Pastorius, the Ozma Regent, is an unseen character in Gregory Maguire's Wicked Years. He is mentioned throughout the novels as the deceased father of Princess Ozma, and a former ruler of Oz.

In the Novels

The ruling monarchy of Oz traditionally passes down the female line, however, when his wife, the reigning Ozma the Bilious passes away from an accidental poisoning, Pastorius became the Ozma Regent, that is until their daughter, the toddler Ozma Tippetarius is old enough to take the throne.

His rule is filled with days of expensive balls in the court proper, and of bawdy carnivals of patriotic sentiment outside the palace walls; this was mainly done to distract the urban poor from the deprivations of the Great Drought. He also renames the capital city of Nubby Meadows to ”Emerald City” and declares it the imperial capital of united Oz.

When the Wizard invades Emerald City and overthrows the monarchy in a coup d'état, Pastorius was ultimately assassinated by gunfire and Baby Ozma is given to La Mombey, a witch and former court adviser. The witch goes to transform the princess into a kitchen boy she would later call "Tip".

Description

Pastorius is described as being a piece of work: Vain, dim, and an overall bullnose-chinned fool; also very sybaritic, always cocooned in silk, drunk on compliments warbled by his adulating courtiers.