Gwyn is the best and most tragic "villian" in the series imo

After playing through ringed city and revisiting dark souls 1 and the lore Gwyn really is such a amazing and tragic character to me All he wanted was the age of fire to continue and be prosperous and avoid the dark fate of man,

he did alot of questionable things but we kinda see what happens when humanity and the dark take over it isnt very pleasant even if it is the natrual course. He lived in the dark before the fire arose and he claimed his lord soul and with how volatile humanity is he couldnt accept that that was the fate of the his people and the kingdom he fought so hard to create.

I believe he did all he did in a misguided attempt to avoid a future he feared for him and his people rather than for selfish gain. He even sacrificed himself to relight the flame im sure he didnt think he would continue be a normal ruler after a action so drastic, i believe he knowingly sacrificed his soul for the sanctity of the world at large even sacrificing his own daughter to hide what he could only see as chaos