# Clopin Trouillefou — Notre-Dame de Paris character guide

> Clopin Trouillefou in Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Clopin, Trouillefou, surly Clopin

**First appearance:** 0011-ii-the-place-de-gr-ve

## Snapshot

King of Thunes and prince of Argot, Clopin commands the vagabonds of the Court of Miracles with a hoarse voice and a torch that makes Notre-Dame flicker.

## Who they are

Clopin rules the underworld of beggars and outcasts who answer only to their own laws, and he treats the church itself as a rival sovereign to be negotiated with, not obeyed. When he raises his torch before Notre-Dame to demand asylum for a condemned sister, he reveals both his theatrical authority and the fragile discipline holding his ragged kingdom together. His claim that the outcasts' law is as sacred as the cathedral's sets the terms of the conflict that will decide who may shelter the hunted.

## Relationships

### [Pierre Gringoire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/characters/pierre_gringoire)

_social_

Clopin is the king of the Court of Miracles who initially threatens to hang Gringoire but spares him for marriage to Esmeralda.

### [Pierre Gringoire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/characters/pierre_gringoire)

_social_

Clopin is the king of the Court of Miracles who initially threatens to hang Gringoire but spares him for marriage to Esmeralda.

### [Pierre Gringoire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/characters/pierre_gringoire)

_social_

Clopin is the king of the Court of Miracles who initially threatens to hang Gringoire but spares him for marriage to Esmeralda.

## In the story

### [V: Quasimodo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/chapters/v-quasimodo)

Participates in the grinning match but is defeated by Quasimodo's grimace; he confesses himself conquered.

### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/chapters/book-ii)

The King of the Vagabonds, who presides over the Court of Miracles and nearly hangs Gringoire.

### [VI: The Broken Jug](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/chapters/vi-the-broken-jug)

King of Thunes, presides over the Cour des Miracles, orders Gringoire's hanging, and offers him to La Esmeralda as a husband.

### [Book X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/chapters/book-x)

Leads the vagabonds in their attack on Notre-Dame to rescue Esmeralda.

### [Long Live Mirth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/chapters/iii-long-live-mirth)

King of Thunes, arms the vagabonds and leads the midnight march to rescue Esmeralda.

### [An Awkward Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/chapters/iv-an-awkward-friend)

Leads the vagabond attack on Notre-Dame; expresses frustration at the church's defenses.

### [Châteaupers to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/chapters/vii-ch-teaupers-to-the-rescue)

Fights fiercely with a scythe during the battle, but is killed by an arquebus shot.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/characters/clopin_trouillefou
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/notre_dame_de_paris_se/characters