Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes (sometimes spelled as Mäes) is a member of the Investigations Division and was good friends with Colonel Mustang.

At the time of his introduction in the anime, Hughes held the rank of Major, and first met the Elrics while serving as a communications officer for General Hakuro. Hughes and Edward worked together to help recapture a passenger train that had been hijacked by a rebel named Bald (Episode 5). In the manga, Hughes was not present on the train when General Hakuro was held hostage.

Hughes is very devoted to his wife, Gracia, and absolutely besotted with his little daughter Elysia. He comically shoves pictures of Elysia into other people’s faces to their annoyance - but it is clear that his goofy behavior is usually a cover for the serious and depressing nature of his work.

Another common gag involves Hughes calling Mustang to either gloat about his daughter or advise Roy to get a wife, promptly causing Roy to slam the phone down in anger. He is also very supportive of Mustang’s plan to become Führer, doing whatever he can to, as he put it, “work below him and help push him to the top.”

Hughes is especially kind to the Elric Brothers. In the anime, he invites them to his home to celebrate Edward’s birthday, one of the few moments of domestic bliss enjoyed by the Elric Brothers. Both he and his wife Gracia continue to be kind towards the brothers, as well as to their friend Winry.

Because Hughes is assigned to the Investigations Division in Central, he is more involved with police work than he is in actual battles. Whenever he was however, he showed his skill with his push knives, with very precise throwing aim and good reflexes.

After receiving his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, Hughes is placed in charge of the Investigations Division. While investigating the 5th Laboratory incident and the mysterious deaths of the officers involved with its experiments, Hughes finds that there is much to suspect about the Führer’s secretary, Juliet Douglas.

During the course of his investigation, he is lured by Douglas to hotel where, she has told him Dr. Marcoh is waiting, but on arrival Huges is confronted by both her and Lust. Outmatched by the two Homunculi, he is only saved by the timely intervention of an armed Maria Ross.

He flees the building with Ross (who is, in fact, a disguised Envy), to contact Mustang from a public telephone booth, not trusting the military line.

His reason behind calling Roy directly is to give him information that “could send him to the top.” As Mustang is on a train to Central, Hughes is not able to contact him. Hughes then notices that the fake Ross is missing a mole under her left eye, and Envy reveals himself. A fight ensues, ending when Envy transforms into Hughes’s wife Gracia.

Hughes hesitates, and Envy uses that opportunity to fatally shoot him through his arm and into his chest. He is posthumously promoted to Brigadier General (Episode 25). Winry does not learn of Hughes’s death until Episode 36, and Edward and Alphonse do not learn of his death until Episode 44 in the anime, although the day after Hughes’ murder, Ed seems to see a ghostly form of Hughes waving to him from a station as their train passes it.

In the Conqueror of Shamballa, there is a police officer who is earth’s version of Maes Hughes. Also the OVA “Kids” on the Conqueror of Shambala DVD another police officer resembles Hughes can be seen giving directions to Edward Elric’s grandchildren.

Hughes is mostly likely named after Howard Hughes who was an American aviator, engineer, industrialist, and film producer.

According to his tombstone in Chapter 46 of the manga, he died at the age of 36.

Last Words: I hope you’ll forgive me, but I have a wife and kid waiting for me back home.

Ranks:

  • Major - Has this rank when introduced in the story.
  • Lieutenant Colonel - Promoted to this rank shortly before Edward’s state alchemy reassessment examination in episode 13.
  • Brigadier General - Posthumously promoted to this rank for dying in the line of duty. (Incorrectly translated as Major General by VIZ Media, then later as Commodore.)

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