Elsbet, Queen of All is a character in several of the ancient stories in Thom Merrilin's repertoire that date to the First Age. These tales assert that Elsbet was the queen of the entire world and a sister of Anla the Wise Counselor.[2] Elsbet engaged in wars against Mosk the Giant who had a "lance of fire that could reach around the world".[3] The tales of Mosk and Elsbet are examples of historical accounts that over time evolved into legends which further changed and faded into myth. This is common for all stories that transcend multiple ages as the Wheel of Time turns.[4] Eventually the myth of Elsbet will disappear from memory and will be long forgotten when the age that gave rise to the original story comes again.[4]
Parallels[]
Elsbet is a hidden reference to Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Mosk is a hidden reference to Moscow and his lance of fire refers to combat waged via the use of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The wars between Elsbet and Mosk imply a series of conflicts between the United Kingdom and the U.S.S.R. who were adversaries during the cold war of the 20th century.