.png)
Mathiu Silverberg (マッシュ・シルバーバーグ, Masshu Shirubābāgu) is a main character in Suikoden. Mathiu Silverberg was the military strategist for the Toran Liberation Army during the Gate Rune War.
Profile
Appearance
.png)
Mathiu has a strong jawline and high cheekbones. His medium-length brown hair is slicked back, revealing a high forehead, and narrow eyes, often shown as closed in artwork.
His attire consists of a beige coat with gold and brown accents, a high collar, and a front closure. He wears a red scarf around his neck. Underneath, he dons dark pants and knee-high brown boots.
Profile
Mathiu Silverberg is a man of profound intellect and quiet introspection. Known for his strategic brilliance, Mathiu's contemplative nature is shaped by the trauma of the Kalekka Incident, which left him haunted by the cost of war and driven by a desire to atone for his past.
Despite his calm exterior, Mathiu harbors a fierce determination to protect those he cared for and to uphold the ideals of justice and peace, even as he grapples with the ethical dilemmas inherent in his role as a strategist.
Mathiu's relationships with his students, particularly Apple and Shu, reveals his nurturing side and his belief in the potential of others. His willingness to work for the greater good underscores his selflessness and enduring sense of duty.
History
Early Career and Seclusion
|
Mathiu Silverberg was a renowned military tactician of the illustrious Silverberg family, celebrated for his brilliance and unyielding dedication to strategy.
A quiet and contemplative man, Mathiu served as a strategist under Kasim Hazil during the War of Succession, earning renown for his intellect and loyalty to the Scarlet Moon Empire. However, the Kalekka Incident, a massacre of civilians, left him deeply haunted, prompting him to abandon Imperial service and retreat to Seika.
Mathiu would establish a school in Seika, taking in local children and orphans and giving them a general education. Mathiu also travelled to the Grasslands for reasons unknown, before returning to Seika in the year 453. Among his students were Apple and Shu, both of whom would later become distinguished strategists in their own right.
Mathiu's refusal to join the Toran Liberation Army, led by his sister Odessa Silverberg, caused a rift between the siblings, one that Odessa never forgave. This schism also led Shu to leave Mathiu's tutelage, further isolating the strategist.
After Odessa's death, Mathiu initially refused to discuss her legacy with McDohl, the young leader of the Liberation Army. However, when Imperial soldiers, acting on Kasim Hazil's orders, attempted to take one of his students hostage to force his return to service, Mathiu realized he could no longer remain detached from the world.
Following the confrontation, he joined the Liberation Army as its chief strategist, vowing to fulfill Odessa's vision through McDohl.
Master Strategist
As strategist, Mathiu transformed the Liberation Army from a disjointed collection of rebels into a formidable fighting force. His ability to unite disparate factions, assign roles to officers, and devise innovative strategies proved instrumental in the war effort.
He was unafraid to act decisively, as seen in his surprise attack on the Northern Checkpoint, and his willingness to risk his own life, such as during the taking of Moravia Castle, earned him the trust and admiration of his comrades.
Mathiu's strategies were marked by daring and flexibility, exemplified by his creation of 500 frozen vessels using the dragon Thrash's ice breath to secure naval superiority at the Battle at Floating Fortress Shasarazade. However, his focus on immediate objectives sometimes led to long-term consequences, such as the strained relations with the City-States of Jowston following the Senan region's overrun.
Mathiu was also responsible for recruiting his uncle, Leon Silverberg, into the ranks of the Liberation Army, stating that he did not trust Leon, but trusted in his abilities. He also reunited with Apple, one of his students, who returned from her studies in Crystal Valley as soon as she heard that her mentor was fighting once again.
Despite his successes, Mathiu was plagued by the moral weight of his actions. The cold-blooded decisions required of a strategist weighed heavily on him, and he often questioned the righteousness of his role in the war. His health deteriorated rapidly after being wounded during the razing of the Floating Fortress of Shasarazade, yet he pushed himself relentlessly to see Odessa's hopes realized.
Mathiu passed away in a battlefield tent following the last battle, his final moments spent with Liukan. Though he lived to see the fall of the emperor and the end of the war, he died with lingering doubts about the cost of his strategies.
Following the last battle, he spent his last moments in a battlefield tent along with Liukan, passing away after receiving word that the emperor had fallen, and the war was over. Even as he passed away, however, Mathiu was still plagued with doubts that his participation in the war was right, lamenting the cold-blooded taking of lives needed as a military strategist.
Legacy
|
Mathiu Silverberg can be considered one of the most influential strategists that lived on the northern continent. He not only directly participated in events and wars which would eventually lead to the formation of the Toran Republic, but also tutored students who would become renowned strategists on their own.
Mathiu was a great believer both people, and the future, which is partly why he was such an effective teacher. Shu, a student which he dismissed as he used his strategic mind for personal gain, would become the tactician of the New Alliance Army and played an important role in the Dunan Republic later on.
Another student of his, Apple, also played a huge role during the Dunan Unification War, convincing Shu to join the New Alliance Army and serving as secondary strategist. She would later teach Caesar Silverberg, Mathiu's nephew, in the art of war and he would quickly adapt to Mathiu's teachings. Apple also wrote a biography on Mathiu's life and took over his school in Seika after the War of the Champions.
Game info
Recruitment
War
| War Stats | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Type | Soldiers | Lead ATK | Sub ATK | |||
| The Strategists | Other | 550 | 1 | 0 | |||
Genso Suikoden Card Stories TCG
| Card # | Name | Type | Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS2-318 | Mathiu |  Commoner
|
CS2 Booster Pack Vol.3 |
Gallery
Artwork
-
Suikoden artwork by Kawano Junko -
.png)
In-Game
-
Suikoden Sony PlayStation portrait -
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster portrait by Kawano Junko
.png)
Trivia
- Mathiu also had a named student who had not become a famous strategist, by the name of Finn. Finn was the first student to befriend Apple when she started attending Mathiu's school.
- In the 1996 English language localization of Suikoden, Mathiu is sometimes referred to as a doctor, and at other times as a strategist. This is a translation error; Mathiu does not have any medical background and he is only a military strategist. This is not his only translation woe; Mathiu's line "Oh my god. All this killing... in front of a children." is one of the series most famous quotes.
Other languages and releases
| Japanese (katakana) | マッシュ・シルバーバーグ |
|---|---|
| Japanese (romaji) | Masshu Shirubābāgu |
| Chinese simplified (HDR) | 马修·席维博格 |
| Chinese traditional (HDR) | 馬修・席維柏格 |
| Chinese pinyin | Mǎ ×iū ×í wéi bǎi gé |
| English | Mathiu Silverberg |
|---|---|
| French | Mathiu Silverberg |
| German | Mathiu Silverberg |
| Italian | Mathiu Silverberg |
| Spanish | Mathiu Silverberg |
References
- Genso Suikoden Short Story Collection 2 (ISBN 4-8402-1842-0), pages 235-85
- Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia (ISBN 4-575-16297-3), pages 263-4
- Genso Suikoden 108 Stars Character Guide (ISBN 4-7753-0050-4), pages 114-5
- Genso Suikoden Kiwami Encyclopedia, page 99