Rudolf

Rudolf is the king of Rigel and one of the main antagonists of Fire Emblem Gaiden. About 16 years before the start of Gaiden, Rudolf took his newborn son Alpine to the Sofian general Maisen and left him in the knight's care, explaining that he planned to one day erupt Barencia in war in order to provoke the true heroes into rising up and stoping him and creating a new era in which the people were free from the gods, who's overinvolvement was leading mankind to ruin. Several years later, Rudolf befriends a man with amnesia who was found by Teeta, a Rigelian saint, and names the man Zeke. Rudolf became like a father to Zeke and promoted him to a high rank within the army of Rigel. One day Rudolf tells him that if he should find someone with a cross-shaped birth mark on their right arm, then he should dedicate everything to this person, as this person would be the savior of all Barensia.

Rudolf then begins his plan, requesting the Falchion from Doma in order to seal Mila, and aiding Dozah in his rebellion in order to provoke the true heroes to come out and stop him. Before his army's final battle, Rudolf praises his soliders for how admirably they had fought for him to this point and commands them to lay down their weapons and surrender if he is killed. The Rigelian army then does battle with the army of Alm, although Rudolf refuses to attack Alm. As he is dying he reveals that he is Alm's father and requests that Alm claims the Falchion and defeats Doma.