| “ | I will become everything you are so convinced that you need. I will rise, and rise, and rise until I'm rich and powerful but I'll never be yours again. | ” |
— Leith to Greer in Slaughter of Innocence
| ||
Leith Bayard is a recurring character in the first season, a main character in the second and third season, and a recurring character in the fourth season of Reign. He is portrayed by Jonathan Keltz.
Starting out as a kitchen servant, Leith rose to prominence and status, becoming a friend to the king of France, Francis II, and later personal bodyguard to Claude, the king's sister.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Leith, as the son of a goatherd, used to work on a farm. One time, a goat ran away from him and he had to chase "that damned goat over half the mountaintop". From then on, he decided that he would only work indoors. At one point, he was hired as a kitchen servant at the French Court.
In the Series[]
Personality[]
Leith is a very spirited person, one reason why Greer likes him. She learns this in one of his in Kissed where they share food and stories. Although genuinely a kind and caring person, he can be very cold when angered. Due to the fact that he was raised in the peasant class, he isn't always aware of how the rich and nobility work.
Physical Appearance[]
Leith
Leith is tall and slim young man presumably in his late teens or early twenties. With dark golden brown hair and light green/grey eyes. He has an overall scruff for facial hair.
He is usually seen dressed in plain garments when he is in the kitchen, or unadorned clothing. However since he's been granted wealth by Francis, he's been seen dressing in rather expensive and extravagant coats.
Relationships[]
Greer: It was predicted by Nostradamus that Greer would fall in love with Leith. The two connected after Greer was heartbroken by Tomas choosing Mary. She sought comfort in Leith, and the two shared a kiss before Greer pulls away. He constantly tries to pursue her even though she tries to pull away and deny her feelings for a kitchen servant. The two begin to date in secret, they were later caught together by Greer's new fiancé, thus ruining her reputation. Leith was sent away into the army and Greer became engaged to Lord Castleroy. Leith returns to Greer with news that he's been given land and money by Francis and the two can now be together. He's however told that she will marry Castleroy because it is better for her family. Jealousy and questions brew between the two after they're final break up, but Greer ultimately chooses to stay with Castleroy. (See Greer and Leith.)
Yvette: Leith first met Yvette before he is about to go tell Greer of his new wealth. She hits on him, but is initially turned down because of his love for Greer. He later returns however after being rejected by Greer, showing interest in Yvette. The two begin courting each other, until Leith finds out that she is Castleroy's daughter and is initially put off by it. Yvette convinces him that she would like to spend these potentially last days with him, begging him to meet her at a family friends quarters. He agree's at first, but when Greer begs him not to he stands Yvette up and she dies a few hours later.
(See Leith and Yvette.)
Francis: Leith first meets Francis during the Siege of Calais, when he saves Francis life. After Leith is later severely injured in battle, Francis refuses to abandon his new friends. The two share alot of things with each other. After returning to court Francis gifts Leith with lands and money, also promising a title when he is King. Although Francis had to take his lands away because of greedy nobles. He gave Leith a new position at court assisting Sebastian. He also reminds Leith to call him a friend.
(See Francis and Leith.)
Appearances[]
| Season One | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Appearance Status | ||
| Pilot | Absent | ||
| Snakes in the Garden | Absent | ||
| Kissed | Appears | ||
| Hearts and Minds | Appears | ||
| A Chill in the Air | Appears | ||
| Chosen | Absent | ||
| Left Behind | Appears | ||
| Fated | Mentioned | ||
| For King and Country | Absent | ||
| Sacrifice | Absent | ||
| Inquisition | Absent | ||
| Royal Blood | Absent | ||
| The Consummation | Absent | ||
| Dirty Laundry | Absent | ||
| The Darkness | Appears | ||
| Monsters | Appears | ||
| Liege Lord | Absent | ||
| No Exit | Absent | ||
| Toy Soldiers | Mentioned | ||
| Higher Ground | Appears | ||
| Long Live the King | Mentioned | ||
| Slaughter of Innocence | Appears | ||
| Season Two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Appearance Status | ||
| The Plague | Appears | ||
| Drawn and Quartered | Appears | ||
| Coronation | Credit Only | ||
| The Lamb and the Slaughter | Appears | ||
| Blood for Blood | Appears | ||
| Three Queens | Appears | ||
| The Prince of the Blood | Credit Only | ||
| Terror of the Faithful | Credit Only | ||
| Acts of War | Credit Only | ||
| Mercy | Appears | ||
| Getaway | Appears | ||
| Banished | Appears | ||
| Sins of the Past | Credit Only | ||
| The End of Mourning | Credit Only | ||
| Forbidden | Credit Only | ||
| Tasting Revenge | Appears | ||
| Tempting Fate | Appears | ||
| Reversal of Fortune | Appears | ||
| Abandoned | Credit Only | ||
| Fugitive | Appears | ||
| The Siege | Appears | ||
| Burn | Appears | ||
| Season Three | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Appearance Status | ||
| Three Queens, Two Tigers | Credit Only | ||
| Betrothed | Appears | ||
| Extreme Measures | Appears | ||
| The Price | Credit Only | ||
| In a Clearing | Credit Only | ||
| Fight or Flight | Appears | ||
| The Hound and the Hare | Appears | ||
| Our Undoing | Credit Only | ||
| Wedlock | Appears | ||
| Bruises That Lie | Appears | ||
| Succession | Credit Only | ||
| No Way Out | Credit Only | ||
| Strange Bedfellows | Appears | ||
| To The Death | Credit Only | ||
| Safe Passage | Appears | ||
| Clans | Appears | ||
| Intruders | Appears | ||
| Spiders in a Jar | Appears | ||
| Season Four | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Appearance Status | ||
| With Friends Like These | Mentioned | ||
| A Grain of Deception | Mentioned | ||
| Leaps of Faith | Mentioned | ||
| Playing with Fire | Appears | ||
| Highland Games | Appears | ||
| Love & Death | Appears | ||
| Hanging Swords | Credit Only | ||
| Uncharted Waters | Mentioned | ||
| Pulling Strings | Credit Only | ||
| A Better Man | Absent | ||
| Dead of Night | Absent | ||
| The Shakedown | Mentioned | ||
| Coup de Grace | Absent | ||
| A Bride. A Box. A Body. | Mentioned | ||
| Blood in the Water | Mentioned | ||
| All It Cost Her | Mentioned | ||
Name[]
- Leith is an English language masculine given name. From a surname, originally from the name of a Scottish town (now a district of Edinburgh), which is derived from Gaelic lìte "wet, damp". It is also the name of the river that flows though Edinburgh.
- Bayard is typically a masculine given name rather than a surname. Derived from Old French baiart meaning "bay coloured". In medieval French poetry Bayard was a bay horse owned by Renaud de Montauban and his brothers. The horse could magically adjust its size to carry multiple riders.
Trivia[]
- He is shown being capable of reading, a rare ability in 16th century peasantry.
- His origins are questionable since he is in France and comes from French peasantry, but his name is Scottish.
- Leith has been a main character since Season Two.
- He makes his return in the episode Playing with Fire.
- He leaves French Court in Love & Death.
- As of Blood in the Water, Leith is about to get married.
- Jonathan Keltz was on set during the filming of the Series Finale, but does not appear in any scenes.
Gallery[]
Leith Bayard has a photo gallery. |
See Also[]