List of Temeraire characters
Temeraire is a series of novels by Naomi Novik, comprising His Majesty's Dragon (released as Temeraire in the United Kingdom), Throne of Jade, Black Powder War, Empire of Ivory, Victory of Eagles, and Tongues of Serpents. The novels are works of both fantasy and alternate history: they are "a reimagining of the epic events of the Napoleonic Wars with an air force — an air force of dragons, manned by crews of aviators".[1]
Major characters
Humans
- Captain William Laurence: Former captain of HMS Reliant while in the Royal Navy. Served aboard HMS Belize, HMS Orient, and others prior to receiving his post on the Reliant. Now Captain in the Aerial Corps and captain to Temeraire. Primary figure in the series. He comes from a wealthy family distantly related to the king. Although he serves in the Aerial Corps, (the least respected military branch of England) he is a gentleman and the son of Lord Allendale.
- Admiral Lenton: Admiral in charge of the covert at Dover. Obversaria was his dragon, until the third book in the series.
- Arthur Hammond: British diplomat attending Laurence's mission to China whose primary goal is to preserve or to improve British standing with the Chinese Empire, even if it comes at the expense of giving Temeraire to the Chinese. He is generally disliked by the crew of the Allegiance and Temeraire's crew.
- Captain Thomas Riley: Lieutenant under Captain Laurence on HMS Reliant in His Majesty's Dragon. In Throne of Jade is promoted to captain of HMS Allegiance, a dragon-transport. Family owns slaves in the Caribbean. Sires a child with Captain Catherine Harcourt.
- Captain Catherine Harcourt: Stationed at Dover. First female dragon-captain Laurence meets. Twenty years old when promoted to Captain. Captain to the Longwing Lily.
- Captain Jane Roland: Captain to Excidium. Mother of Emily Roland, a member of Laurence's crew. Becomes Laurence's paramour after Laurence breaks off his engagement. Later promoted to Admiral.
- Captain Langford James: Courier. Captain to Volatilus. First dragon-captain to meet Laurence. Gives him a basic introduction to how the Aerial Corps works.
- Captain Berkley: Stationed at Dover. Captain to the Regal Copper, Maximus.
- Captain Rankin: Abusive Captain to Levitas. Becomes Captain to Caesar in Tongues of Serpents.
- Emily Roland A member of Captain William Laurence's crew, she was in the first book mistaken for a boy.
- Hannah Erasmus: Wife of Reverend Erasmus. A former slave, she is a member of the Tswana tribe and returns to Africa with her husband and children. After her husband is slain in an encounter with her native tribe, she is recognized and freed and ultimately elects to stay in Africa.
- Lieutenant John Granby: Laurence's second-in-command. Served under Captain Portland on Laetificat. Becomes Iskierka's Captain.
- Prince Yongxing: Brother to the Jiaqing Emperor of China. Anti-Western and seeks to bring Temeraire back to China. Schemes to ultimately supplant his nephew's claim to the Imperial Throne. Companion to the white Celestial Lien.
- Reverend Josia Erasmus: A former slave in Jamaica. Joins Temeraire and Laurence in their expedition to Africa to find a cure for the draconic flu.
- Tharkay: A guide hired by a banker in Istanbul to bring Captain Laurence and his crew to the Turkish capital. While duplicitous in appearance, this is an air cultivated purposefully by Tharkay due to his mixed heritage.
Dragons
- Temeraire: A Chinese Celestial (mistaken for an Imperial dragon in the first book) dragon and the titular character of the series. Named after Téméraire, a French vessel captured during the Napoleonic wars, his name means "bold". His Chinese name is Long Tian Xiang. Captain William Laurence is his companion. Possesses an extremely practical, inquisitive, and sometimes too blunt personality, although he sometimes can be overly sensitive about the differences between his appearance and that of western dragons. He is also quite possessive and protective of Laurence.
- Arkady: A feral dragon from Turkestan who allies his pack with Temeraire and Britain. He became leader of his pack due to a powerful and overbearing personality.
- Iskierka: A Kazilik in service to Britain. Hatches en route to Britain while Temeraire and the crew are fleeing following the rout of the Prussian army. High-tempered and ready to fight from birth (Iskierka means Sparkle in polish). John Granby becomes her companion, although notably she names herself. She frequently argues with Temeraire, especially over the fact she isn't allowed into battles yet. Becomes a main figure in protecting the English coast, seizing many ships as prizes. Follows Temeraire to Australia (or is trying to) after Laurence and Temeraire are sentenced to transportation, taking Granby with her.
- Kefentse: A dragon in the Tswana tribe, he is Hannah Erasmus' reincarnated ancestor and is called "Grandfather". An unidentified red-brown breed, he is the first dragon seen to be wearing piercings (elephant tusks and other jewelry).
- Levitas: A Winchester serving as courier at the Dover covert. Captain Rankin is his abusive and negligent companion. Levitas was killed after wounds inflicted during a reconnaissance mission over France, though he died at peace after finally receiving praise, albeit through Laurence's physical coercion of Rankin.
- Lien: An albino Chinese Celestial, ostracized in China due to superstition (white is a color of mourning and death in China). Her companion was Prince Yongxing. Upon his death, she vows to exact vengeance upon Temeraire and all of his friends and allies. She allies herself with Napoleon I in order to bring ruin to the British. She is granted an unknown rank and commands the dragons of Napoleon's Armee de l'Air.
- Lily: A Longwing in service to Britain. She leads a formation of other dragons due to her ability to spit acid despite her relative youth. Captain Harcourt is her companion. She is quite proper, when going bathing she only wants to wash.
- Maximus: A Regal Copper in service at the Dover covert. Captain Berkley is his companion. Like Lily, Maximus has been in training with Temeraire since the Celestial arrived in Scotland, and is one of his closer friends. Even if he is big, Maximus is quite lazy. Temeraire, Lily and he are the youngest dragons of the base. When they go to bathe, he and Temeraire play together. When he was sick, he went with all the formation to Africa, but it was known that if the cure was not to be found that he would likely be the first to die, or furthermore that he cannot make it back to Britain.
- Nitidus: A Pascal's Blue in service, part of Lily's formation with Temeraire, Maximus, Messoria, Immortalis and Dulcia. His captain is Micah Warren. He has been placed there to be a support for the three youngest dragons. He is a nervous creature, he doesn't like to be leaving alone in a place he didn't known. After battle he tends to be quite excited.
- Dulcia: A Grey Copper in service, part of Lily's formation with Temeraire, Maximus, Messoria, Immortalis and Nitidus. Her captain is Chenery. She is there to balance the inexperience of Lily, Maximus and Temeraire. During the dragon flu epidemic, she is the first to receive the cure and be healed. She entered the village where captains Chenery, Harcourt and Laurence and all their crew were prisoners in order to pass a message. She seems to know well about breeding grounds since she said to Temeraire when leaving for China that he was not interesting except for breeding purposes.
- Messoria: A Yellow Reaper in service, part of Lily's formation with Temeraire, Maximus, Immortalis and Nitidus. Her captain is Sutton. She is 40 years old and wily. She is there to balance the inexperience of Lily, Maximus and Temeraire.
- Immortalis: A Yellow Reaper in service, part of Lily's formation with Temeraire, Maximus, Messoria and Nitidus. His captain is Little.
- Mokhachane: The dragon-king of the Tswana people, she is the reincarnation of a human king (despite being a female dragon). Leads an alliance of African tribes in kicking out all Europeans in sub-Saharan Africa, destroying the Cape Coast, Louana, Benguela, and Cape Colony along with other unnamed European outposts. Establishes the Tswana-Sotho kingdom which rules virtually all of sub-Saharan Africa.
- Volatilus (or Volly): A Greyling in service to Britain and the first dragon Temeraire meets. Captain Langford James is his companion. Not considerably intelligent, but quite fast in flight. While simple, he is able to express his preference for cows, but as he is a Greyling, his diet consists more of goats and sheep. He is unable to correctly pronounce Temeraire's name, calling him "Temrer". Wherever they meet he butts him on shoulder as a friendly gesture. When asked where he came from, he cheerfully says "I was hatched! From an egg!"
Minor characters
Humans
Africa
- Demane: A native of the Xhosa tribe, he leads Laurence to the cure for the draconic flu.
- Sipho: Brother of Demane. Both where made crew members on Temeraire in Empire of Ivory and Victory of Eagles.
Austria
Britain
- Admiral Barham
- Admiral Grenville: Head of the Aerial Corps at London covert.
- Admiral Powys: Head of the Aerial Corps.
- Albert, Lord Seymour: Henry Ferris' brother.
- Bertram Woolvey: Marries Edith Galman, Laurence's former fiancee. Killed assisting Laurence and Tharkay to retrieve Izkierka and Granby in London after their capture by the French during the occupation.
- Broughton
- Captain Portland: Laetificat's companion.
- Captain Richard Clark
- Captain Sutton: Companion to Messoria.
- Colonel Prayle: Marine colonel.
- Dr. Harrow: Dragon surgeon.
- Dr. Wapping: Dragon surgeon.
- Edith Galman: Engaged to Laurence until his situation changed and he became part of the Aerial Corps. Married Bertram Woolvey.
- Hollin: Former ground-crew master for Captain Laurence. Becomes companion to the Winchester Elsie.
- Jervis: Officer at the London covert. Oversees Temeraire during the hearing on Temeraire and Laurence's future.
- Lady Catherine Seymour: Henry Ferris' mother.
- Lady Seymour: Ferris' sister-in-law.
- Lloyd: Crewmember serving under Captain Portland.
- Lady Allendale: Captain Laurence's mother. Quietly supports Laurence, meets Temeraire and is quite taken with him. Writes to him on the side and later openly.
- Lord Allendale: Captain Laurence's father. He disapproves of Laurence's career in the Navy and nearly disowns him when informed of his son's transition to the Aerial Corps. Supporter of the abolitionist movement.
- Lady Wrightley
- Lord Wrightley
- Marchioness of Carstoke: A guest at Temeraire's dinner.
- Miss Lucas
- Mr. Cutter: Carpenter at the London covert. Works on building the first draconic pavilion in Britain.
- Mr. Royle: Carpenter at the London covert. Works on building the first draconic pavilion in Britain.
- Mrs. Brantham
- Patson: Officer in the Aerial Corps. Gatekeeper to the London covert.
- Richard Ferris: Officer in the Royal Navy.
- Sanders: Crewmember serving under Captain Portland.
- Wilpoys: Officer who is part of Lily's crew. Killed by Choiseul in his attempt to hijack Lily and Captain Harcourt for the French.
China
- Captain Holt: East India Company Captain. Ship seized by the Imperial Throne for the mission to Britain to recover Temeraire.
- Captain Greggson: East India Company Captain. Ship seized by the Imperial Throne for the mission to Britain to recover Temeraire.
- Captain Mestis: East India Company Captain. Ship seized by the Imperial Throne for the mission to Britain to recover Temeraire.
- Feng Li: Prince Yongxing's servant. Tries to kill Laurence twice, once on New Year's Day, once during a storm. Dies in the second attempt.
- Gong Su: Cook serving Temeraire and Captain Laurence.
- Jing Chao: Cook serving Temeraire and Captain Laurence. Disappears in the Taklamakan desert.
- Li Honglin: Member of Yongxing's retinue.
- Liu Bao: Elder of Prince Yongxing's lieutenants in the mission sent to Britain.
- Major Heretford: Commander of the East India Company's private soldiery in China.
- Miankai: Prince and possible heir to the Imperial Throne. Yongxing seeks to make him companion to Temeraire so he can become heir to the Throne in the event of the deaths of the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
- Mianning: Eldest of Jiaqing Emperor's sons. Heir to the throne. Companion to Lung Tien Chuan, Temeraire's twin brother.
- Sun Kai: One of Prince Yongxing's lieutenants in the foreign mission sent to Britain. Pro-Western and proves to be of aid in China. Serves as Prince Mianning's agent in Yongxing's retinue.
- Ye Bing: Member of Yongxing's retinue.
- Zhao Wei: Functionary for the Emperor. Negotiates with Hammond on the conditions in which the British are to behave while in Peking.
Istanbul
- Avraam Maden: A banker in Istanbul.
- Ertegun: Turkish Captain of the Guard.
- Arbuthnot: British ambassador. Dies in a hunting accident.
- Yarmouth: Secretary to Ambassador Arbuthnot. Disappears without a trace.
- Hasan Moustafa Pasha: A vizer in service to the Sultan. Serves to keep the British occupied and locked away while they are in Istanbul.
- Sara Maden: Daughter of Avraam Maden.
Prussia
- Colonel Richard Thorndyke: British liaison officer to the Prussian army.
- Captain Dyhern: Companion to Eroica, a Prussian heavyweight. Captured by the French at Jena.
- Lieutenant Badenhauer: Prussian officer assigned to Temeraire to fill out Laurence's crew. Injured saving Laurence's life during the Battle at Jena.
- Captain Schleitz: Prussian dragon-captain.
- Captain Schleimann: Prussian dragon-captain.
- Captain Abend: Prussian dragon-captain.
- Major Sieberling: Kalkreuth's second among the survivors of the evacuated Prussian officers from Danzig.
Temeraire's Crew
- Allen
- Baylesworth: Flight crew. Lieutenant. Dies during an avalanche in Central Asia.
- Bell
- Blythe: Armorer's mate.
- Calloway
- Digby: Flight crew. Promoted to midshipman. Falls to death, trying to save the Alaman egg in Istanbul.
- Donnell: Topman killed in skirmish off the coast of France.
- Dunne: Midshipman
- Dyer: Midshipman in Lawrence's ground crew. Serves as a runner.
- Emily Roland: Ground crew. Serves as a runner. Daughter of Captain Jane Roland.
- Evans: Lieutenant. Serves as second officer. Sent home after seriously injured in skirmish off the coast of France.
- Fellowes: Flight crew.
- Henry Ferris: Lieutenant. Promoted from third officer to acting-second when Evans is sent home.
- Hakley: Midshipman
- Harley
- Harper
- Hollin: Harness master later promoted to captain on a Winchester
- Keynes: Ground crew. A capable field surgeon who can operate on humans and dragons.
- Lithgow
- Macdonough: Flight crew. Dies in Turkestan.
- Martin: Second Lieutenant.
- Miggy: Topman killed in skirmish off the coast of France.
- Morgan: Runner. Killed in skirmish off the coast of France.
- Parker: Flight crew. Harness-man.
- Portis
- Pratt: Ground crew. Serves as armourer.
- Quale: Midwingman. Dies saving Laurence during skirmish off the British coast.
- Riggs: Lieutenant.
- Salyer: Flight crew.
- Therrows: Flight crew.
- Turner: Signal-ensign.
- Willoughby: Flight crew. Harness-man. Killed during the attack of the hunhun in China.
- Winston
Aboard HMS Allegiance
- Bassan: Crewman.
- Bayne: Crewman.
- Beckett: Lieutenant.
- Chervis
- Criggs: Crewman.
- Cornell: Master-at-arms.
- Doyle: Crewman killed by the sea-serpent.
- Dyfydd
- Eklof: Ship's carpenter.
- Franks: Lieutenant. Third officer.
- Garrett: Ship's master.
- Harris: Main gunner. Killed in skirmish with a Fleur-de-Nuit.
- Leddowes: Dies during a storm when attempting to help Laurence tie down Temeraire.
- Lord Purbeck: first officer.
- Pollitt: Ship's surgeon.
- Macready: Lieutenant. Commander of the Marines on board.
- Masterson
- Reynolds: Midshipman.
- Sackler: Master's mate.
- Tripp: Midshipman.
France
- Captain Choiseul: Originally a French Royalist who fled France and Napoleon. Betrays Britain by becoming a spy and tries to kidnap Captain Harcourt and Lilly to attempt to earn a pardon after not being able to recapture Temeraire's egg. Executed as a spy at Dover Covert, upsets the young dragons and his dragon Praecursoris gets sent to the British breeding grounds in Newfoundland.
Dragons
Britain
- Auctoritas: Victim of the dragon flu, fyles in Excidiums formation
- Caelifera: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Celeritas: A Reaper in charge of training at the Loch Laggan covert, he has no captain, as his previous two died, and he refused the third.
- Celoxia: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Dulcia: Grey Copper serving at the Dover covert. Wing-dragon in Lily's formation. Captain Chenery is her companion.
- Elsie: Winchester serving at the London covert. Hollin is her companion.
- Excidium: Longwing. Formation leader stationed at Dover. Captain Jane Roland is his companion.
- Excursius: Unknown Breed. All that is known is that John Granby served aboard him/her.
- Felicitas: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Fluitare: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Inlacrimas: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Immortalis: Yellow Reaper. Mid-weight dragon in Lily's formation. Captain Little is his companion.
- Laetificat: Regal Copper. Admiral Portland is her companion.
- Laudabilis: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Mortiferus: Longwing stationed along the British Channel.
- Minacitus: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Nitidus: Pascal's Blue. Captain Warren is his companion. Wing-dragon in Lily's formation.
- Obversaria: Anglewing. Admiral Lenton's dragon. Formation leader with over forty years of service. Victim of the dragon flu.
- Perscitia: A dragon Temeraire meets in the breeding pen Y, very clever in mathematics and finds clever attack plans against the French.
- Praecursoris: Chanson-de-Guerre. Sent to Newfoundland for breeding after his rider was executed for spying.
- Prolixis: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Repugnatis: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Validius: Victim of the dragon flu.
- Victoriatus: Parnassian. Injured in a skirmish and borne to Loch Laggan by Temeraire and Maximus.
China
- Lung Qin Gao: An Imperial dragon and Temeraire's sire.
- Lung Qin Mei (or Mei): An Imperial. Serves Qian. Becomes enamoured of Temeraire during his stay in Peking.
- Lung Qin Shu (or Shu): An Imperial. Serves Qian.
- Lung Li Po: Historical dragon and Emperor. Author of poetry.
- Lung Tien Chuan (or Chuan): A Celestial. Companion to the Imperial Heir, Prince Mianning. Older twin of Temeraire.
- Lung Tien Ming (or Ming): A Celestial.
- Lung Tien Qian (or Qian): A Celestial and mother of Temeraire. Aunt to Lien. Daughter of Xian.
- Lung Tien Xian (or Xian): A Celestial. Referred to as Grandfather as he is both the oldest Celestial alive and the progenitor of the eight that live. Sire of Chu, companion to the Jiaqing Emperor, and Qian.
- Lung Tien Zhi (or Zhi): A Celestial.
- Lung Yu Ping (or Yu Ping): A Jade Dragon. Messenger dragon sent to inform Yongxing and Laurence that they are to head to Peking in all haste.
Feral
- Arkady: Leader of a band of ferals, although not the strongest of the ferals, his charisma led to his high position.
- Gherni: Scout and translator in Arkady's dragon-pack.
- Molnar: One of Arkady's lieutenants.
- Wringe: Another of Arkady's lieutenants.
- Hertaz: Scout in Arkady's dragon-pack, his light colors let him ambush prey in grasslands near Istanbul.
- Lester: Member of Arkady's group.
France
- Accendare: Flamme-de-Gloire in service on the French coast. Her formation is involved in a skirmish with Lily's formation when attempting to sink a convoy of merchantmen.
- Triumphalis: Grand Chevalier which ambushed Lily's formation near Dover. Triumphalis is called "one of France's most dangerous fighters."
Istanbul
- Bezaid: A Kazilik in service to the Sultan. Father of Iskierka.
- Sherazde: A Kazilik in service to the Sultan. Mother of Iskierka.
Prussia
- Eroica: A Prussian heavyweight Regal Copper, which is the largest type of dragon in the Temeraire series. Captured by the French along with his captain at Jena.
Historical Figures
While a number of the characters in the Temeraire series are fictional, they often interact with fictionalized versions of actual historical figures. Some historical figures play either minor roles in the story or are mentioned as actors in the background.
Major roles
- Sir George Staunton: Representative of the British East India Company in Canton, China. Aids Laurence and Temeraire while on their mission to Peking.
- Chrétien-Louis-Joseph de Guignes: Son of Joseph de Guignes. Ambassador for Napoleon to the Chinese. Accompanies Lien to France.
- Louis Ferdinand: A Prince of Prussia. Commander of the advance regiments of the Prussian Army. Defeated and killed at the Battle of the Saalfeld.
- Frederick Louis, Prince of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen: Prussian General. Defeated at the Battle of Jena. Routed at successive battles.
- King Frederick William of Prussia: King of Prussia. Forced to flee to Russia after defeat of armies by Napoleon. Transported by Temeraire to Pozen.
- Napoleon I of France: Emperor of the French.
- François Joseph Lefebvre: French Marshal. Seeks the surrender of Danzig and the British dragons.
- Horatio Nelson: British Admiral of the Navy. Hero of the Battle of Trafalgar. Unlike real life, he survives the decisive battle, although burned severely, and is created Duke of Nelson. Leads the political forces against abolition. Is killed in action, along with a good portion of the Royal Navy by Lien's Tidal Wave.
- Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz: Queen of Prussia. Forced to flee to Russia after defeat of armies by Napoleon. Transported by Temeraire to Pozen.
- Friedrich Adolf Graf von Kalckreuth: Commander of Danzig. Successfully airlifted from the city by the British and feral dragons when besieged by Lefebvre.
- Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet: Commander of the expedition that successfully captures CapeTown from the Dutch. Assists Laurence and HMS Allegiance crew when they stop for supplies on their mission to China.
- William Wilberforce: One of the leading voices of abolition in Britain. He enlists the aid of Laurence and Temeraire in exchange for promoting Temeraire's draconic-rights movement. In this alternate history, his efforts largely fail due to the survival of Nelson.
- Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington: Appointed to lead the battle against the successful invasion of England by Napoleon I. Sends Lawrence and Temeraire and their formation out to be irregulars who defend the countryside against French foragers without offering quarter. Wins the successful end battle against Napoleonic forces with the assistance of the Royal Navy, who are nearly completely wiped out by Lien's use of the Divine Wind. Ennobled as a result of the battle, and rewards Laurence by getting his sentence commuted to transportation to Australia, along with Temeraire.
- Moshueshue: King of the Tswana tribe and leader of the Tswana-Sotho alliance of sub-Saharan African tribes. After destroying several European outposts, slave-trading stations and colonies, establishes the Tswana-Sotho kingdom which rules over southern Africa. Sought intelligence from Laurence about Europe and England and the aims of Europe in Africa.
Minor roles
References
External links