Summary
The Nameless Kingmystery is one the most enduring inDark Soulshistory, stretching all the way back to the first game in 2011. It began with desecrated statues and vague mentions of Gwyn’s firstborn son, who was stripped from the annals of history for an unknown ‘betrayal’. Like any good FromSoft mystery, the breadcrumbs sent lore hounds into a frenzy.
We knew that he was the god of war and father to the Warriors of Sunlight, but that was it. Some theoriesed that Andre fit the description, given his likeness, but most fans were adamant that Solaire was the forgotten god, hoping to find an answer hidden in plain sight. Draped in the imagery of a Warrior of Sunlight, he came to Lordran in search of his own sun, and while you might’ve taken this to be more of a spiritual journey, others thought it to be literal.
Ideas ranged from him looking to find his father, the Lord of Sunlight, to restoring his lost crown. But there was a glaring problem: Solaire is human.
The debate raged on for years until Dark Souls 3 finally put the idea to rest when it introduced the Nameless King, revealing that he was stripped from the annals of history for allying himself with the dragons. Mystery solved, right? Not quite, as fans pivoted from trying to uncover who Gwyn’s firstborn was to what his name is, a debate that continues a decade later.
Some believe him to be Gwynsen, following the naming conventions of Gwynevere and Gwyndolin, finally explaining who the ‘Sen’ in Sen’s Fortress is (though this doesn’t line up with the Welsh roots of his siblings' names). Others assume him to be Faraam, the god of war named in Dark Souls 2, perhaps after his unknown mother. This would tie him more closely to Filianore, who was similarly outcast and left abandoned in The Ringed City.
It’s a convincing idea, and has long been accepted by many in the community, butElden Ring Nightreignputs forward an alternative.
Do We Finally Know The Nameless King’s Name?
It’s never been stated that Nightreign isn’t canon, just that it runs “parallel” to Elden Ring. So,the appearance of Dark Souls bosseshas huge ramifications for the series, fuelling the connected games theory. If you assume that they’re the same characters that they were in Dark Souls, then a throwaway reference to a new ‘god of war’ might’ve just given us the Nameless King’s name.
As pointed out by u/AnchovyKing, duringRaider’s Remembrance storyline, the Iron Menial mentions that “Long ago, sacred rituals were held in the name of Grynn, god of war, to extol the virtue of the soul.“It’s unclear when Nightreign takes place relative to Elden Ring. Some speculate that it’s a divergent timeline where the Nox triumphed, while others believe to be after the burning of the Erdtree. The only concrete answer we have is that it’s post-Shattering. Regardless, with Dark Souls bosses appearing, including the Nameless King himself, “long ago” could be in reference to a time before Marika ruled, perhaps the age of Gwyn.
‘Grynn’ might not fit the naming conventions of Gwyndolin and Gwynevere, but it’s undoubtedly similar to the Lord of Sunlight. That being said, it falls into the same trap the Faraam theory does: there’s nothing explicit to tiethisgod of war to the Nameless King. There could be multiple deities described with that monikre, or they could be fabled warriors who have been revered in history as gods for their triumphs, despite being human.
Grynn might be The Nameless King, but so might Faraam: as with all FromSoftware lore, there’s no definitive answer. Maybe they’re one and the same, and hechangedhis name to Faraam. Whatever the case, it’s another fun headcanon for the pile.
