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 Great Captains are 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.
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 been assassinated.
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After chasing Siuan, Leane, 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. In the Gathering Storm he is bonded by Siuan Sanche as her Warder.
Former Lord Captain Commander of the army of the Children of the Light. Deceased, assassinated in his audience chamber by one of his underlings who disagreed with his future plans.
Currently with the combined armies (and monarchs) of Shienar, Arafel, Saldaea, and Kandor last known to be encamped at the Field of Merrilor
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. By the close of Knife of Dreams, he had massacred a Seanchan force sent against him by Suroth and is causing serious concerns to the Seanchan in Tarabon. In The Gathering Storm, his forces inflict another serious blow to the Seanchan army. Following this, he attracts the attention of Rand al'Thor, who sends him and his remaining troops into Saldaea to watch the Blight as well as increasing his dependence upon al'Thor. Ituralde's forces face off an immense Trolloc horde outside Maradon and later fight a losing battle against them inside the walls of the city. Davram Bashere and the Dragon eventually relieve Ituralde, who is taken to meet his King, Alsalam, in the Stone of Tear.
After offering his loyalties and his soldiers to Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, 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.
Matrim Cauthon is possibly a new Great Captain due to his formidable skills in warfare, gained by memories granted by the Eelfinn. His skills have been shown frequently when commanding the Band of the Red Hand, but especially during the Battle of Cairhien as well as during the Altaran Campaign.