# King Ferdinand — Figures of Earth character guide

> King Ferdinand in Figures of Earth by James Branch Cabell.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** wicked King Ferdinand, Ferdinand, Duke Asmund

**First appearance:** 0014-vii-the-crown-of-wisdom

## Snapshot

A wicked king turned hollow saint, whose improved digestion and infinite loving-kindness barely hide the torments he still plans.

## Who they are

Ferdinand, once a vainglorious tyrant, now wears a relic in place of his crown and deals tenderly with all, since he cannot be angry with creatures bound for hell or purgatory while he plays a gold harp in heaven. His sanctity is a matter of expectation rather than conviction, and Manuel models his holy features in clay only to find it is not the figure he desires. The King's complacent righteousness, and Manuel's refusal to need holiness, sharpen the comedy's running quarrel between appearance and what a man actually is.

## Relationships

### [Dom Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/dom_manuel)

_professional_

Manuel serves as King Ferdinand's champion and later son-in-law, a relationship of feudal obligation and political maneuvering.

### [Dom Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/dom_manuel)

_professional_

Manuel serves as King Ferdinand's champion and later son-in-law, a relationship of feudal obligation and political maneuvering.

### [Dom Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/dom_manuel)

_professional_

Manuel serves as King Ferdinand's champion and later son-in-law, a relationship of feudal obligation and political maneuvering.

## In the story

### [VIII: The Halo of Holiness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/viii-the-halo-of-holiness)

Believes the feather is a holy relic, reforms his wicked ways to become a saint, and grants Manuel the fief of Poictesme.

### [X: Alianora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/x-alianora)

Referenced in the context of Manuel's past sorcery against him.

### [XVI: Freydis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xvi-freydis)

Referenced as the king who granted Poictesme to Manuel by his own handwriting.

### [Affairs in Poictesme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxv-affairs-in-poictesme)

King Ferdinand tests Manuel's judgment with a riddle involving a lemon and an orange, then grants him troops for the conquest of Poictesme while denying the same to other petitioners.

### [XXVII: They Come to Sargyll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxvii-they-come-to-sargyll)

Mentioned as being in a campaign against the Moors, unable to aid Manuel.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/king_ferdinand
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters