# The Duke — Don Quixote character guide > The Duke in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. **Role:** supporting **First appearance:** 0091-part-ii-xxxi ## Snapshot A grandee whose castle becomes a stage, he turns hospitality into sport by commissioning elaborate hoaxes on his knightly guest. ## Who they are The Duke rules a country estate where Don Quixote and Sancho are welcomed as honored curiosities, then quietly converted into performers in his private theater. His humor is generous in appearance yet coolly experimental: he orders the majordomo to stage Sancho's island government and watches from a distance as the joke unfolds. He matters because his household becomes the novel's testing ground for whether mockery can be distinguished from cruelty, and his amusement keeps the travelers moving deeper into illusion. ## Relationships ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _social_ The Duke hosts Don Quixote and Sancho, subjecting them to elaborate and cruel practical jokes. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _professional_ The Duke appoints Sancho as governor of a mock island as part of the nobles' entertainment. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _professional_ The Duke appoints Sancho as governor of a mock island as part of the nobles' entertainment. ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _social_ The Duke hosts Don Quixote and Sancho, subjecting them to elaborate and cruel practical jokes. ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _social_ The Duke hosts Don Quixote and Sancho, subjecting them to elaborate and cruel practical jokes. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _professional_ The Duke appoints Sancho as governor of a mock island as part of the nobles' entertainment. ## In the story ### [Of Don Quixote’s adventure with a fair huntress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx) Husband of the duchess; welcomes Don Quixote and Sancho to his castle; familiar with the first part of Don Quixote's history. ### [XXXI Which treats of many and great matters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxi) Hosts Don Quixote and Sancho; instructs servants on how to treat them; enjoys Sancho's story and the churchman's irritation. ### [Of the reply Don Quixote gave his censurer, with other incidents, grave and droll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxii) Hosts the dinner, laughs at the ecclesiastic, and grants Sancho a governorship. ### [XXXIV Which relates how they learned the way in which they were to disenchant the peerless Dulcinea del Toboso, which is one of the rarest adventures in this book.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiv) Hosts the hunt and orchestrates the staged adventure with the duchess. ### [Wherein is continued the instruction given to Don Quixote touching the disenchantment of Dulcinea, together with other marvellous incidents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxv) Pressures Sancho to accept the whipping, warning that he will not become governor unless he complies. ### [Wherein is related the strange and undreamt-of adventure of the distressed Duenna, alias the countess Trifaldi, together with a letter which Sancho Panza wrote to his wife, Teresa Panza.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxvi) Participates in the prank, welcomes Trifaldin, and praises Don Quixote's reputation. ### [Wherein is continued the notable adventure of the distressed Duenna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxvii) Participates in the scheme and decides to receive the countess based on her rank. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxviii) Observes the procession and welcomes the Countess Trifaldi with courtesy. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxix) The Duke, along with the Duchess, feigns wonder at the sight of the bearded duennas. ### [Of the arrival of Clavileño and the end of this protracted adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xli) Orchestrates the Clavileño hoax, reassures Sancho about his island, and feigns wonder after the adventure. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlii) Continues the joke of Sancho's governorship; instructs Sancho to prepare. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xliv) Receives Don Quixote's written counsels and shows them to the duchess. ### [Of how the great Sancho Panza took possession of his island, and of how he made a beginning in governing.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlv) Mentioned as the lord of the island; Sancho's judgments are recorded and sent to him. ### [Of the terrible bell and cat fright that Don Quixote got in the course of the enamoured Altisidora's wooing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlvi) Plots the cat-and-bell trick with the duchess and rescues Don Quixote from the cat. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlvii) Sends a letter to Sancho warning of attacks and offering advice. ### [Of what happened Sancho in making the round of his island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlix) Mentioned as the one who instructed the majordomo to test Sancho. ### [Chapter L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-l) Implied as having granted Sancho the governorship; mentioned in the duchess's letter. ### [Chapter LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-li) Mentioned as having warned Sancho about spies and as part of the ongoing joke. ### [Wherein is related the adventure of the second distressed or afflicted Duenna, otherwise called Doña Rodriguez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lii) Hosts the dinner, accepts the challenge on behalf of his vassal, and arranges the duel. ### [Of the troublous end and termination Sancho Panza's government came to.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-liii) Referenced as the lord to whom Sancho intends to render an account of his government. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-liv) Arranges the joust with the lackey Tosilos to entertain himself and the duchess. ### [Of what befell Sancho on the road, and other things that cannot be surpassed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lv) Helps rescue Sancho and embraces him upon his return. ### [Of the prodigious and unparalleled battle that took place between Don Quixote of La Mancha and the Lackey Tosilos in defence of the daughter of Doña Rodriguez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lvi) Arranges the mock battle, instructs Tosilos, and later proposes a delay to see if Tosilos reverts to his true form. ### [LVII Which treats of how Don Quixote took leave of the duke, and of what followed with the witty and impudent Altisidora, one of the duchess’s damsels.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lvii) Grants Don Quixote permission to leave; plays along with the joke about the stolen garters, threatening combat but ultimately letting them go. ### [LXII Which deals with the adventure of the enchanted head, together with other trivial matters which cannot be left untold.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxii) Mentioned in the context of Sancho's previous government. ### [LXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxiv) Mentioned as viceroy, he intervenes in the combat and later seeks to identify the Knight of the White Moon. ### [Which treats of what he who reads will see, or what he who has it read to him will hear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxvi) Mentioned as still at the castle with the duchess, having ordered Tosilos' punishment. ### [Of the bristly adventure that befell Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxviii) His castle is the destination of the captors, recognized by Don Quixote. ### [Chapter LXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxix) Orchestrates the elaborate mock resurrection scene alongside the Duchess. ### [LXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxx) Orchestrates the elaborate hoax of Altisidora's death and resurrection, enjoying the mystification of Don Quixote and Sancho. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/the_duke - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters