed his stepmother Morgase Trakand, he rides with several supporters to the Whitecloaks' new headquarters where he challenges Valda to "Trial Under the Light", a trial by combat
duel to the death. Galad wins, and, by Whitecloak custom, inherits the defeated person's possessions; in Galad's case, he took up Valda's heron-mark sword
and title of blademaster, as well as the office of Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light. The Children divide over this turn of events, and roughly 7,000 Children ride north with Galad towards Tarmon Gai'don
.
Later, his group meets with the other half of the children, and eventually he is recognized by all as commander.
It may be that Galad has a future relationship with Berelain
, as Min Farshaw
's viewings relating to her are, "Just a man in white who will make her fall head over heels" as well as another viewing of two beautiful people falling in love with each other. As of "Towers of Midnight
", both he and Berelain showed great interest in each other.
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
fantasy series by Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
.
He is the son of Tigraine Mantear, fathered by Taringail Damodred, and half-brother to Elayne
Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She bears a resemblance both in name and appearance to Ilyena, the doomed wife of Lews Therin Telamon from the Age of Legends.-Description:...
and Gawyn Trakand
Gawyn Trakand
Gawyn Trakand is a fictional character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.Lord Gawyn of House Trakand is the son of Taringail and Queen Morgase, as well as the brother of Elayne and half-brother to Galad Damodred...
through his father. He is also (though he does not know it) Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
's half-brother through his mother. His sign is a winged silver sword, point-down. He is known for his virtuous
Virtue
Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being....
nature, and sometimes despised for it, as he "always does the right thing, with no regard for who it hurts." His physical beauty is also often commented on by several characters.
He and his brother Gawyn trained with the Warders
Warder (Wheel of Time)
A Warder in the world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series is a person bonded by an Aes Sedai through the use of saidar to become her bodyguard as she travels....
at Tar Valon
Tar Valon
Tar Valon is a fictional city in Robert Jordan's fantasy series the Wheel of Time.-The City:Tar Valon is an island city in the River Erinin, within sight of the Dragonmount. It is the home of the White Tower, which is the center of Aes Sedai power...
; of the two, Galad was accounted the better swordsman, though both were excellent and (as of the series' eleventh novel, Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams is the 11th novel in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books in the U.S. and Orbit in the UK and released on October 11, 2005...
) had become blademasters by defeating an acknowledged blademaster in combat. During The Fires of Heaven
The Fires of Heaven
The Fires of Heaven is the fifth book in American author Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 15, 1993....
, he is found to have joined the Children of the Light, where he was quickly promoted due to his skill with a sword and zeal for righteousness. Having said that, Gawyn believes that Galad joined the Whitecloaks partly because he wanted to find Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
, with whom they are both besotted. As a Whitecloak, he was of service to his half-sister Elayne and her traveling companion Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Personality:Nynaeve's personality often runs a gamut of emotions, meek at times before more experienced women but also able to stand up and run down others. While she will deny it, Nynaeve is...
, taking action to secure a boat for their escape; however, this action was to seize the boat under the auspices of the Children, sparking an all-out riot which, in Elayne's opinion, would inevitably engulf the entire nation of Ghealdan in war. He did this purely to facilitate Nynaeve's and Elayne's escape, which he considered to be the right thing to do.
Galad is not present again in the series' narrative until the novel Knife of Dreams. Upon hearing that Eamon Valda, the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light, had assaulted and killed his stepmother Morgase Trakand, he rides with several supporters to the Whitecloaks' new headquarters where he challenges Valda to "Trial Under the Light", a trial by combat
Trial by combat
Trial by combat was a method of Germanic law to settle accusations in the absence of witnesses or a confession, in which two parties in dispute fought in single combat; the winner of the fight was proclaimed to be right. In essence, it is a judicially sanctioned duel...
duel to the death. Galad wins, and, by Whitecloak custom, inherits the defeated person's possessions; in Galad's case, he took up Valda's heron-mark sword
Heron-mark sword
In the world of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, heron-mark swords are traditionally presented to those who have earned the title of "Blademaster"- either by killing a Blademaster in a fair fight or by being granted the title by a unanimous vote of five Blademasters...
and title of blademaster, as well as the office of Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light. The Children divide over this turn of events, and roughly 7,000 Children ride north with Galad towards Tarmon Gai'don
Tarmon Gai'don
Tarmon Gai'don, or the Last Battle, is an event set in the world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series. The event is both feared and anticipated in the lands of the Wheel...
.
Later, his group meets with the other half of the children, and eventually he is recognized by all as commander.
It may be that Galad has a future relationship with Berelain
Berelain
Berelain sur Paendrag Tanreall of House Paeron is a character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is the "First" of Mayene, a small city-state southeast of Tear, and High Seat of House Paeron...
, as Min Farshaw
Min Farshaw
Elmindreda "Min" Farshaw is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.- Description :She is slender, a little taller than Moiraine , and has short dark hair that becomes curly when grown long. She has large, dark eyes...
's viewings relating to her are, "Just a man in white who will make her fall head over heels" as well as another viewing of two beautiful people falling in love with each other. As of "Towers of Midnight
Towers of Midnight
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the sequel to the novel The Gathering Storm, and the 13th book in the Wheel of Time series.The novel is the second part of A Memory of Light, Robert Jordan's projected final book...
", both he and Berelain showed great interest in each other.