Redwall Wiki | Brian Jacques and Redwall Information
Redwall Wiki | Brian Jacques and Redwall Information
Gulo the Savage

Gulo the Savage

Species: Wolverine
Place of Origin: The Land of Ice and Snow
Gender: Male
Weapon: Natural Defenses, Wild Doogy Plumm's claymore
Death: Beheaded by Rakkety Tam MacBurl
Appears: Rakkety Tam

Gulo the Savage was the wolverine son of Dramz and brother of Askor from the Land of Ice and Snow. After killing his father, Gulo attempted to take control of the region, but was forced to pursue his brother after he stole the Walking Stone, the royal symbol of power. His pursuit took him and his cannibalistic horde of a hundred white vermin to Mossflower Woods, where he was eventually beheaded by the warrior squirrel Rakkety Tam MacBurl's sharpened shield's edge when he was thrown upon it in a duel with the squirrel.


Gulo's main weapons are his natural claws and teeth, which, when combined with his brute strength, prove to be more than sufficient. He also used a sword stolen from Wild Doogy Plumm during his brief fight with Tam, though it is unlikely that he actually received any training in how to use one. However, he quite competantly beat down Tam with the claymore, using sheer brute strength and speed.


Of all of Redwall's villains, Gulo the Savage has been described as being the least intelligent of the batch by many. While he was by no means an idiot, he never once orchestrated any sophisticated or complex stratagems during his campaign in Mossflower, as most plans were decided by his captains, primarily Shard.

However he was also one of the few vermin leaders in the series that actually fought from the front and was not afraid (and for good reason) of his enemies, or anything, for that matter. He is also considered to be the physically largest and most intimidating of the Redwall villains, fighting with strength, ferocity and physical stature that exceeded even that of a badger. It is also notable that Gulo was insane, enduring a trying and ultimately aimless pursuit of his dead brother; this only became obvious when he started talking to the bushes and herbs about his brother one moment, and falling asleep the next. Gulo also had little to no regard for the lives of his horde; while the white vermin originally sided with Gulo, this was most likely out of fear of the wolverine.


  • The name "Gulo" comes from the scientific name for wolverines, Gulo gulo. The name is derived from the Latin word gulo, meaning glutton.


  • The grove of rooks and black birds was so decimated by Gulo's attack, they could never roost in numbers again.
  • Gulo the Savage and his horde killed and ate all of Driftail's gang.