Matthias the Warrior

Gender: male

Species: mouse

Appears In: Redwall, The Great Redwall Feast, A Redwall Winter's Tale, The Redwall Cookbook, and Mattimeo

Mentioned In: Pearls of Lutra, The Long Patrol, The Taggerung, Loamhedge, and Doomwyte




Matthias - originating from Saint Matthias - is a young orphan of Redwall and discovered by the inhabitants as an infant. He is the younger brother of Myrtle (television series only), husband of Cornflower, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Fieldmouse, father of Mattimeo, father-in-law of Tess, and grandfather of Martin II. Unlike the other Redwallers he does not want to join the Order of Monks, preferring to become a warrior like his idol Martin. He is close friends with Methuselah, has a crush on Cornflower, and together the trio work to solve the mysterious anagram I-AM THAT IS discovered behind Martin's tapestry after it is stolen by Shadow. They realize that it actually spells I-MATTHIAS, meaning that Martin somehow knew Matthias would follow in his pawsteps, and he becomes determined to find the missing sword as he believes it will help them defeat Cluny. During the quest he locates the shield and swordbelt, and at one point he asks Jess to climb to the Roof to look at the weathervane. She discovers that the weapon used to be there just before she is attacked by the Sparra, and while firing off some arrows at the birds he accidentally strikes Warbeak in her leg which sends her crashing to the ground. He immediately imprisons her, needing information as to the sword's whereabouts, and Methuselah tricks her into telling them about Bull stealing it from the weathervane. She hesitantly agrees to lead Matthias up to the court but attempts to attack him halfway up, and he pushes her off a ledge before threatening to let go of the collar around her neck. As she cannot fly due to the brick toggle around one of her legs, she apologizes and they become best friends. When they arrive in the court he is ordered to be executed by Bull but changes his mind upon learning of his niece's rescue by him, refusing to allow him to leave after handing him over to Warbeak. The insane King is tricked by Dunwing into thinking Asmodeus is lying dead in the Quarry so he flies of in hopes of stealing back the sword, thus allowing Matthias to snatch up the scabbard and escape. He grieves heavily after Methuselah is killed by Chickenhound, and towards the start of the final battle he succeeds in learning of where the sword is located and travels to the Quarry with the GUOSIM where they discover a secret entrance into the tunnels. He finds the sword beside a sleeping Asmodeus but the snake awakens and chases him, eventually corning him and Log a Log in a cul-de-sac and hypnotizing them with his eyes. Matthias is then broken out of the trance by Martin who encourages him to strike, and he decapitate the gigantic adder. He learns via Warbeak that Cluny has taken over the Abbey and returns, where he confronts the Scourge in full armour wielding the famous sword. The two duel until Matthias cuts the rope that holds up the Joseph Bell, sending it right onto Cluny who is crushed to death. He is named Abbey Warrior by a dying Mortimer, weds Cornflower, and becomes a father to Mattimeo. Eight seasons after the Scourge's death he suffers a terrible loss when his son and other Abbey youngsters are stolen by Slagar (Chickenhound) who blames Matthias for his mother's murder as well as his facial injuries. Along with new and old friends he pursues the masked fox, learning where he is planning on taking the prisoners thanks to a map and riddle discovered by the Redwallers; this is delivered to his group by Warbeak and her birds, however she dies during the Battle of the Longtail Horde. He vows to avenge her murder and continues on, eventually arriving at the Kingdom of Malkariss where he duels against the Wearet until he falls from a ledge and believed to have perished. After freeing young slaves he hears Mattimeo and experiences the Bloodwrath, pushing through rats and reuniting with his son. He works with Orlando to destroy Malkariss's limestone statue, escapes the ensuing collapse, and chases after Slagar but does not succeed in killing him as the masked fox accidentally falls down Loamhedge's ancient well to his death. The entire group returns to Redwall where, seven seasons later, he hands down the Warrior title to his son and eventually passes away from old age. Innumerable generations later his spirit appears alongside other warriors in a baby Russano's dream.