# Don Rodrigo de Calderona — Gil Blas character guide

> Don Rodrigo de Calderona in Gil Blas by Alain-René Lesage.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Señor Don Rodrigo, Don Rodrigo, Calderona, the haughty Don Rodrigo

**First appearance:** 0015-xii

## Snapshot

A lackey risen to principal secretary, whose arrogance and corruption make him the most dangerous man in the Duke of Lerma's shadow.

## Who they are

Calderona began as the Duke's servant and climbed to the post of principal secretary, where he now parcels out offices and governments at the whim of his own caprice. Proud as a peacock and shameless as a tax collector, he models and remodels his master's mind like clay, and anyone who wants advancement must first court his favor. He matters because he is the gatekeeper Gil Blas must flatter, and the villain whose ruin Gil Blas may one day help arrange.

## In the story

### [The Arrival of the Banditti in the Subterraneous Retreat, with an Account of Their Pleasant Conversation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned in the young freebooter's story as the nobleman whose son was switched at birth.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/chapters/v)

Enraged by the death of his mistress (Camilla) and threatens to kill Gil Blas, prompting Gil Blas to flee Valladolid.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/chapters/xii)

Mentioned as the master of Pedrillo; a powerful figure at court.

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

Officer who superintends the finances of the Duke of Lerma's household.

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

Described by Monteser as a former lackey who rose to principal secretary; said to have great influence over the duke and to dispense offices capriciously.

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

Don Rodrigo is the powerful secretary to the duke; Gil Blas humbles himself before him, offering flattery and seeking his protection.

### [Gil Blas becomes a favorite with the Duke of Lerma, and the confidant of an important secret.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as a potential enemy of Gil Blas, but the Duke assures Gil Blas of his loyalty.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/chapters/v)

Haughty noble who now cap-in-hand to Gil Blas, calling him Señor de Santillane; provides the thousand pistoles for the Prince of Spain.

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

Mentioned as a secretary whose influence is sought by clients, but Scipio dissuades Don Roger from approaching him due to his high prices.

### [Gil Blas makes a large fortune in a short time, and behaves like other wealthy upstarts.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/chapters/ix)

Mentioned as having charge of church preferments like bishoprics and archbishoprics.

### [The Morals of Gil Blas Become Courtly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/chapters/x)

Referenced as the duke's usual purveyor of pleasures, whom Gil Blas jokingly declines to supplant.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/chapters/xii)

Former lover of Catalina/Sirena, potential rival to the prince.

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

Secretary who processes the patent; treats suitors with varying degrees of civility and is publicly rebuked by the Count de Pedrosa.

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

Suspected by Gil Blas as the cause of his imprisonment.

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

Identified by Scipio as the instigator of the plot against Gil Blas, seeking revenge for the intrigue involving Sirena and the Prince of Spain.

### [Gil Blas Ingratiates Himself with the Count of Olivarez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/chapters/iv)

Gil Blas accuses him of corrupt practices and recounts how Calderona caused his imprisonment.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/characters/don_rodrigo_de_calderona
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/gil_blas_se/characters