Galbatorix
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| Inheritance Trilogy character | |
 John Malkovich as Galbatorix in the film Eragon |
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| Galbatorix | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Hair colour | Grey |
| Eye colour | Unknown |
| House | Unknown |
| Allegiance | Himself |
| Film portrayer | John Malkovich |
| First appearance | Eragon |
Galbatorix is the primary antagonist of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy. He is an immensely powerful Dragon Rider. Also, he is the king of a large portion of Alagaësia. Galbatorix has yet to appear in person in the trilogy, but he is integral to plot. His status is almost legendary due to his age and title as a dragon rider.
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[edit] History
When nomadic traders come to the village of Carvahall - Eragon's hometown - Brom, a former Dragon Rider in the guise of a village storyteller, tells the village the story of Galbatorix's rise to power. Eragon also learns something of Galbatorix's past from Oromis, the oldest living Dragon Rider, and from others he meets on his travels.
Galbatorix was born many centuries ago in Inzilbêth. He was tested at the age of ten (it is uncertain, but this must have been the time a Dragon egg hatched for him) and was found to have great strength and power within him. With training, Galbatorix rapidly grew more powerful, and soon surpassed all other Dragon Riders in skill.
Because of his gifts, the Riders soon allowed Galbatorix into their ranks. The foolhardy young Rider journeyed into the lands of Urgals with two friends, believing that they were strong enough to protect themselves. The group was ambushed in their sleep, and the three Dragons and the other young Dragon Riders were slain. Galbatorix was the only survivor. According to Brom, Galbatorix went mad from grief.
Alone and driven to madness by his grief, Galbatorix traveled by foot through the desolate land, praying that he would die and join his partner. He became so ghastly that even the Urgals and other monsters fled from him. He traveled back through The Spine, a deadly mountain range that even the fiercest hardly dared go. A farmer found him collapsed on the edge of the range and summoned the Dragon Riders, who took him back to their island to heal him.
Once healed, Galbatorix demanded another Dragon from the council at Vroengard, the Riders' capital. The council, however, saw the madness in the desperation of his plea. Galbatorix was firmly denied another Dragon egg, and consequently, in his vulnerable and twisted state, began to think it was the Riders' fault his Dragon had died.
He convinced another Dragon Rider to support his cause, and, using persuasion and dark secrets he had learned from a Shade, he and his partner slew the Elder. Galbatorix then turned on his ally and killed him. After this, Galbatorix fled into the wastelands. Many years passed and the searches for Galbatorix dwindled, but Morzan, a Rider highly accomplished in magic and combat yet morally weak, came across Galbatorix by accident. Galbatorix convinced Morzan to unlock a gate in Ileria (now Urû'baen); he did so, and Galbatorix was able to steal a new dragon egg from the fort city.
Galbatorix and Morzan waited until their powers were strong enough and Galbatorix's Dragon, a black dragon named Shruikan was fully grown before they began their all-out attack on the Dragon Riders. The Riders, overwhelmed by the onslaught, were slowly beaten down. During the war, twelve corrupt Dragon Riders joined Galbatorix. These twelve riders and Morzan became the Thirteen Forsworn.
The Dwarves and Elves fought bitterly, but were also defeated. The Dwarves, however, knew Galbatorix's victory was imminent, and retreated to their caves, sealing themselves away from the rest of the world. The Elves fought longer, but they eventually went into hiding as well.
Vrael, leader of the Dragon Riders, had the strength to resist Galbatorix, and saved what Dragons he could. In the final battle before the gates of Doru Areaba, Vrael defeated Galbatorix, but hesitated to kill him. Galbatorix took advantage of this and wounded Vrael. Vrael fled to Utgard mountain to regain his strength, but Galbatorix found him, kicked him in the crotch, and thus gaining an advantage, beheaded him. Following this, Galbatorix and the Forsworn infiltrated into Urû'baen and deposed the rightful King. Galbatorix then appointed himself King of Alagaësia.
It must be noted that, on legal documents of the Empire, Galbatorix is only the ruler of the Broddring Kingdom, the realm he took from the deposed king, Angrenost. Many other lands, however, have since fallen under his sway, including Vroengard.
[edit] Summary
During the story of Eragon, centuries later, Galbatorix's rule encompasses most of the western portion of Alagaësia. He rules this vast territory from Urû'baen, his capital, and his reign is marked by injustice, slavery, poverty and corruption.
In Eldest, Galbatorix sends his army out to destroy Surda and the Varden. Along with this army, he sends his new Dragon Rider and Dragon, both of whom he controls through knowledge of their true names (see the Ancient Language). This captive Rider is Murtagh, son of Morzan (who is long dead), and Murtagh's ruby-red dragon Thorn. In a duel with Eragon and Saphira, Murtagh reveals Galbatorix's plans: he wants Saphira, the last female dragon in existence, to mate with either of the two last young males - Thorn, or the emerald-green Dragon who has not yet hatched - and rebuild the race. In this way, Galbatorix hopes to re-establish the Riders, this time so that they will be under his control. Through the enslaved Riders, Galbatorix could dominate all parts of Alagaësia and rule for centuries more.
Also, the history must be brought into question due to only enemies such as Brom telling Eragon of Galbatorix and possibly bending the truth. Though Murtagh did have personal experience with the man, that does not necessarily mean the truth has not been stretched for the sake of propaganda.
[edit] Criticisms
Some criticize the author for the similarity between Galbatorix and Sauron of The Lord of the Rings, Anakin Skywalker or Palpatine of the Star Wars series, and to the Dragonriders of Pern. Like Sauron, Galbatorix is an evil and powerful figure who desires more power at the expense of others. Like Anakin Skywalker, Galbatorix starts as a powerful cadet who is aligned with the forces of good, but eventually turns to the 'dark side'. Like Palpatine he is an evil despot akin to a satanic temptor. Finally, like the Dragonriders of Pern, Galbatorix forged a powerful link with his Dragon (as do all Dragon Riders); subsequently becoming mad upon the death of the Dragon. He has also been criticized for not appearing in the first and second books, allowing very little character development. [1].
[edit] Other comparisons
Galbatorix's character is similar to the Biblical character of Lucifer. Galbatorix was one of the best and mightiest of all the Dragon Riders the same way Lucifer was one of the best [if not the best] of all the Angels. However due to pride [among other things in Galbatorix's case] they fell from grace and became the ultimate evil.
[edit] Film Portrayal
John Malkovich plays Galbatorix in the film adaptation of Eragon.
[edit] Trivia
- In Gaulish, the suffix "rix" at the end of a name means king, and is found in the name of the Gaulish leader Vercingetorix, who fought Julius Caesar. Other famous uses of the suffix are in the Asterix comics, where it is used for all Gauls.
[edit] See also
| Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Trilogy | |
|---|---|
| Books | Eragon | Eldest | Book 3 |
| Films | Eragon |
| Main Characters | Eragon | Brom | Arya | Galbatorix | Murtagh | Roran | Ajihad | Nasuada | Angela | Saphira | Oromis | more... |
| Places | Alagaësia | Beor Mountains | Carvahall | Dras-Leona | Ellesméra | Farthen Dûr | Hadarac Desert | Helgrind | Surda | Teirm | Urû'baen | more... |
| Events | Blood-Oath Celebration | Battle of the Burning Plains | Battle for Carvahall | Dagshelgr Invocation | The Fall |
