# Tal Hajus — A Princess of Mars character guide

> Tal Hajus in A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the mighty Tal Hajus

**First appearance:** 0012-x-champion-and-chief

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Tars Tarkas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/tars_tarkas)

_rivalry_

Tal Hajus, the cruel Jeddak of the Tharks, is a bitter enemy and political rival to the more honorable Tars Tarkas.

### [Tars Tarkas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/tars_tarkas)

_rivalry_

Tal Hajus, the cruel Jeddak of the Tharks, is a bitter enemy and political rival to the more honorable Tars Tarkas.

### [Tars Tarkas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/tars_tarkas)

_rivalry_

Tal Hajus, the cruel Jeddak of the Tharks, is a bitter enemy and political rival to the more honorable Tars Tarkas.

## In the story

### [X: Champion and Chief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/x-champion-and-chief)

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

### [XII: A Prisoner with Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xv-sola-tells-me-her-story)

Ruler of the Tharks; Sola's mother served in his retinue; he ordered her death.

### [We Plan Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xvi-we-plan-escape)

Jeddak of Thark; orders the captives to be thrown to wild calots at the yearly games.

### [XVII: A Costly Recapture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxiv-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.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/tal_hajus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters