Five Great Captains

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The Five Great Captains are a group of fictional characters featured in The Wheel of Time series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.

"The Five Great Captains" is a collective name used for the five finest generals in the Westlands. They are known for their supreme skills in the ways of war and strategy. The five men who are known as the Five Great Captains are as follows: Pedron Niall, the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light; Agelmar Jagad of Shienar, the Lord of Fal Dara; Gareth Bryne, former Captain General of the Queen's Guards in Andor; Marshal-General Davram Bashere, Supreme commander of the Saldaean army; and Rodel Ituralde, commander of the armies of Arad Doman.

Lately however, Matrim Cauthon, because of the lost memories inside his head, has proved to be as, if not more, capable of commanding an army than these five men. Therefore he is now viewed as the sixth great captain in the Westlands.

The decision to hire Gareth Bryne as the commander of the exile tower's army was based on him being one of the great captains, the only one available to the Aes Sedai in Salidar, since his reputation of winning battles would attract large amounts of recruits.

There are only four of these captains remaining, as Pedron Niall has since been assassinated. It should be noted, that although Mat's inclusion in their number is no doubt deserved, it by no means official, and since the Aes Sedai refer to the Great Captains as living legends, it is doubtful that Mat is commonly numbered among them, as he has only recently come into prominence.

[edit] Current positions

  • Matrim "Mat" Cauthon: Currently with roughly half of the Band of the Red Hand leaving Altara after several engagements with Seanchan soldiers of various intent and origin. He has only lately become officially married to Tuon, Daughter of the Nine Moons.
  • Gareth Bryne: After chasing Siuan, Leanne, and Min to Salidar, he remedied his dissatisfaction over being removed as Captain General of the Queen's Guard by accepting the command of the rebel Aes Sedai army. He is currently besieging Tar Valon with the army.
  • Pedron Niall: Deceased, killed in his audience chamber by one of his underlings who disagreed with his future plans.
  • Rodel Itulrade: As of the prologue in Knife of Dreams, fighting a campaign versus the Seanchan in Tarabon and Arad Doman, working to keep the Taraboner and Domani troops he has formed into a loose coalition from splintering, and avoiding conflicting orders from his King that might bring his campaign to an end less than beneficial to Arad Doman.
  • Davram Bashere: After offering his loyalties and his soldiers to Rand al'Thor Bashere earned the dangerous irritation of his niece, Queen Tenobia of Saldaea. Currently somewhere in Tear with the Dragon Reborn and his entourage, with what remains of the 9,000 Saldaean cavalry he originally brought to Rand's banner.