# Than Kosis — A Princess of Mars character guide

> Than Kosis in A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Kosis

**First appearance:** 0023-xxi-an-air-scout-for-zodanga

## Snapshot

The Jeddak of Zodanga, a rival ruler whose ambitions entangle his house with Helium's fate and whose son's desires drive the conflict.

## Who they are

Than Kosis rules Zodanga, the warlike red Martian power locked in rivalry with Helium, and his court is the political world into which Dejah Thoris's forced betrothal intrudes. His authority shapes the pressures bearing down on Sab Than and, through him, on the princess whose refusal sets the plot in motion. Though seen mostly through the consequences of his rule, he represents the dynastic ambition that turns personal longing into planetary conflict.

## Relationships

### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris)

_social_

Than Kosis is the Jeddak of Helium and Dejah Thoris's father, but their interactions are formal and political.

### [John Carter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/john_carter)

_professional_

John Carter meets Than Kosis as a diplomatic envoy and later as a military opponent, maintaining a formal, adversarial relationship.

### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris)

_social_

Than Kosis is the Jeddak of Helium and Dejah Thoris's father, but their interactions are formal and political.

### [John Carter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/john_carter)

_professional_

John Carter meets Than Kosis as a diplomatic envoy and later as a military opponent, maintaining a formal, adversarial relationship.

## In the story

### [An Air Scout for Zodanga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxi-an-air-scout-for-zodanga)

Jeddak of Zodanga; honors Carter and appoints him to the palace guard.

### [XXII: I Find Dejah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxii-i-find-dejah)

Jeddak of Zodanga, who accepts Dejah Thoris's change of heart and agrees to consider ending the war with Helium.

### [XXV: The Looting of Zodanga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxv-the-looting-of-zodanga)

Jeddak of Zodanga, killed by John Carter in single combat.

## Links

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