The wicked crone who abducted Rapunzel as a toddler is none other than Mother Gothel. She cunningly posed as Rapunzel's loving, albeit overprotective, mother to keep the princess under her control. Mother Gothel was obsessed with retaining her youth, which she did for hundreds of years through the healing properties of a magic golden flower. When these powers were unintentionally transferred to Rapunzel's hair, Gothel kidnapped her and locked her away in a secluded tower to hoard her healing magic.