Gareth II of Naxen

From the Tamora Pierce Wiki

Gareth "Gary" of Naxen is the son of Duke Gareth of Naxen and the Duchess of Naxen. He is also the husband of Cythera of Elden and godsfather to Alianne of Pirate's Swoop. He is currently the Prime Minister of Tortall under his cousin, King Jonathan of Conté. He has been called the king's closest advisor.

Gary is first described as being "big" (though not as big as Raoul of Goldenlake) with chestnut hair and eyes. As an adult, he is described as heavyset and pale. He is often acknowledged as being smart and sarcastic, but by Lioness Rampant that sarcasm seems to have been tempered. He is often noted as being very involved with his work.

[edit] History

Gary was born in 415 HE as the only child of Gareth of Naxen and his wife Roanna. He probably entered page training in 425 or 426 HE. At the royal palace he made friends with other boys of the same age, including the Crown Prince Jonathan, Raoul of Goldenlake and Alexander of Tirragen. In early 430 HE Alanna of Trebond arrived at the palace, disguised as a boy. Gary was appointed her sponsor and they soon became friends. By Midwinter of that year he had turned fourteen and was made a squire. It's unknown who his knight-master was. He passes his Ordeal of Knighthood on Midwinter of 433 HE at age eighteen.

Originally, Gary is seen to be closest to Alex, but after the Sweating Sickness, we see less of their friendship and more of his closeness for everyone else. He is close to Alanna and Jon, and is one of the first people at the palace Alanna reveals her true sex to. Gary serves as one of Alanna's instructors in her preparation for the Chamber of the Ordeal.

When Jon became King Gary was made his Prime Minister. He has held this position ever since.

[edit] Personality and traits

Gary is first presented as quick-witted and sarcastic, a good sponsor for Alanna of Trebond because he can answer what questions she has. It is Gary who introduces Alanna to her first group of friends, including Jon, Raoul, Alexander of Tirragen and Francis of Nond. His curiosity (read: eavesdropping) is useful for getting information to aid others. He is also a betting man, often restricted to the palace for various pranks, including kissing Lady Roxanne for ten gold nobles.

As Gary ages throughout the novels, he becomes more responsible, reflecting the seriousness of ruling a country and also reflecting his father's influence. In fact, the Duke we see in Song of the Lioness is very much like the Prime Minister in Protector of the Small—outwardly serious but with an occasional glimpse of a slightly cynical joker. Gary does have a very important role in Tortall. While Jon concerns himself with wars, foreign policy, and Immortal beings, Gary's task seems to be the maintenance of internal Tortallan affairs.

[edit] Family

                                             ?            
                                             │
                       ┌—————————————————————┴———————————————————┐
                       │                                         │
Roanna of Irimor ┬ Gareth I of Naxen                    Lianne of Naxen ┬ Roald I of Conté
                 │                                                      │
             Gareth II of Naxen ┬ Cythera of Elden                    Conté
                                │
         ┌——————————————————————┴—————┬———————————————————————————————————┬——————————————————————————┐
         │                            │                                   │                          │
Gilmyn of Naxen - Dolsa of Rosemark  Zenoby of Naxen - Beltair haMinch  Jaquetta of Naxen  Geoffrey of Naxen

[edit] Appearances

• Alanna: The First Adventure
• In the Hand of the Goddess
• Lioness Rampant
• Page (minor appearance in Cp. 8)

[edit] Notes and references

1. ↑ Tortallan timeline
2. ↑ Random Buzz;"Champion's Duties, Scanran War, King Roald/DukeG, Bazhir"; April 22, 2009
3. ↑ Random Buzz; "Famous Women"; April 23, 2009
4. ↑ This isn't made clear in In the Hand of the Goddess; Chapter 1 cites both Geoffrey and Douglass as either Gary's or Raoul's squires; Chapter 2 cites Sacharell as Gary's and Douglass as Raoul's squire; Chapter 8 cites Sacharell as Raoul's squire

[edit] See also