- "The country of the Quadlings was a very pretty valley. And when the travelers saw the first farmhouse, painted a bright red color, they walked up to it and knocked at the front door. It was opened by the farmer’s wife, and when Dorothy explained herself, and politely asked for something to eat the woman welcomed them inside and gave the girl, her dog and the Lion a good dinner and a rich dessert of three kinds of cake and four kinds of cookies, and a bowl of fresh milk for Toto. "How far is it to the home of Glinda?” asked the child. “It is not a great way,” answered the farmer’s wife. “My husband has visited the residence of Glinda many times. Just keep to the road that leads south and you will soon reach it.” Thanking the woman for her kindness, the little party said goodbye and carried along their journey."
- ―The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (book) (1900)
An adolescent Quadling Soldier of Glinda speaks to Dorothy Gale. 1900
The Quadlings are the native Ozian citizens of the magical Land of Oz who all reside in Oz's southern quadrant known as the Quadling Country. The Quadlings of Oz appear in L. Frank Baum's first Oz book titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900. The land of the south is also officially ruled by Glinda, the Good Witch, who lives in a ruby studded castle next to the edge of the Deadly Desert. The Quadlings prefer the color red in their clothing, landscape and overall surroundings as red is the mascot color that represents their race on Oz's official map and flag.
History[]
Centuries ago, Glinda successfully defeated the Wicked Witch of the South and claimed the Quadling Country as her own to rule over the land and its people in peace and harmony. Later, after Dorothy Gale came and vanquished Oz's Wicked Witches, a young Munchkin boy named Ojo and his party encountered a Lazy Quadling man in the Quadling Country who never traveled and never saw travelers. He also never crossed the Trick River. (The Patchwork Girl of Oz)
In The Wiz[]
Glinda and the Qaudlings along with Addapearle, Lion nd Tin Man.
In the 1975 Broadway musical The Wiz. The Quadlings appear as Glinda's entourage after she is called upon by Addapearle. They are all dressed in lavish draped and garbs that range from orange to pink.
In The Wicked Years[]
Quadlings actually have a reddish skin tone, and in many places are less civilized than other parts of Oz. They speak a language called Qua'ati and have a ruddy complexion. (Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Son of a Witch)
Elphaba's mother, Melena Thropp, had an affair with Turtle Heart, a Quadling man, which lead to the birth of Nessarose, who would become the Wicked Witch of the East. (Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West)
Years later, Liir was cared for by Candle, a Quadling woman, with whom he had a daughter, Rain. (Son of a Witch, Out of Oz)
In Oz: The Great and Powerful[]
Glinda, with assembled Quadlings.
In this version, the Quadlings are mostly all farmers, with no experience in fighting battles. Nonetheless, they joined Glinda's army against the Wicked Witches. They display no preference for the color Red. (Oz: The Great and Powerful)
Famous Quadlings[]
- Glinda
- Miss Cuttenclip
- The Lazy Quadling
- Snif the Iffin (he's a griffin who has lost his "gr-").
- Belfaygor, the Baron of Bourne.
- Princess Shirley Sunshine
- Mogodore the Mighty
Non-Canon[]
In The Wicked Years[]
- Turtle Heart
- Nessarose
- Candle