# Valerius Gratus — Ben Hur character guide

> Valerius Gratus in Ben Hur by Lew Wallace.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Gratus, Valerius

**First appearance:** 0007-v

## Who they are

The Roman procurator whose accidental injury leads to Ben-Hur's enslavement.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/i)

The fourth imperial governor of Judea, whose administration marks the beginning of renewed political agitation; he expels Hannas from the high-priesthood and installs Ishmael, son of Fabus.

### [The Mother's Counsel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/v)

Not present in this chapter.

### [The Ruin of the House of Hur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/vi)

Roman procurator; injured by a falling tile; survives the accident; orders the destruction of the Hur household.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/vii)

Mentioned as the noble Gratus whom Ben-Hur nearly killed with a tile.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/iii)

The procurator Ben-Hur is accused of attempting to assassinate; his fall from a tile is the central incident of Ben-Hur's downfall.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/iv)

Referenced alongside Messala and Rome as part of the bitter memories that Ben-Hur has set aside.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/i)

The procurator whom Ben-Hur attempted to kill; he confiscated the Hur estate and is suspected of taking the family's money.

### [The Meeting with Simonides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as the persecutor of Simonides and the Hur family.

### [Simonides' Revelation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/iv)

The Roman procurator who confiscated the Hur fortune and tortured Simonides.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/i)

The recipient of Messala's letter, involved in the past persecution of the Hur family.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/iv)

The package is addressed to him at Caesarea.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/i)

Former procurator; his administration is criticized, and he is implicated in the secret imprisonment of three men and the entombment of two women.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/ii)

The Roman procurator who orchestrated the imprisonment of the mother and daughter, walling them up in a leprous cell to die.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/iii)

Removed from office; Ben-Hur notes he is no longer a threat and could not sell the Hur property.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/chapters/vi)

Referenced in the context of the accident that led to the Hurs' downfall.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/characters/valerius_gratus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ben_hur_se/characters