Soldier with the Green Whiskers

Captain-General Omby Amby, the Soldier with the Green Whiskers
Oz character
The Soldier with the Green Whiskers art by W.W. Denslow
First appearance	The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
Created by	L. Frank Baum
Information
Aliases	Wantowin Battles
Species	human
Gender	male
Occupation	Body Guard to Princess Ozma and Police Force of the Emerald City
Title	Captain-General
Family	a Munchkin family named Battles (questionable)
Spouse(s)	unnamed wife with terrible temper Tollydiggle (possibly a mistake)
Children	none
Nationality	Munchkin (questionable)

The Soldier with the Green Whiskers is a character from the fictional Land of Oz who appears in the classic children's series of Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum and his successors. He is first introduced in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). His name is Omby Amby, but this was so obliquely stated that he also became known briefly as Wantowin Battles.

In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Soldier with the Green Whiskers (real name not yet revealed) is the head guard of the Royal Army of Oz. His job is to protect the Emerald City and its residents. He gladly escorts the four main protagonists Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Cowardly Lion through the streets of the Emerald City upon their first visit. He leads them all to the royal palace of the Wizard of Oz, where he forces them to wipe their feet upon a plush green carpet before entering. When he blows upon his green whistle, a pretty maid dressed in green silk named Jellia Jamb appears to show the four guests to their private rooms while staying in Oz's palace.

The Soldier with the Green Whiskers appears to be the tallest citizen in the city, and is often described as being "very tall" with a very thick and long green beard that flows nearly to the ground. After the Wizard's departure from Oz, he leaves the Scarecrow to rule the city in his stead. The Soldier with the Green Whiskers is the one who tells the King Scarecrow that Glinda the Good Witch might know of a way for Dorothy to get back to her homeland in Kansas. The four protagonists take his advice and travel to the land of the southern Quadlings to seek its ruler.

In the second Oz book The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904), it is revealed his appearance is largely for show. When attacked by General Jinjur's all female Army of Revolt, he admits that his gun, which was usually drawn containing flowers, is not kept loaded for fear of accidents. He tells her to "wait right here" while he looks for the powder and shot that he has misplaced. After his ineffectual attempts to save the Emerald City from invasion, which the Scarecrow chastizes, he vows to disguise himself by shaving his beard. However, he let's it grow back once Princess Ozma has been established on the throne as Oz's true ruler.