One of the most important characters in the story of ELDEN RING is Godwyn the Golden.

The death of Godwyn is said to be the trigger of Marika’s shattering the Elden Ring.

In this article, a native Japanese writer explained the lore of Godwyn the Golden including Japanese backgrounds.

目次 (Contents)

Bloodline
Prince of Death
Godwyn’s Corpse
Trigger of Elden Ring Shattered
Fortissax
Postscript

Bloodline

Godwyn is a child of Marika and Godfrey.

Marika is the god and queen of Lands Between, and her child is called Demigod.

On the other hand, Godfrey is the first Elden Lord and has a great power for fighting.

So, Godwyn, the son of Marika and Godfrey, would be also quite talented, as described in the text of Lightning Spear.

Lightning Spear
Long ago, Godwyn the Golden defeated the ancient dragon Fortissax, and befriended his fallen foe — an event that gave rise to the ancient dragon cult in the capital.

Also, the fact that the dragon Fortissax became a friend suggests that Godwyn was quite a good person.

Another person Fia, Deathbed Companion talks about Godwyn as follows.

Fia, Deathbed Companion
This is goodbye, my dear.
But I am satisfied.
I choose to lie with Godwyn of my own will. Not the remains of one chosen for me.
And I will bear a child.
Who will inherit your warmth, too.
What greater blessing could there be, but to be born a Deathbed Companion?

The fact that Fia choose to lie with Godwyn of her own will also implies the Godwyn’s charisma.

Prince of Death

Godwyn was killed on the Night of the Black Knives and became the Prince of Death.

The plotters of the Night of the Black Knives are Ranni, Rykard, and Marika.

Godwyn was immortal because he wad blessed with Golden Order, but the Rune of Death made it possible to kill him.

Maliketh had possessed the Rune of Death, but Ranni, Rykard, and Marika stole and used it to kill Godwyn on the Night of the Black Knives.

However, the Rune of Death used for Godwyn was the one to kill only the soul.

(By the way, the one to kill only the flesh was used for Ranni.)

As the result, the Godwyn’s soul died while the his flesh lives – called Those Who Live in Death.

Enia
Oh, Lord Godwyn…
Such cruelty, such humiliation…
My poor, sweet lordling should have died a true death.
As the first of the demigods to die.
As a martyr to Destined Death.
But why must it yet bring such disgrace?
A scion of the golden bough, sentenced to live in Death…

The Godwyn, one of Those Who Live in Death, is also called Prince of Death.

Godwyn’s Corpse

Prince of Death’s corpse is buried at the base of the Golden Tree, as described in the text of Prince of Death’s Pustule.

Prince of Death’s Pustule
It is said that this pustule came from the visage of the Prince of Death, he who used to be called Godwyn. As First Dead of the demigods, it’s said he’s buried deep under the capital, at the Erdtree’s roots.

And the Godwyn’ corpse has spread the Deathroot all over the Lands Between, as described in the text of Deathroot.

Deathroot
A source that gives rise to Those Who Live in Death.
The beast clergyman, found at Bestial Sanctum in the distant east, collects and devours these roots.
On the night of the dire plot the stolen Rune of Death enabled the first Death of a demigod. Later, the Rune of Death spread across the Lands Between through the underground roots of the Greattree, sprouting in the form of Deathroot.

Maliketh is collecting the Deathroot, the fragment of the Rune of Death, because he lost the Rune of Death on the Night of the Black Knives.

Trigger of Elden Ring Shattered

In addition, the death of Godwyn is the trigger for Marika shattering the Elden Ring, as Rogier says.

Rogier
The misshapen corpse under Stormveil? That is a sacred relic. Of the black knives plot. As that famed night of assassination is known.
It happened during the Golden Age of the Erdtree, long before the shattering of the Elden Ring. Someone stole a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh, the Black Blade. And on a bitter night, murdered Godwyn the Golden.
That was the first recorded Death of a demigod in all history. And it became the catalyst. Soon, the Elden Ring was smashed, and thus sprang forth the war known as the Shattering.
I once wished to become a scholar, you see. I’ve spent many an hour scouring the archives for knowledge of that fateful plot.
The world has grown crooked, and if you intend to put it to rights, you’d better understand what happened to make it this way, mm?
And…that thing is to blame for the shape I’m in now… I urge the utmost caution. Don’t disturb the corpse more than necessary…

The reason why Marika shattered the Elden Ring is explained in this article.

Fortissax

Godwyn had the friend dragon, whose name is Fortissax.

Fortissax continued to resist death within Godwin even after Godwin became the Prince of Death, as described in the text of Remembrance of the Lichdragon.

Remembrance of the Lichdragon
After Godwyn the Golden became the Prince of Death, the ancient dragon fought long and hard against the Death within its companion. Alas, victory was never achieved and its only reward was corruption.

The color of Fortissax has become red and black, the color of the Rune of Death.

In addition, the name has also changed to Lichdragon Fortissax.

From the fact that Fortissax fought Godwyn’s death even though Fortissax became the Lichdragon, Godwyn and Fortissax must be quite good friends.

What a good guy Godwyn is…

Postscript

This article explained the lore of Godwyn.