Pedron Niall

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Pedron Niall is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. He was Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light. Niall is slender and sinewy, elderly, yet still strong to the core from years of military and political experience. According to descriptions throughout the novels, it is assumed that Niall was in his late 70s or early 80s at the time of his death. Pedron Niall was cool and calculating, not nearly as rash and zealous as some other members of the Children of Light. During his reign as Lord Captain Commander he was an accomplished general and tactician and a veteran of many battles. In fact he is one of the Five Great Captains and as such was seen as one of the most prominent military leaders in the world right up until his death. According to wotmania.com he was the overall second in command of the forces fighting against the Aiel in the Aiel War, only being outranked by Lord Agelmad of Shienar.

Pedron Niall led the Whitecloak invasion of Altara in the year 957NE. He was opposed by Altaran, Illian, and Murandian forces. He was eventually defeated but was able to capture and ransom King Mattin Stepaneos.

Niall was also a very skilled politician and knew when to fight and when to discuss, this was probably one of the reasons why he was such a successful leader of the Children of the Light. He was also involved in many behind the scenes negotiations including secret ones between Altara, Murandy, and Illian involving the cessation of land to the latter country. When Queen Morgase of Andor found herself a well pampered prisoner in the Fortress of Light, Niall offered her a one sided treaty to send his armies to reclaim her throne for her, though in exchange Niall would receive the right to place huge numbers of Children (as many, or possibly more than, the number in Amadicia) in Andor. She eventually signed but Niall met his end before anything could come of it.

[edit] Assassination

The High Inquisitor of the Hand of Light (commonly referred to as Questioners), Rhadam Asunawa, a man second only in rank to the Lord Captain Commander, as well as Eamon Valda, a Lord Captain of the Children, arranged the death of Niall by coercing Niall's decoy spymaster, Abdel Omerna, into killing him "in the name of the Light." Omerna was easily coerced due to Niall's ignoring most of Omerna's information, as it was often rumor and inaccurate. Valda then immediately kills Omerna, and later is bestowed the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light.