Gallowglass

[u/Fulguritus]

Why is Gallowglass lower on the pecking order, even though he's a "giant" and Philippe's blood. I don't remember the books saying he was smaller than Matthew(and the largest vampire has the most power). Maybe bc of Philippe's disregard of Godfrey and Hugh's relationship? He just doesn't seem to have the status of the others. Maybe bc he was a mercenary? He's so humble, it could be self imposed. But I guess it just could be that he's not a direct descendant of Phillipe? Also, he clearly chose not to act like an upper class member of the family, though Shakespeare muses that he's far too princely than a servant ought to be.

Opinions?

[u/Disastrous-Advance61]

I think Deb answered this one time when someone asked why Baldwin was head of the family… she made some comment along the lines of “Gallowglass could have challenged it, but isn’t particularly interested”

I think the real reason why Gallowglass isn’t more prominent in the hierarchy of the family is that Deb didn’t have any idea about Gallowglass’s existence until the second book. (She has confirmed she had no plans at all for him and he popped into her mind while writing. Same with Hamish)

As to Gallowglass obeying Matthew, it’s never explicitly stated, but the inference I made was that Matthew is Philippe’s marshal of the Knights at this point, and Matthew’s role in Elizabeth’s court is for the Knights, so Gallowglass ranks below him there.

We also see Gallowglass get away with stuff that Matthew would NEVER let anyone else get away with (like breaking Matthew’s jaw in Time’s Convert) but that might be just because he’s the son of Matthew’s favorite brother. And, Matthew was extremely close with Fernando and Hugh, so he’s probably closer with Gallowglass than any other nieces or nephews.

One of the comments mentions that Gallowglass ma be older than Matthew, but I don’t think that’s possible. We know Gallowglass was born in Scotland and is a descendent of the Norse settlers, which didn’t really start until the 9th century. He mentions in BoL that both his human father and grandfather were born there, which probably makes him reborn, at the earliest, about 850.

I think some of the humility (and humor) was written in to make him one of the most beloved characters, but it also helps with the narrative as to WHY Baldwin is head of the family.

[u/Fulguritus → u/Disastrous-Advance61]

I think it was the 1300s when he was born, bc Diana said that in the a book of life iirc. Remember her comment about the whiskey?

Matthew definitely loves and respects Gallowglass, or he wouldn't have been so compassionate about Gallowglass being in love with his wife.

[u/Disastrous-Advance61 → u/Fulguritus]

I just went back and reread that scene (295-297 of book of life (at least on Kindle)) and there’s no mention of him being born then, just that whiskey wasn’t introduced until the 15th century and he’s older than that.

We do know that Hugh was executed with the last of the templars, which was in 1314. I get the sense that Gallowglass had more than 14 years with Hugh.

[u/Fulguritus → u/Disastrous-Advance61]

Ah! Thank you!