Abbot Mortimer

Abbot Mortimer was a male mouse leader and Infirmary Keeper of Redwall Abbey. He was the successor of Abbot Cedric and the predecessor of Abbot Mordalfus. Mortimer was friends with Jess and Mr. Squirrel, as well as Matthias. He was described as gentle, kind-hearted, and well-educated on Abbey history, knowing stories about Loamhedge Abbey and Martin the Warrior.

During Mortimer's abbacy, Cluny the Scourge and his horde attempted to conquer Redwall as the Summer of the Late Rose unfolded. He ordered the Redwallers not to attack the vermin when they were retreating after a battle.

Eventually, Redwall was successfully infiltrated and captured by Cluny, which resulted in the detainment and captivity of Mortimer. When Cluny then threatened the Abbey residents, Mortimer verbally defended them, prompting Cluny to assault the old mouse with the poisoned barb on his tail, fatally wounding him. Mortimer died shortly thereafter. Before his passing, he designated Brother Alf as his successor, instructed Matthias to assume the roles of Abbey Warrior and protector of Cornflower Fieldmouse, and formally named the Sword of Martin "Ratdeath."

Nelvana Redwall TV Series

In the Nelvana Redwall TV Series, Cluny does not attack Mortimer with his tail or kill him; he dies of unknown causes after the battle for Redwall ends. While he decrees that Matthias serve as Abbey Warrior, he does not officially name Alf as his successor, even though Alf is mentioned as the new Abbot in the epilogue, nor does he welcome the Guosim or Sparra into Redwall. Mortimer does not name Martin's sword "Ratdeath" either.

Trivia

• Abbot Mortimer is the only Abbey leader known to have been violently murdered.
• In Redwall, Abbot Mortimer celebrates his "Golden Jubilee" as Abbot, which suggests that he served as the Abbey's leader for 50 seasons or years, indicating that he assumed the role quite young.
• The term "Ratdeath" for Martin's sword is only used by Mortimer and does not surface again.