Galbatorix

Galbatorix is the primary antagonist of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance cycle. He is an immensely powerful Dragon Rider and the King of The Empire, which rules over a large portion of Alagaësia. Galbatorix has yet to appear in person in the series, but he is integral to the plot. His status is almost legendary due to his age and title as a Dragon Rider.

Description

Abilities

Being an ancient and skilled dragon rider, Galbatorix is possibly the most powerful magic user in Alagaësia (With the exeption of the Elves's SpellCasters). As mentioned in Eragon, Galbatorix's power and knowledge grows even though magic is limited to the user's strength and knowledge. It is possible that Galbatorix has nearly unlimited magical strength, as in Eldest wherein he was able to teach Murtagh powerful magic; the source of this power is known to Oromis, but not fully disclosed except in the third book, although Oromis implies that it involves the absorption of life force from other living beings, a magical technique sane dragon riders find distasteful. Though it is said that Galbatorix might not know about this technique.

Appearances in the books

History

Galbatorix was born in the now defunct province Inzilbêth. He was tested at the age of ten (it is uncertain, but this must have been the time a Dragon's egg hatched for him) and was found to have great strength and power. 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 his friends were killed, along with their dragons. Galbatorix, however, survived, butchering the Urgals, but a stray arrow pierced his dragon, and she was killed.

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 the Urgals and other monsters fled from him. He traveled back through The Spine, a deadly mountain range where 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 stronghold to heal him.

Once healed, Galbatorix demanded another Dragon from the council at Doru Areaba, 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 an 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 Ilirea (now Urû'baen); he did so, and Galbatorix was able to steal a dragon hatchling 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. During the war, twelve corrupt Dragon Riders joined Galbatorix, out of promises of power or the desire for glory. These twelve riders and Morzan became the Thirteen Forsworn. With the help of these maniacal disciples, Galbatorix destroyed all the other Riders.

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. They completely blocked off all entrances to their tunnels. The Elves fought longer, but they eventually went into hiding as well.

Vrael, leader of the Dragon Riders, had the strength to resist Galbatorix. 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 the Utgard Mountain to regain his strength, but Galbatorix found him and, after kicking him in the crotch, beheaded him. Following this, Galbatorix and the Forsworn assaulted Urû'baen, deposed and murdered the rightful King. Galbatorix then appointed himself King of Alagaësia and established The Empire.

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.

By the time of Eragon, a century 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, under his own control. Through the Riders, Galbatorix could dominate all parts of Alagaësia and rule for centuries more.

Portrayal in film

John Malkovich plays Galbatorix in the film adaptation of Eragon. Although the character does not appear in the book, Eragon, he is placed in the movie so as to expand the character for the film's own purposes. Some reviewers, such as azcentral.com, criticized Malkovich's portrayal of Galbatorix [1].

See also

• The Fall
• Saphira the Dragon
• Murtagh
• Alagaësia