Galbatorix
From The Inheritance Encyclopedia
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| About the Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Galbatorix |
| Race: | Human |
| Birthdate: | Somewhere between one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty years from present day in the Inheritance Cycle. |
| Age: | Somewhere between one hundred twenty to one hundred thirty. |
| Loyalty: | Well, Himself |
| Actor: | John Malkovich |
Galbatorix is the supposedly-corrupt ruler of the Empire in Alagaesia. He is responsible for the Fall of the Dragon Riders, and the death of Vrael, and countless others.
| Warning: This page or section is a spoiler. Information following this warning has been revealed about upcoming Inheritance information. |
Contents |
Early Life
Not much is known about Galbatorix's early life, other than the fact that he was a young Dragon Rider that abruptly rose to power and got his dragon killed. The only thing known of Galbatorix according to Brom's narration in the beginning of Eragon is that he was born in a small town called Inzilbeth, which is no more. He was tested at the age of ten and it was found that great power resided in him.
Family
At this point, there has been no information given on Galbatorix's family members neither past nor present.
Physical Description
Though the book gives little to no description about Galbatorix, we can assume his appearance, by drawing conclusions from his description in the Eragon Movie. In the movie, he is bald, with long black finger nails, and a small tuft of a white beard.
Childhood
Little to nothing is known about Galbatorix's childhood, other than the fact that he was born in a small city, a dragon hatched for him, and that he was a very gifted pupil. There has been evidence in Eragon and Eldest that either Galbatorix or Morzan or both of them were born in a elven city and may have been there the same time as Brom.
Adulthood
Dragon's Death
After earning the status of a full rider, Galbatorix and two other companions, and their dragons, went on a reckless trip to the lands north of Alagaesia. They were attacked by urgals, and Galbatorix was the sole survivor of their ambush.
Journey Back
He then adopted the notion that if he could get back to Vroengard, the Rider's Island, then he may be granted a new dragon. So he traveled back, using the Spine as a path. Where there were animals, he hunted using magic, but most of the time, he traveled where no beasts would tread. On these travels, it is thought that he met the shade Durza, who would one day become his right hand man, and the treacherous beasts known as the Ra'zac, who would become his official dragon egg hunters, in the years to come.
Finally, he found a farm, and collapsed as he reached it's boundaries. The farmer that owned the property summoned the riders, and they brought him back to Vroengard. After three days of slumber, Galbatorix stood before the council to recount his events, and claim the dragon egg that he believed was his. The council finally saw him for what he was, and denied his request.
Revenge
This did not rest well with Galbatorix, and saw the council as his enemies. He bided his time, and found a sympathetic rider and together they killed an elder of the counsil then he killed this rider, and went into hiding. For years, the Riders looked for him, but as time passed, the searches became fewer, and eventually ended.
That was when he struck again. He sought out another sympathetic rider, this one by the name of Morzan. Morzan had a strong body, but weak mind, and was perfect for Galbatorix to bend to his will. He convinced Morzan to leave the gates to the elven city Illeria open. Galbatorix stole a dragon, and killed it's original rider in cold blood. He and Morzan fled into hiding once more. It was then that Morzan entered the dark apprenticeship of Galbatorix. They waited for the dragon to grow to adulthood, and Galbatorix named him Shruikan.
Galbatorix amassed a group of thirteen traitors, the Forsworn within the Order of the Dragon Riders, and used them to destroy all who resisted him. Vrael fought him but just before vrael was goign to kill him, he stopped and fled to the mou tains to recover. Finally, he found Vrael, the leader of the riders, on the mountain Utgard. He kicked him in the fork of the legs to paralyse him, and ended the battle with an underhanded blow. When Vrael covered himself, Galbatorix sliced off his head, and named himself King of Alagaesia.
Conquest of Alagaesia
Galbatorix established the Empire, which encompasses most of Alagaesia. He burned libraries and heretics, including Heslant the Monk, who opposed him. The Elves, under Islanzadi; Dwarves, under Hrothgar; the Varden, under Brom, Ajihad, and later Nasuada; and the nation of Surda, under the ancestors of King Orrin; resist him. The Evles, Dwarves, and Varden fought for twenty years before an uneasy peace formed for eighty years.
Stealing the Egg
Ambush
Later, after the death of his original head vassal, Morzan, Galbatorix named Durza the shade as his right hand man. He had Durza enchant the urgals to fight for the empire, and together, with Durza, he ordered them to steal the dragon egg ferried between the Elves and Varden. But, they were only partly successful in this, because, while they captured the beautiful elf ambassador, Arya, they managed to let the eggs slip through their fingers.
Happenings in Carvahall
The egg in question, was magically transported to the small secluded village of Carvahall, in Palancar Valley. There, he traced it to the orphaned farm boy Eragon. Galbatorix sent his official egg hunters, the Ra'zac, to retrieve it. They burnt down Eragon's farm, forcing him to leave.
Farthen Dûr
Spies
The Twins
Galbatorix is known to have sent out the Twins as spies in the Varden. That was how he knew to ambush Arya, while she was ferrying Saphira's egg. They are also responsible for the ambush of Ajihad, and the information that helped Galbatorix draw the conclusion that Murtagh and Eragon were brothers.
The Black Hand
The Black Hand was a network of spies set up by Galbatorix, when Nasuada moved the Varden to Surda. They were leaking information for an extended period of time, until the cursed child Elva helped flush them out.
Battle of Farthen Dûr
Galbatorix sent an army of urgals, led once more by Durza, to defeat the Varden and the Dwarves at Farthen Dûr. However, his forces were defeated when Eragon killed Durza, and his spell on the urgals was broken.
Battle of the Burning Plains
Here, Galbatorix declared a state of open warfare against the independent nation of Surda, and invaded. He had a massive army of humans, but the urgals were gone. It should also be noted that a small percentage of soldiers were defeated by Angela, the Witch, who poisoned their food.
It was here, that the Twins fell to Roran Stronghammer, who bashed in both of their skulls. It was also during this time, that the newest Dragon Rider, Murtagh, son of Morzan, revealed himself to Eragon, and killed the Dwarven King Hrothgar. He also revealed that he had been trained by Galbatorix, and that he had told him that Eragon was his, Murtagh's, brother.
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| Warning: This page or section is a spoiler. Information following this warning has been revealed about upcoming Inheritance information. |
Eragon
Though never actually seen in Eragon, Galbatorix is mentioned several times. It is known that he was to visit Dras Leona during the same week that Brom and Eragon were there, to discipline a corrupt noble. According to Brom, it was the first time he had left the Throne in years.
He also sends out an army of Urgals, led by his right hand man, Durza the Shade, to defeat the Varden at Farthen Dûr. There is a bloody battle, and his forces are shattered, when Durza is killed by Eragon.
Eldest
In Eldest, it is thought that Galbatorix was teaching Murtagh to become a Dragon Rider. He sends the Ra'zac to Carvahall once more, to search for Eragon, or one of his family members. He sends out The Black Hand, a network of spies, to infiltrate the Varden. Galbatorix also forms a massive army of human soldiers from the Empire, to face Surda and the Varden on the Burning Plains. He not only loses both of the twins, but he also fails to capture Eragon.
Quotes
- "Gather my army. Leave no one alive"
- - to Durza in the Eragon movie
- "Will you, O son of my friend, serve me as I labor to bring about this paradise?"
- - to Murtagh, (Eragon p. 390)
- "I shall call upon you when the need arises."
- - to Murtagh after Murtagh pledges allegiance
Trivia
| Warning: This page or section is the opinion of the user-author only, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Shur'tugal and/or its staff members. |
- Though Galbatorix has not yet appeared physically in Eragon or Eldest, there are many Inheritance fan fiction stories written about him. These can be viewed at Shurtugal's own fan fiction site or http://www.fanfiction.net.
Opinions
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| Warning: This page or section is the opinion of the user-author only, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Shur'tugal and/or its staff members. |
- Although said to be evil, Galbatorix has actually done nothing that is remotely evil. Paolini states that the Dragon Riders had become arrogant in their position, and as such were practically asking to be overthrown. All other acts in the book were direct effects of the Varden and their attacks on the Empire which has been said to be peaceful under Galbatorix's rule. In fact, due to this, it could be said that Galbatorix, though king through murder, has done great good for those in the Empire.
