A Princess of Mars · Character

Tal Hajus

The monstrous jeddak of the Tharks, he rules by terror, lusts after the Heliumite princess, and has been the object of Tars Tarkas's silent hatred for forty years.

supporting

Also known as the mighty Tal Hajus

First appearance: X: Champion and Chief

As a supporting figure in A Princess of Mars, Tal Hajus is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mentioned as the Jeddak of Thark to whom Carter must be delivered for judgment.

In the storyX: Champion and ChiefOpen this moment free

See Tal Hajus in X: Champion and Chief Book page

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Tal Hajus embodies everything savage in green Martian rule: he threatens Dejah Thoris with torture and violation, and his cruelty has already destroyed the woman Tars Tarkas loved. His presence makes the Thark city a place of constant danger, and his obsession with the princess forces Carter into the rescue that nearly costs everything. He is the villain whose long-overdue reckoning gives the story one of its most satisfying turns.

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The fuller portrait of Tal Hajus sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Tal Hajus in X: Champion and Chief

Character Web

10 connections

A slice of how Tal Hajus sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Thark captors and allies

+5 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because John Carter’s internal conflict reaches its emotional peak when he nearly…

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Relationships

Tars Tarkas
rivalry · negative
Tal Hajus, the cruel Jeddak of the Tharks, is a bitter enemy and political rival to the… How this plays out →
Tars Tarkas
rivalry · negative
Tal Hajus, the cruel Jeddak of the Tharks, is a bitter enemy and political rival to the… How this plays out →
Tars Tarkas
rivalry · negative
Tal Hajus, the cruel Jeddak of the Tharks, is a bitter enemy and political rival to the… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Tal Hajus in X: Champion and Chief

In the story

Tal Hajus appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

X: Champion and Chief
Mentioned as the Jeddak of Thark to whom Carter must be delivered for judgment.
XII: A Prisoner with Power
The feared leader of the Tharks; Carter dreads Dejah Thoris falling into his hands.
XV: Sola Tells Me Her Story
Ruler of the Tharks; Sola's mother served in his retinue; he ordered her death.
We Plan Escape
Jeddak of Thark; orders the captives to be thrown to wild calots at the yearly games.
XVII: A Costly Recapture
Threatens to torture Dejah Thoris and claims her for himself, but is knocked unconscious by John Carter.
Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend
Jeddak of Thark who orders Carter's torture, is humiliated by Carter, and is killed in combat by Tars Tarkas.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Tal Hajus unlock in the free preview.

See Tal Hajus in X: Champion and Chief