Quelala is a fictional character of L. Frank Baum. He was a young handsome man who lived in the magical Land of Oz long before the Wizard or even Dorothy Gale came. He is introduced in Baum's first Oz book titled 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', published in 1900. He became the husband of Gayelette, the beautiful Princess and Sorceress who lived in a jeweled Palace at the northern quadrant of Oz called Gillikin Country.
Oz History of Quelala:
- "There lived here then, away at the North, a beautiful princess, who was also a powerful sorceress. All her magic was used to help the people, and she was never known to hurt anyone who was good. Her name was Gayelette, and she lived in a handsome palace built from great blocks of tourmaline. Everyone loved her, but her greatest sorrow was that she could find no one to love in return, since all the men were much too stupid and ugly to mate with one so beautiful and wise. At last, however, she found a boy who was handsome and manly and wise beyond his years. Gayelette made up her mind that when he grew to be a man she would make him her husband, so she took him to her ruby palace and used all her magic powers to make him as strong and good and lovely as any woman could wish. When he grew to manhood, Quelala, as he was called, was said to be the best and wisest man in all the land, while his manly beauty was so great that Gayelette loved him dearly, and hastened to make everything ready for the wedding. "My grandfather was at that time the King of the Winged Monkeys which lived in the forest near Gayelette's palace, and the old fellow loved a joke better than a good dinner. One day, just before the wedding, my grandfather was flying out with his band when he saw Quelala walking beside the river. He was dressed in a rich costume of pink silk and purple velvet, and my grandfather thought he would see what he could do. At his word the band flew down and seized Quelala, carried him in their arms until they were over the middle of the river, and then dropped him into the water... "
- ―The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
As a young man, Quelala was handsome and manly and wise beyond his years. He attracted the attention of Gayelette, who had been longing to find a mate who was not too stupid and ugly to be her husband. She took him to her lavish Gillikin palace and, using all her magic powers (for she was also a powerful sorceress), made him as strong and good and lovely as any woman could wish. He became the best a wisest man in all the land and, so great was his manly beauty, that Gayelette began preparations for their wedding.
Quelala 1900.
When it was time for the royal wedding the mischievous Winged Monkeys, who lived nearby, played a prank on Quelala by tossing him into a river, ruining his rich costume of pink silk and purple velvet. Gayelette punished them by making them the slaves to the Golden Cap she had prepared as a wedding present for Quelala.
After the wedding, as the owner of the Golden Cap, Quelala commanded the Winged Monkeys to stay away from Gayelette. After that, nothing is known of him, but it can be assumed that he and his wife lived happily ever after. (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
Background
Non-Canon Appearances
Gayelette and Quelala play important parts in March Laumer's The Frogman of Oz.
Gayelette and Quelala later met Dorothy Gale and aided her when she sought them out in Roger S. Baum's Dorothy of Oz.
Quelala is the father of Glinda and though he loves her very much, he is often caught in the middle between her and his wife, who seems to view him as a trophy husband. He introduces Glinda to his friends, the Winged Monkeys, and later dies to protect the secrets of the Ruby Palace. {Hidden History of Oz#1:The Witch Queens}