Overview of Geralt’s Age and Origin
- Geralt of Rivia was born in 1211, as revealed in the latest Witcher book installment.
- This detail implies Geralt is 37 years old during the events of The Last Wish and 57 during The Lady of the Lake.
- In contrast, CDPR’s game universe indicates Geralt is nearly 100 years old in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, as suggested by Vesemir.
The most recent addition to the The Witcher literary series has disclosed Geralt of Rivia’s birth year as 1211. This revelation positions Geralt as substantially younger than what some fans previously speculated.
Authored by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, Geralt has been portrayed as a seasoned monster hunter since his introduction in a 1986 short story. However, until the release of Rozdroże kruków (Crossroads of Ravens), which debuted in Poland on November 29, 2024, his precise birth year had not been articulated in any of the preceding texts.
According to a report by Redanian Intelligence, Crossroads of Ravens confirms Geralt’s birth year as 1211. Thus, he would be approximately 37 years old at the outset of The Last Wish, the first book in the saga, and about 57 at the completion of the narrative arc in The Lady of the Lake. The events of Crossroads of Ravens primarily focus on a teenage Geralt in 1229, soon after he finalizes his training at Kaer Morhen.
Geralt’s Age in the Witcher Video Game Series
In the critically acclaimed games developed by CD Projekt Red, Geralt of Rivia’s age is suggested to be significantly older than in the books. For instance, during The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Vesemir notes that Geralt is nearing a century old. Since the games create a unique universe, the revelations in Crossroads of Ravens do not alter Geralt’s portrayed age in the gaming experience. Additionally, there is a notable difference in the age portrayal of characters: Yennefer, in the games, appears to be only slightly older than Geralt, while in the books, she is depicted as being 38 years his senior.
Geralt’s Age Throughout the Witcher Novels
| Book | In-Universe Year | Geralt’s Age |
|---|---|---|
| The Last Wish | 1248 | 37 |
| Season of Storms | 1250 | 39 |
| Sword of Destiny | 1262 | 51 |
| Blood of Elves | 1267 | 56 |
| Time of Contempt | 1267 | 56 |
| Baptism of Fire | 1267 | 56 |
| The Tower of the Swallow | 1267 | 56 |
| The Lady of the Lake | 1268 | 57 |
| Crossroads of Ravens | 1229 | 18 |
Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher also presents a divergent timeline. For example, the series states that Yennefer was born in 1192, placing her 18 years younger than her counterpart in the novels. In the show, Geralt was born in 1160, rendering him roughly 106 years old by the Season 3 finale. The franchise’s lore suggests that a witcher reaching the centennial mark is akin to the middle age of a human. As noted, Vesemir is implied to be close to 200 years old during the events of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, earning the title of the oldest living witcher, which reflects the prolonged life expectancy typical of witchers due to their unique profession.
While Sapkowski hasn’t dismissed the possibility of further additions to The Witcher saga, he has consistently expressed that he has no plans to extend Geralt’s narrative beyond what has been covered in The Lady of the Lake, published initially in 1999. The English edition of Crossroads of Ravens, chronicling Geralt’s youth, is anticipated to be released in early 2025.
For further reading on the chronological order of The Witcher books, visit Screen Rant.
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