History Characters / Temeraire

* HalfBreedDiscrimination: Unfortunately, in this time, there isn't much he can do about it.

* TheBigGuy

* ExperiencedProtagonist: At the start of ''His Majesty's Dragon'', he's been in the Navy for eighteen years and made captain at a relatively young age, likely in his late twenties. The level of discipline the Navy instilled in him causes some adjustment issues when he becomes an aviator, but leadership is a skill that can be applied anywhere.

* OldSoldier: one of the oldest captains in Lily's formation. There are only "six or seven" Regal Coppers born every generation, so the Corps wants the best of the best as their handlers.

* MildlyMilitary: After joining the Aerial Corps. He has very little patience for things like "discipline" and "orders", as unlike most other harnessed dragons he wasn't born into the service.

* StalkerWithACrush / StalkerWithATestTube: Wants an egg by Temeraire that would have both her flames and his Divine Wind.

* AppealToNovelty: Laurence ([[UnreliableNarrator who is of course biased]]) accuses Napoleon of being radically progressive. (It should be pointed out that Laurence is an [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil abolitionist]], and would himself be considered liberal, if not a far-left progressive, on the political spectrum.)

* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Subverted. He is not only a genius military commander but a forward-thinking liberal who, [[TruthInTelevision as he did in our version of history]], has done a great deal for equal rights ([[spoiler:though as mentioned in Crucible of Gold he has reinstated slavery in at least some French territories after a brief period of abolition]]). He's still at war with Britain, so Laurence and Temeraire oppose him on principle, but Laurence admits to Temeraire (somewhat uncomfortably) that no mere monster could have accomplished what Napoleon has.

* WorthyOpponent: By the end of the series, he considers Laurence one, almost verging into FriendlyEnemies territory. It can be difficult to gauge his sincerety, as Boney can be histrionic at the best of times, but his respect is at the very least consistent, and he never takes personal offense at anythng Laurence does. For his part, Laurence is less comfortable being the recipient of this goodwill, presumably due to his own humility, but he still has respect for the man's genius and accomplishments.

[[folder:Prince Mianning]]

* CainandAbel: The Abel to Yongxing's Cain.

* TheEmperor: subverted. Prince Mianning will become the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daoguang_Emperor Daoguang Emperor]], eighth ruler of the [[UsefulNotes/DynastiesFromShangToQing Qing Dynasty]]... in 1820, some time after the final page of the series.
* FireForgedFriends: Though he and Laurence aren't terribly affectionate, after their shared assassination attempt by the Chinese conservative party, the two reach a level of casualty towards one another that allows Laurence to speak frankly to him (something typically not allowed in the intricacies of the court).

* SparetotheThrone: He ''was'' the spare until Yongxing, the elder prince, decided to make Lien his companion. because Lien was seen as a bad omen, she was rejected by the court and going to be sent away until Yongxing accepted her, throwing away his shot at the crown (because nobody wanted a cursed emperor).

Main (human) character and primary narrator. Initially skipper of the HMS ''Reliant'', where Riley was his Second Lieutenant, he became captain of the dragon Temeraire nearly by accident. However, he and Temeraire quickly become inseparable.

** In ''His Majesty's Dragon'', he's straight-laced, excessively polite and easily scandalized by socially ambiguous situations. His CatchPhrase could be "duty", since he manages to work the word into every other sentence; "duty" is probably mentioned here more times than in all the other books ''combined''. By ''Crucible of Gold'' (i.e. after several years in the Corps, an act of treason, and a year of life in the PenalColony and WildWest that is Regency Australia), he's largely informal with his friends and colleagues and not critical about things like mixed-race or homosexual couples. While he's polite to his acquaintances, he won't hesitate to be rude and[=/=]or sarcastic if they offend him or his friends. He also flat out states that he will never again follow orders that conflict with his personal sense of justice.

* SupportingProtagonist: The series centers on Temeraire and his adventures. Laurence is nearly the {{Deuteragonist}}: he serves as Temeraire's mentor and closest friend, provides exposition, and due to the lack of rights dragons have, often answers for Temeraire's actions.

* FireForgedFriends: He's rude and passive-aggressive to Laurence all over Loch Laggan, but after the formation is ambushed on the way to Dover and they prove their mettle to each other, Granby makes a formal (and then much less formal) apology for being such a 'scrub'.

Half English and half Nepalese, Tharkay is an exceptional guide and translator. Due to the era's views, however, he cannot follow his father into English politics, and feels unwelcome in his mother's nation--and, for that matter, wherever he goes.

Captain of the Longwing Excidium. Roland serves as the ReasonableAuthorityFigure for the Aerial Corps. She and Laurence develop an informal romantic relationship, which grows increasingly complicated by outside events.

* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Her relationship with Laurence comes off as little more than a strong affection on Roland's part, until [[spoiler: Laurence sees in ''Victory of Eagles'' exactly how pained she is by his betrayal. She later lays into him- not for the treason itself, which she approves of, but because he did it in a way that not only ruined the careers and lives of others but left him under a sentence of death]]. In ''League of Dragons'', [[spoiler:they seem to rekindle their relationship after years, and both appear quite content with things as they are]].

* LadyOfWar: Raised and trained to command one of England's most formidable dragons. However, she'd rather be an officer than a gentleman- she finds it difficult, and a bit silly, to mingle with high society.

Jane's illegitimate daughter, who is being groomed to take over Excidium when her mother retires. She doesn't know who her father is (Jane doesn't much care), and on at least one occasion she has been mistaken as ''Laurence's'' natural daughter, to his embarrassment and Jane's amusement.

* HeirClubForMen: Inverted, thanks to Longwing preferences- her future is assured as Excidium's future captain.

Promoted to Temeraire's Second Lieutenant in ''Throne of Jade'', and later First Lieutenant in ''Black Powder War'' after Granby becomes Iskierka's captain.

A young African preteen who aids Laurence during ''Empire of Ivory''. For lack of any other option, Laurence ends up taking him and his younger brother Sipho home with him to Britain, where they become members of Temeraire's flight crew, initially as runners, and later as Midwingmen.

* PuppyLove: He develops a strong affection for Emily Roland, and becomes extremely jealous when given reason. Emily reciprocates his feelings but is a lot more pragmatic- she doesn't see a point in a relationship that will be doomed by circumstance.

The commander of the Dover covert in Book 1.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Helped Laurence find his feet and get acclimated to the different culture of the Aerials Corps in the first book. He also had no objections to Laurence manhandling Rankin when Levitas was dying and was rather surprised that Laurence even apologized for it.

Introduced in ''Tongues of Serpents'', he's one of the aviators sent to Australia along with three dragon eggs to start a new covert.

* TheUnfavorite: As a first generation aviator, he didn't have much chance of promotion in England, hence, the trip to Australia. When he gets promoted to First lieutenant, Temeraire first doesn't like him because of Forthing's [[TreacheryIsaSpecialKindofEvil initial treatment of Laurence]] when they first arrived in Australia. Later, when Laurence is reinstted and Forthing is hired on, Temeraire ''still'' dislikes him because of the ungentlemanly, indeed shabby way he clothes himself.

[[folder:Prince Mianning]]

Heir to the throne despite being the younger brother of Prince Yongxing, and Laurence's most powerful ally in the Imperial Court (though for his own reasons).

* CainandAbel: The Abel to Yongxing's Cain.
* TheCoup: the second assassination attempt (that we see) is done by members of the Chinese Conservative party who are upset with Mianning for allying with Britain and seeking to bring China into the global political scene.
* [[spoiler: TheEmperor]].
* FireForgedFriends: Though he and Laurence aren't terribly affectionate, after their shared assassination attempt by the Chinese conservative party, the two reach a level of casualty towards one another that allows Laurence to speak frankly to him (something typically not allowed in the intricacies of the court).
** In the last book, Laurence ruefully comments that though he had written off the AdoptedIntoRoyalty stunt as a political nicety to keep Temeraire out of the way, Mianning has gone above and beyond in helping Britain in general and Laurence specifically, to the point where it seems as though Mianning is allowing ''Laurence'' to ignore their filial connection because it discomforts him, as opposed to Mianning himself not wanting anything to do with him.
* PrincelingRivalry: With Yongxing.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure
* SparetotheThrone: He ''was'' the spare until Yongxing, the elder prince, decided to make Lien his companion. because Lien was seen as a bad omen, she was rejected by the court and going to be sent away until Yongxing accepted her, throwing away his shot at the crown (because nobody wanted a cursed emperor).
* TheQuietOne: despite being a reoccurring character whose support of Laurence is integral to the outcome of the later books, Mianning himself doesn't say much.

[[folder:Hannah Erasmus/Lethabo]]

Wife of the preacher Mr. Erasmus, who along with her husband accompanied Laurence on the Allegiance in "Empire of Ivory." She was formerly a slave, kidnapped from the Tswana people as a child.

[[spoiler:After her husband is killed, she decides to stay with the Tswana with her children. We later see her in South America working to send escaped slaves to live with the Tswana.]]

* IChooseToStay: Decides to stay with [[spoiler:the Tswana instead of going back to England, feeling she and her children will have a better life there.]]
* MeaningfulRename: After she [[spoiler: returns to the Tswana]], she prefers to be called Lethabo.
* SilkHidingSteel: A mild-mannered wife of a priest, who ends up helping [[spoiler:Laurence and co.]] escape captivity, and then helps [[spoiler:return escaped slaves to the Tswana tribe, despite resistance from the Portuguese government]].
[[/folder]]

----

[[folder:Marshal François Joseph Lefebvre]]

Napoleon's most affable Marshal. Appears briefly in ''Black Powder War''; his fate after ''Victory of Eagles'' remains unknown.

* FauxAffablyEvil: Although he's on the enemy side, Lefebvre is depicted as a down-to-earth man with a broad sense of humor, particularly when the joke's on him.
* HiddenDepths: He may seem like a comical buffoon, but Napoleon doesn't choose Marshals for their ability to make him laugh.
* JustFollowingOrders: He suggests that Danzig surrender to him, since ResistanceIsFutile, and offers very generous terms. Though, as he adds to Laurence, "Sorry, but [[ItsPersonal these terms don't apply to you]]."
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: All signs indicate that he's NotSoDifferent from the honorable, professional soldiers of Prussia and Britain... although he can certainly afford to be reasonable, given his position.
* RefugeInAudacity: Twice. The military commander of Danzig sarcastically offers to discuss terms of surrender over dinner if Lefebvre enters alone and unarmed - so he does. He's also noteworthy as the only character to give Lien a playful slap on the butt, a distinction we can safely assume is unique.
* SelfDeprecatingHumor: He understates his own abilities and significance a few times, with a laugh.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Lefebvre is mentioned as being one of the Marshals to lose to the English in ''Victory of Eagles,'' although it's not clear if he was killed, imprisoned, or managed to slip away.

[[folder:General Arthur Wellesley]]

An obscure British general who rises to the occasion during ''Victory of Eagles'' in order to repel the formerly-undefeated Corsican. (See our [[UsefulNotes/TheDukeOfWellington Useful Notes]] page for further details.)

* WhatYouAreInTheDark: In League of Dragons, [[spoiler:after the guards run to rescue Napoleon Laurence chooses to rescue Napoleon's son from the burning palace rather than escape]].

* CombatPragmatist: [[spoiler:One of the architects of the plan to spread the dragon plague to France. Laurence considers this, even more than his support of slavery, a MoralEventHorizon.]]

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Played straight and defied. Nelson survives in the novels when he died in RealLife and consequently goes on to greater military success, but is also a staunch advocate of slavery (as he was in real life).

The Emperor of France, formerly a nobody from Corsica. He is the main antagonist of the story, since it covers the entire of the Napoleonic wars, although he rarely appears and has no personal issues against Temeraire and Laurence: indeed, he greatly admires them. It's only war. (See our [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte Useful Notes]] page for more.)

* AppealToNovelty: Laurence ([[UnreliableNarrator who is of course biased]]) accuses Napoleon of being radically progressive.
* TheCharmer: For all the mocking Laurence and Granby do of his habit to try to talk people to his side, he is potrayed as quite possibly the most charismatic man in the entire world. This had allowed him to create one of the most cohesive (and loyal) military forces in the world, several international alliances with anti-western forces and [[spoiler: managed to win the appreciation and loyalty of Lien, a xenophobic Chinese dragon, in a matter of weeks--and it's not merely mutual goals; by late in Black Podwer War she has started to become fondly protective of him]]. It borders in magic.
* FrontlineGeneral: Different from other generals in the world, he fights and lives with his men, which has allowed him to create an almost paternal bond with his army. By ''Crucible of Gold'', though, it's starting to take its toll on his health.

* TheStrategist: While not invincible, he is feared as the greatest military genius in the entire world and had steamrolled army after army in the western world. This is largely because he's continuously coming up with innovative new strategies and tactics that, by virtue of being innovative and new, cannot be directly countered. He:

* WorthyOpponent: By the end of the series, he considers Laurence one, almost verging into FriendlyEnemies territory. Laurence is less comfortable with the idea, presumably due to his own humility, but he still has respect for the man's genius and accomplishments. ([[spoiler:Laurence ''also'' dives into the burning building to help rescue Napoleon's heir in the last book, and the two -- almost literally FireForgedFriends -- cooperate to secure the boy's safety.]])

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Lefebvre is mentioned as being one of the Marshals to lose to the English in ''Victory of Eagles,'' although it's not clear if he was killed or imprisoned or managed to slip away.

[[folder:General Arthur Wellesley (Lord Wellington)]]

* VitriolicBestBuds: Of a sort, with Roland; despite Wellington's abrasive personality and Roland's blunt forthrightness, they both share a respect for competence and levelheadedness--which both possess perhaps more than any other British officers.

A genius naval commander and one of Britain's finest military minds.

The Emperor of France, formerly a nobody from Corsica. He is the main antagonist of the story, since it covers the entire of the Napoleonic wars, although he rarely appears and has no personal issues against Temeraire and Laurence (indeed, he greatly admires them). It's only war.

* AntiVillain: Sure, he plans to conquer all of Europe through military force, but he's also genuinely interested in improving the lives of his citizens, and has been steadily granting dragons more and more rights and freedoms ever since [[spoiler: Lien became his ally.]] Although it's strongly implied that politics or PragmaticEvil is behind a lot of these decisions, it causes the British aerial corps to feel certain doubts when the enemy is the only side upholding rights for dragons. On a personal level, he deeply cares for his wife despite it being an arranged marriage, and in ''League of Dragons'', [[spoiler:when his palace is burned by Ning, he rushes into the burning building in search of his son, heedless of danger to himself]].

* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Subverted. He is not only a genius military commander but a forward-thinking liberal who, [[TruthInTelevision as he did in our version of history]], has done a great deal for equal rights ([[spoiler:though as mentioned in Crucible of Gold he has reinstated slavery in at least some French territories after a brief period of abolition]]). He's still trying to conquer Britain, so Laurence and Temeraire oppose him on principle, but there is respect accorded to all, and Laurence admits to Temeraire (somewhat uncomfortably) that no mere monster could have accomplished what Napoleon has. Of course the whole "conquering the world" and "conquering Britain" part neglects the well-attested historical fact that it was England who broke the Peace of Amiens in 1804 (which Napoleon had negotiated) and declared war on France after refusing to honor the terms of its treaty for a year, and as such they, and not Napoleon, started UsefulNotes/TheNapoleonicWars.

** [[spoiler:ties pouches full of fragrant herbs into his horses' bridles, preventing them from smelling dragons and panicking, and thus letting him use cavalry in conjunction with his aerial corps]]

* WorthyOpponent: By the end of the series considers Laurence one, almost verging into FriendlyEnemies territory. Laurence is less comfortable with the idea, presumably due to his own humility, but he still has respect for the man's genius and accomplishments.

* JustFollowingOrders: He suggests that Danzig surrender to him, since ResistanceIsFutile, and offers very generous terms. Though, as he adds to Laurence, "Sorry, but [[ItsPersonal these terms don't apply to you.]]"

An obscure British general who rises to the occasion during ''Victory of Eagles'' in order to repel the formerly-undefeated Corsican.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Arkady's self-important insistence on leadership doesn't apply to Iskierka - she's accepted as unofficial leader when she's around due to a combination of her size, fire breathing, and personality. Unfortunately, their bad habits tend to reinforce each other.

* Jerkass: For the most part, she is callous, arrogant, obnoxious, and cares only about herself.

* AFatherToHisMen: Cares greatly for his crew and is very considerate of them, whoever they may be. For a more close to literal, foster-like relationship, there's his relationships with Temeraire, Emily, Dyer, Demane, and Sipho. (Emily in particular, possibly due in part to his relationship with her mother, comes to see him almost explicitly as a father figure.) In the Navy, he had a reputation for being a good captain for midshipmen because of the care he takes for their education; he eventually gets this reputation again in the Aerial Corps for the interest he takes in his midwingmen and cadets.
* AdoptedIntoRoyalty: Celestials are supposed to only be companions to members of the Chinese Imperial Dynasty (the decision to ship an egg to the Emperor of France was highly controversial despite driving political reasons). The Celestial that imprinted on Laurence, a younger son of middling-level nobility at best, refuses to be parted from him. Deniably bumping Laurence off is impractically difficult. So guess what finally happens.

An albino dragon--white is the color of death in traditional Chinese culture, and is considered horribly unlucky. Despite being one of the very few Celestials available to the nation, Lien was treated as an outcast... until a prince named Yongxing took pity on her, and [[UndyingLoyalty the two became inseparable]]. Too bad Yongxing was plotting to have Laurence killed, which Temeraire of course wasn't going to stand for...

* SparetotheThrone: He ''was'' the spare until Yongxing, the elder prince, decided to make Lien his companion. because Lien was seen as an EvilAlbino and bad omen, she was rejected by the court and going to be sent away until Yongxing accepted her, throwing away his shot at the crown (because nobody wanted a cursed emperor).

* EvilAlbino: In China, the color of her scales are looked upon as unlucky, but many people and dragons outside of China find her color admirable and beautiful.

* [[ClingyJealousGirl Clingy Jealous Dragon]]: Dragons in general become jealously protective of their captains, and it's common knowledge among aviators that taking on a spouse means dividing your time between them and your dragon, but Temeraire becomes especially clingy after [[spoiler: Laurence loses his memory]]. He becomes highly resentful of [[ProperLady Mrs. Pemberton]] when he fears might want to marry her and doesn't calm down until Laurence assures him that he has no such intentions.

** In the last book, Laurence ruefully comments that though he had written off the AdoptedIntoRoyalty stunt as a political nicety to keep Temeraire out of the way, Mianning has gone above and beyond in helping Britain in general and Laurence specifically, to the point where it seems as though Mianning is allowing ''Laurence'' to ignore their filial connection because it discomforts him, as opposed to Mianning hismelf not wanting anything to do with him.

* FireForgedFriends: Though he and Laurence aren't terribly affectionate, after their shared assassination attempt by the Chinese conservtive party, the two reach a level of casualty towards one another that allows Laurence to speak frankly to him (something typically not allowed in the intrcacies of the court).

* TheQuietOne: despite being a reoccuring character whose support of Laurence is integral to the outcome of the later books, Mianning hismelf doesn't say much.

CainandAbel: The Abel to Yongxing's Cain.
TheCoup: the second assassination attempt (that we see) is done by members of the Chinese Conservative party who are upset with Mianning for allying with Britain and seeking to bring China into the global political scene.
[[spoiler: TheEmperor]].
FireForgedFriends: Though he and Laurence aren't terribly affectionate, after their shared assassination attempt by the Chinese conservtive party, the two reach a level of casualty towards one another that allows Laurence to speak frankly to him (something typically not allowed in the intrcacies of the court).
PrincelingRivalry: With Yongxing.
ReasonableAuthorityFigure
TheQuietOne: despite being a reoccuring character whose support of Laurence is integral to the outcome of the later books, Mianning hismelf doesn't say much.

[[folder:Prince [[spoiler: and Emperor]] Mianning]]

[[folder:Hannah Erasmus/Lethabo]]

Wife of the preacher Mr. Erasmus, who along with her husband accompanied Laurence on the Allegiance in "Empire of Ivory." She was formerly a slave, kidnapped from the Tswana people as a child.

[[spoiler:After her husband is killed, she decides to stay with the Tswana with her children. We later see her in South America working to send escaped slaves to live with the Tswana.]]

* IChooseToStay: Decides to stay with [[spoiler:the Tswana instead of going back to England, feeling she and her children will have a better life there.]]
* MeaningfulRename: After she [[spoiler: returns to the Tswana]], she prefers to be called Lethabo.
* SilkHidingSteel: A mild-mannered wife of a priest, who ends up helping [[spoiler:Laurence and co.]] escape captivity, and then helps [[spoiler:return escaped slaves to the Tswana tribe, despite resistance from the Portuguese government]].

* AntagonistInMourning: her entire reason for hating Temeraire is that she considers him responsible for Yongxing's death. In a short "drabble" by the author, [[spoiler: we see her many years in France's future, looking down at the more-modern city below.]] Despite that:
--<''The pain remained unaltered.''