Who is Mat Cauthon from A Crown of Swords and what is their importance?

Mat is a ta'veren, like Rand and Perrin. He has promised Rand that he would keep Egwene, Elayne, and Nynaeve safe. Egwene sends him off with Elayne and Nynaeve to hunt for an object called the Bowl of the Winds. Mat does not respect the role of the Aes Sedai and is very irritated with how they treat people. Mat is one of the few characters that does not stutter or shrink under the gaze of an Aes Sedai.