# Conrad Althaus — Lay Down Your Arms character guide

> Conrad Althaus in Lay Down Your Arms by Bertha von Suttner.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Conrad, Althaus, V Conrad Althaus, This Althaus

**First appearance:** 0004-ii

## Snapshot

A young nobleman aflame for battle and newly betrothed to Lilly, he marches off with the army just two days after the marriage licence arrives.

## Who they are

Conrad moves between the family's social world and the front, a cousin whose eagerness for the Prussian campaign is matched only by the pain of leaving Lilly at the threshold of their marriage. His parting—'why did you delay so long to accept me?'—exposes the cruelty of a love consummated only on the eve of departure. He matters because his ardour and his abrupt removal show how war flatters young men even as it strips them of the futures they had just begun to plan.

## Relationships

### [Lilly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/lilly)

_romantic_

Conrad and Lilly are in a romantic relationship, marked by passion and conflict.

### [Martha Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/martha_tilling)

_friendship_

Conrad and Martha are close friends, often sharing confidences and support.

### [Frederick Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/frederick_tilling)

_friendship_

Conrad and Frederick are close friends and allies, often working together.

### [Aunt Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/aunt_mary)

_friendship_

Aunt Mary and Conrad are friendly acquaintances, sharing a cordial bond.

### [Father Radetzky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/father_radetzky)

_friendship_

Conrad and Father Radetzky share a respectful friendship, with the priest offering counsel.

### [Lilly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/lilly)

_romantic_

Conrad and Lilly are in a romantic relationship, marked by passion and conflict.

### [Martha Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/martha_tilling)

_friendship_

Conrad and Martha are close friends, often sharing confidences and support.

### [Lilly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/lilly)

_romantic_

Conrad and Lilly are in a romantic relationship, marked by passion and conflict.

### [Frederick Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/frederick_tilling)

_friendship_

Conrad and Frederick are close friends and allies, often working together.

### [Father Radetzky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/father_radetzky)

_friendship_

Conrad and Father Radetzky share a respectful friendship, with the priest offering counsel.

### [Frederick Tilling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/frederick_tilling)

_friendship_

Conrad and Frederick are close friends and allies, often working together.

### [Aunt Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/aunt_mary)

_friendship_

Aunt Mary and Conrad are friendly acquaintances, sharing a cordial bond.

## In the story

### [First Years of Widowhood—Solitude, Study, Enlarged Views—I Return Into Society—Renewed Enjoyment of Life—Thoughts of Second Marriage—I Chaperon My Younger Sisters—I Am Introduced to Baron Tilling—He Brings Me an Account of the Manner of Arno's Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/iii)

Martha's father; discusses the defeat at Solferino and the importance of the state.

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

Interrupts Martha's ride in the Prater; teases her about Frederick.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/viii)

Cousin; visits Grumitz often; courts Lilly patiently; discusses his strategy of siege-like courtship with Martha.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/ix)

Martha's cousin; becomes engaged to Lilly at the New Year's party, kissing her at midnight.

### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/xiii)

Returns from war with a scar, glorifies his experience, speaks of martial fire and joy of battle.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/xiv)

Captain-lieutenant who commits suicide on his sweetheart's grave after her death from cholera.

### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/chapters/xvi)

Mentioned as a relative or acquaintance; not directly active in this chapter but part of the broader social circle.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters/conrad_althaus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lay_down_your_arms_se/characters