Jerle Shannara

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Jerle Shannara
Shannara character
Race Elf
Gender Male
Hair colour Blond
Eye colour Unknown
Loyalty Elves
First appearance First King of Shannara
Birth Unknown
Death Unknown

Jerle Shannara, King of the Elves, is a fictional character from Terry Brooks' Shannara series of high fantasy novels. A historical figure in the original The Sword of Shannara trilogy, he is one of the main characters of the prequel novel First King of Shannara.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

He begins the story as captain of the Home Guard, the elite group of Elven soldiers whose sole duty is to protect the king. Jerle is distantly related to the Elven king, but he becomes next in line for the throne when the Warlock Lord's minions assassinate the royal family. Confused in his new role, and mourning the death of his best friend, Tay Trefenwyd, Jerle finds himself in possession of a magical sword given to him by the Druid Bremen. With it, he drives the Warlock Lord into hiding, but because he never could fully accept the truth of his life, he lacked the ability to wield the Sword properly. The task of destroying the Warlock Lord was passed on to his descendant, Shea Ohmsford.

Jerle Shannara is also the name of the airship the main characters use to travel across the ocean in The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy.