List of War and Peace characters
This is a list of characters in Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace.
A
Tree of Rostov, Bolkonsky and other families
Historical figures mentioned
- Marya Dmitriyevna Akhrosimova - relative of Count Rostov and matchmaker. Rude but respected and feared.
- Tsar Alexander I of Russia - liberal emperor early in his reign but gradually became more conservative.
- Elizabeth Alexeievna - empress of Russia.
- Yakov Alpatych - servant and estate manager of Prince Nikolay Bolkonsky
- Count Aleksey Arakcheyev - severe minister of war in 1809; cruel but cowardly; former minister of war by 1812 but trusted by Tsar Alexander I
B
- Bagovut - Russian soldier, killed at Taratino
- Prince Bagration - Russian general, considered "The hero of heroes" by Tolstoy. He is a modest, polite, but very strong character - A very much accurate image of Bagration (Pronounced Bag-rat-ee-ON) in real life. Fought the French in a rear-guard action near Schoengraben in 1805, protecting Kutuzov. Commander of an army in 1812, killed at Borodino.
- Barclay de Tolly - Senior commander of Russian forces in 1812 until replaced by Kutuzov.
- Barthélemy - The second envoy unsuccessfully sent by Napoléon to negotiate peace with Emperor Alexander.
- Joseph Alexéevich Bazdéev - Pierre's benefactor, who introduced him to freemasonry.
- Count Bennigsen - German leader of Russian at Eylau (a draw) and Friedland (a decisive defeat). A senior commander in 1812.
- Lieutenant Alphonse Karlovich Berg - German husband of Vera Rostova
- Berthier - Napoleon's commander of staff in 1805
- Count Kirill Bezukhov (also Count Bezuhov) - Pierre's father and very wealthy aristocrat who served in Catherine II's court.
- Pierre Bezukhov - The illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov. A freethinking, sometimes reckless, man capable of decisive action and great displays of willpower when circumstances demand it. Inherits Count Bezukhov's fortune, later becomes a Freemason and plans to assassinate Napoleon. Husband of Hélène Kuragina and after her death, of Natasha Rostova.
- Bilibin - Russian diplomat to Austria. Appears in Vol I, Part II, Chapter 10. Entertains Prince Andrey Bolkonsky during the Prince's stay in Brno to inform the Austrian government of Russian victories.
- Bolhovitinov - Messenger from Dolohov to Kutuzov, Oct. 1812
- Prince Andrey Nikolayevich Bolkonsky - Son of Prince Nikolay Bolkonsky. A brave (at times arrogant) soldier who becomes cynical in the Napoleonic Wars. Counterpart to Pierre. Valued adjutant to Kutuzov in 1805. Married to Lisa Bolkonskaya, father of young prince Nikolay Bolkonsky, and afterwards engaged to Natasha Rostova.
- Princess Elisabeta "Lisa" Karlovna Bolkonskaya (also Lise) - née Meinena. Wife of Andrey Bolkonsky. Died in childbirth. Also called "little princess".
- Princess Marya Bolkonskaya - A woman who struggles between the obligations of her religion and the desires of her heart. Marya lives with her father at his estate, Bald Hills. She is subject to her father's fastidious and unscrupulous schedule and standards. Also called Maria. Eventually married Nikolai Rostov.
- Prince Nikolay Bolkonsky - Name of both father and son of Prince Andrey Bolkonsky
- Napoléon Bonaparte - The Great Man, ruined by great blunders.
- Mademoiselle Bourienne - orphaned French companion to Princess Marya Bolkonskaya and her father.
- Broussier
- Mademoiselle Byelova
C
- General Campan
- Caulaincourt - French ambassador to Russia
- Pavel Vasilievich Chichagov or Tchichagov (8 July [O.S. 27 June] 1767 – 20 August 1849) was a Russian military and naval commander of the Napoleonic wars.
- Prince Adam Czartoryski - Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- Clausewitz - As one of two German staff officers, in the Russian service, that ride past Prince Andrei the night of the eve of battle of Borodino (The other is Wolzogen).
D
- Danilo - Huntsman for Nikolai Rostov
- General Davoust - French marshall, competent but also capable of cruelty
- Vasily "Vasska" Denisov - Russian military officer, friend to Nikolai Rostov. He tends to pronounce some of his R's like W's, but not all of them. Eventually a general of partisan troops after the French retreat from Moscow. Proposed unsuccessfully to Natasha Rostova.
- Monsieur Dessalles - A Swiss teacher for young prince Nikolay Bolkonsky.
- Dmitri Onufrich - Family solicitor of Count Bezukhov.
- Dmitri Vasileyevich - "Mitenka." Account manager of the Rostovs.
- Prince Dolgorukov - Russian general
- Dmitry Dokhturov - One of the characters used as a mouthpiece by Tolstoy to express his disillusionment with the tendency of historians to attribute the course of events to the will of certain iconic, often heroic figures despite the fact that more obscure but perhaps equally influential characters contributed to the eventual outcome. Unheralded but played a decisive role at Austerlitz, Smolensk, Borodino, and Maley Yaroslavetz.
- Fedor Ivanovich Dolokhov (Fedya) - A cold, almost psychopathic man, he is a noted duelist and drinker, but is caring for his disadvantaged family. He once duels Pierre and is nearly killed. Valiant in battle. Was rumored to have an affair with Helene Bezukhov. A partisan leader in 1812. He proposed unsuccessfully to Sonya Rostova.
- Dron Zakhárych (Drónushka) - Village elder of Bogutcharovo
- Princess Anna Mikhaylovna Drubetskaya - Friend of Countess Rostova. A poor, elderly lady. Supporter of Boris, her son.
- Boris Drubetskoy - ambitious son of Princess Anna Mikhaylovna Drubetskaya. Army officer; fought at Austerlitz and later married Julie Karagina, thereby becoming rich. Childhood friend of Countess Rostova.
- Dunyasha - Servant of Countess Rostova
F
- Archduke Ferdinand of Austria
- Maria Feodorovna (also Marya Fyodorovna) - Dowager empress of Russia
- Emperor Francis I of Austria
- Baron Funke
G
- Prince Boris Vladimirovich Galitzine - A nobleman who has hired a tutor to instruct him in Russian, as French, the language preferred by the upper classes, became identified with the enemy.
- Gerasim - Servant to Bazdeyef
- Gervais - Associate of Speranski
- Major-General Grekov - Commanded two regiments of cossacks under Orlov-Denisov at Taratino. Initially routed French under Marat.
I
- Ilyin - Friend of Nikolai Rostov
- Mikhail Ivanich - Taciturn architect employed by Prince Nikolay Bolkonsky
K
- Julie Karagina - wealthy heiress. Friend of Marya Bolkonskaya. Married Boris Drubetskoy.
- Marya Lvovna Karagina- mother of Julie Karagina.
- Platon Karataev - peasant who influences Pierre Bezukhov during his time as a prisoner of war.
- Archduke Karl of Austria
- Kirsten - Staff-Captain who is listed as very honorable and proud of his regiment. He is said to have been demoted twice due "affairs of honour," and has twice been reinstated to his current rank.
- Piotr Petrovich Konovnitsyn - Like Dokhturov, a character Tolstoy expresses his admiration of in order to reconcile the user to the fact that the successful defense of Russia could not be achieved by those recognised by history alone.
- Paisi Kaysarov - Kutuzov's adjutant in the Battle of Borodino.
- Prince Kozlovsky
- Aline Kuragina - Wife of Vasili Kuragin.
- Anatole Kuragin - son of Vasili Kuragin. Handsome, irresponsible and somewhat hedonistic military officer. Had an affair with Natasha Rostov.
- Hélène Kuragina - daughter of Vasili Kuragin. Later Countess Bezukhov (wife of Pierre Bezukhov). Beautiful, self-seeking woman. Rumored at one point to have an affair with Fyodor Dolokhov. She dies in the book after trying unsuccessfully to divorce Pierre. The author hints that her death was the result of a failed abortion.
- Hippolyte Kuragin (also Prince Ippolit) - son of Vasili Kuragin. A dull and boring man. A diplomat and the butt of Bilibin's humor.
- Vasili Kuragin (also Prince Vassily) - A self-seeking man who has a low opinion of his children but seeks to further their interests. Convinces Pierre Bezukhov to marry his daughter Helene despite Pierre's reservations. Prince Vasili is self-seeking and manipulative throughout the novel, and consistently attempts to swindle Pierre Bezukhov
- Mikhail Ilarionovich Kutuzov - Russian general throughout the book. His diligence and modesty eventually save Russia from the Great Man.
- Mavra Kuzminishna - Elderly servant of the Rostovs.
L
- Langeron - Noble who left France. A commander on the Russian side at Austerlitz, where his troops were decimated.
- Lauriston - The first of two envoys sent to Kutuzov by Napoléon in an attempt to negotiate peace.
- Lavrushka - Valet to Denisov. A rogue, later valet to Nikolai Rostov. Misled Napoleon.
- Lazarev
- Lorrain - Doctor present at the death of Count Bezukhov.
M
- General Mack - Austrian general. Defeated at Ulm, 1805.
- Magnitsky - Associate of Speransky.
- Anna Ignatyevna Malvintsev - Princess Maria's aunt on her Mother's side, whose matchmaking abilities bring Nikolai Rostov and Maria together after she meets the prospective suitor at a soirée in Voronezh.
- Princess Katerina "Katishe" Mamontova - one of Count Bezukhov's nieces. Eldest of the "three princesses."
- Princess Sophia Mamontova - one of Count Bezukhov's nieces. Youngest of the "three princesses."
- Michaud - A Russian colonel. Brought news of the abandonment of Moscow to Tsar Alexander.
- Mikhail Nikanorych - Distant relative of the Rostovs who lives near their estate at Otradnoe, he is also referred to as Uncle.
- Miloradovich - Russian general in 1812 after Napoleon retreated from Moscow.
- Mitka
- Abbé Morio - In the initial scene he is repeatedly referred to as 'the Abbé'.
- Vicomte Mortemart - In the initial scene he is repeatedly referred to as 'the vicomte'.
- General Mouton - The first Frenchman of consequence to explicitly accept that the best policy is to flee Russia.
- Joachim Murat - French marshal, Napoleon's brother-in-law. With Napoleon in 1812 at Borodino. Retreated at Tarutino.
N
- Nastasya Ivanovna - Cross-dressing "old buffoon" who lives with the Rostovs at their estate at Otradnoe.
- Prince Nesvitsky - A Russian staff officer.
- Michel Ney - French marshal. Fought at Borodino.
- Novosiltsev
O
- Count Orlov-Denisov - Commander of Cossacks who alone reached the assigned position at Taratino. His forces caused Murat to retreat.
- Count Osterman-Tolstoy - Present at a council near Moscow during the retreat to beyond that city.
P
- Maria Ignatyevna Peronskaya - Friend and relation of Countess Natalya Rostova.
- Katerina Petrovna
- Pfuel - German chief organizer of Russian Plan of Campaign in 1812. Contemptuous of other theorists.
- Platov
R
- Raevsky - Russian general at the middle of the action at Borodino.
- Captain Ramballe 13th Light Regiment, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Met Pierre Bezukhov in Moscow. Weak after Krasnoe.
- Count Rostopchin - Governor-General of Moscow.
- Count Ilya Rostov - Spendthrift. Optimistic father, agreeable but foolish.
- Countess Natalya Rostova - Wife of Count Ilya.
- Natasha Rostova - Initially, a romantic young girl, she evolves through trial and suffering, an engagement with Prince Bolkonsky which is terminated by his death, and eventually finds a sort of domestic happiness with Pierre Bezukhov.
- Nikolai Rostov - The eldest Rostov son, who joins the Russian military in 1805. He eventually marries Princess Marya Bolkonskaya.
- Sonya Rostova - The 'sterile flower'. Orphaned cousin of Vera, Nikolai, Natasha, and Petya Rostov. Engaged to Nikolai throughout most of the book, toward the end, she releases him to marry Princess Marya.
- Petya Rostov - The youngest Rostov son. Became a soldier. Killed in a partisan raid.
- Vera Rostova - The oldest Rostov daughter, she eventually marries Lieutenant Berg.
S
- Anna Pavlovna Scherer - A wealthy St. Petersburg socialite. Unmarried hostess of patriotic circle.
- Schmidt - Austrian general killed in battle at Krems, where Kutuzov won a victory.
- Shapovalov - The Cossack who stumbled upon the left flank of Murat's army on October 2 while pursuing a hare and the inactivity he witnessed was sufficient evidence to support the Battle of Tarutino.
- Shcherbinin - Gen. Konovnitsyn's adjutant in 1812.
- Pyotr Nikolaitch Shinshin - relative of Countess Natalya Rostova. Famous for biting wit.
- Smolyaninov - Freemason rhetor.
- Speransky - liberal advisor to the Tsar. Eventually dismissed by Tsar Alexander.
- Stevens - An English naval officer, mentioned briefly early on in the novel.
- Stolypin - Associate of Speranski.
T
- Semeon Tchekmar - Valet to Count Ilya Rostov
- Lieutenant Telyanin - In Denisov's squadron early in the novel. Not well liked.
- Tikhon Shtcherbatov - Peasant scout with Denisov's partisan force.
- Timohin - Officer who had a predilection for Bacchus. Valiant in battle.
- Tishka
- Capt. von Toll - Helped Alexander across a ditch after the rout of the Russian center at Austerlitz. A colonel in 1812.
- Count Tolstoy (grand marshal of the Russian court in 1805) - Member of the Tsar's suite in 1812.
- Staff Captain Tushin(fiction --- battle of Schoengraben 1. Buch 2. Part chapter 15 ) - Commander of a battery of four cannon that fought valiantly and successfully at Schoengraben. Lost an arm at Friedland.
- Tutolmin - A diplomat sent by Napoleon from Moscow to Alexander in Petersburg.
V
- Vereshchagin - Name of Moscow merchant and his son. Son accused of treason and scapegoated by Count Rostopchin for loss of Moscow to the French, whereupon he was mutilated by a mob.
- Prince Volkonsky - Member of the Tsar's suite in 1812.
- Sergei Kuzmich Vyazmitinov
W
- Weyrother - Austrian general who replaced Schmidt. Developed the plan of attack at Austerlitz.
- Willarski - Pierre's sponsor, who delivers the formal invitation for him to join the Fraternity of Freemasons.
- General Wintzingerode
- Wolzogen - Implementer of Pfuhl's plan in 1812.
Y
- Captain Yakovlev - Bearer of a message from Napoleon in Moscow to Alexander in Petersburg.
- Yermolov - In Bagration's camp in 1812. Led an attack on Raevsky's redoubt as it was being overrun by the French. Later advised retreat from Fili that involved abandoning Moscow to the French.
Z
- Zherkov - A cornet of hussars who mimicked a general. Prone to jest.
- Count Zhilinsky - Wealthy Polish count at Tilsit meeting of Napoleon and Alexander.
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