Character guide

Jurgen

major

Also known as King Jurgen, Master Jurgen, young Jurgen, Duke of Logreus, Duke Jurgen of Logreus, Logreus, King Jurgen of Eubonia, Prince Jurgen, Emperor Jurgen, Pope Jurgen

A pawnbroker who embarks on a fantastical journey through mythic realms, seeking his youth and lost love.

Queen Anaïtis

major

Also known as Anaïtis, Dame Anaïtis

Goddess of love and war who becomes Jurgen's lover and guide in the land of Cocaigne.

Koshchei

major

Also known as Nessus, Koshchei the Deathless, Nessus Koshchei

A centaur and immortal being who serves as a cosmic force and final arbiter for Jurgen.

Dame Lisa

supporting

Also known as Lisa

Jurgen's sharp-tongued wife, a practical and skeptical woman who anchors his mortal life.

Mother Sereda

supporting

Also known as Sereda, Mother

A mysterious old woman who gives Jurgen a magical shirt and sets his quest in motion.

Chloris

supporting

Also known as The Hamadryad, Hamadryad Chloris, dear Chloris

A tree nymph who becomes Jurgen's first love and a recurring figure in his memories.

King Gogyrvan

supporting

Also known as Gogyrvan Gawr, King Gogyrvan Gawr

A wise and philosophical king of Glathion who advises Jurgen on matters of state.

Florimel

supporting

A beautiful and elusive woman encountered by Jurgen in the garden between dawn and sunrise.

Dame Guenevere

supporting

Also known as Guenevere, Queen Guenevere, Madame Guenevere, young Guenevere

The legendary queen whom Jurgen rescues early in his journey, later a figure of faith.

Grandfather Satan

supporting

Also known as Satan

The ruler of Hell who hosts Jurgen and offers cynical wisdom about human nature.

Coth

supporting

A mysterious figure in Hell who argues with Jurgen about the nature of reality.

Queen Helen

supporting

Also known as Helen

The legendary Helen of Troy, encountered by Jurgen in Leukê as an object of desire.

King Smoit

supporting

Also known as Smoit, King Smoit of Glathion, Smoit of Glathion

A boisterous and impulsive king of Glathion who becomes Jurgen's ally.

Queen Dolores

supporting

Also known as Dolores, Queen Dolores of Philistia, Queen of Philistia

The wise and pragmatic ruler of Philistia who challenges Jurgen's romantic ideals.

Heitman Michael

supporting

Also known as Michael, rich Heitman Michael

A wealthy and influential figure in Philistia who opposes Jurgen's schemes.

Horvendile

supporting

Also known as young Horvendile, Messire Horvendile, queer Horvendile

A mysterious and whimsical messenger who appears at key moments in Jurgen's journey.

Madame Dorothy

supporting

Also known as Dorothy, Dorothy la Désirée, Countess Dorothy

A beautiful woman from Jurgen's past who represents unattainable desire.

Queen Sylvia Tereu

supporting

Also known as Sylvia Tereu, Queen Sylvia, Sylvia

A queen of a mythical realm who tests Jurgen with riddles and challenges.

St. Peter

supporting

The gatekeeper of Heaven who debates with Jurgen about his worthiness.

Steinvor

minor

A Norse-inspired figure encountered by Jurgen in the northern realms.

Yolande

minor

Also known as Dame Yolande

A woman whose undoing is recounted in an excursus during Jurgen's journey.

Thragnar

minor

Also known as King Thragnar

A monstrous king who disguises himself and is defeated by Jurgen.

Perion de la Forêt

minor

Also known as Perion, young Perion

A knight and friend of Jurgen who appears in the early chapters.

Félise de Puysange

minor

Also known as Madame Félise de Puysange, Félise

A noblewoman encountered by Jurgen in his travels through various courts.

Messire de Logreus

minor

A title used by Jurgen himself in his role as Duke of Logreus.

The Master Philologist

minor

A cryptic scholar who teaches Jurgen about the power of words and names.

Achilles

minor

Also known as King Achilles

The legendary Greek hero encountered by Jurgen in the underworld.

Phobetor

minor

Also known as old Phobetor, Uncle Phobetor

A personification of fear who appears in the dream-like realms Jurgen visits.

Merlin Ambrosius

minor

Also known as Merlin, Messire Merlin Ambrosius, Messire Merlin

The legendary wizard who makes prophecies about King Arthur and Guenevere.

John the Nineteenth

minor

A pope encountered by Jurgen in Heaven who discusses theology.

Silenus

minor

A companion of Dionysus encountered by Jurgen in his mythic travels.

Azra

minor

A mysterious figure briefly encountered by Jurgen in the garden.

Dame Melicent

minor

Also known as Melicent

A noblewoman mentioned in the context of courtly love and chivalry.

Reinault Vinsauf

minor

Also known as Reinault

A knight who appears briefly in the early adventures of Jurgen.

Caliburn

minor

King Arthur's legendary sword, mentioned as a symbol of authority.

Camwy

minor

Also known as Sargyll, King of Glathion and Lord of Enisgarth and Camwy and Sargyll

A title and region associated with King Smoit's domain.

Terminus

minor

The Roman god of boundaries, encountered by Jurgen in the underworld.

Leukê

minor

The island of the blessed where Helen resides, personified as a location.

John the Twentieth

minor

Also known as John, Pope John the Twentieth

A pope who appears in Heaven during Jurgen's visit.

Jugatinus

minor

A minor deity of marriage encountered in the celestial realms.

Pandelis

minor

A servant or attendant in the court of King Smoit.

Lynette

minor

Also known as little Lynette

A young girl encountered by Jurgen in his travels.

Earl Giarmuid

minor

Also known as Giarmuid

A nobleman who appears in the court of King Gogyrvan.

Phyllis

minor

Also known as Dame Phyllis

A woman mentioned in the context of Jurgen's romantic past.

Count Emmerick

minor

A count who appears briefly in the early chapters of the book.

Lancelot

minor

The legendary knight of the Round Table, mentioned in passing.

Stella

minor

Also known as this Stella

A woman briefly encountered by Jurgen in his wanderings.

Thersitês

minor

A deformed Greek soldier from the Trojan War, encountered in the underworld.

Messire de Nérac

minor

Also known as Nérac, young Nérac

A young nobleman who appears in the court of King Smoit.

Graemagog

minor

A giant or monstrous figure mentioned in the mythological sections.

Gowlais

minor

Also known as Learned Gowlais, Both Gowlais, the Gowlais

A learned figure who appears in the philosophical discussions of the book.

Livonius

minor

A minor character encountered in the courts of Glathion.

Caesar Pharamond

minor

A legendary Frankish king mentioned in the historical allusions.

Æsred

minor

A figure from Norse mythology encountered by Jurgen.

Phlegeton

minor

A river of fire in the underworld, personified briefly.

Cannagosta

minor

Also known as So Cannagosta

A location or figure mentioned in the context of Philistia.

Nicanor

minor

Also known as Sævius Nicanor

A minor figure from classical history mentioned in passing.

Sagramor

minor

A knight of the Round Table mentioned briefly.

Gudrun

minor

A figure from Norse legend encountered in the northern realms.

Madame Ettarre

minor

Also known as Ettarre

A noblewoman mentioned in the context of courtly love.

Lethê

minor

The river of forgetfulness in the underworld, personified.

Kalki

minor

The Hindu avatar of Vishnu, mentioned in the mythological sections.

Lindamira

minor

A woman briefly mentioned in Jurgen's romantic reminiscences.