# Angelica — Orlando Furioso character guide

> Angelica in Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** sweet Angelica, fair Angelica, Beauteous Angelica

**First appearance:** 0003-canto-i

## Snapshot

A princess of Cathay whose beauty turns every knight who sees her into a pursuer, and who has learned to survive by never stopping.

## Who they are

Angelica flees across Europe with Orlando, Rinaldo, and half the chivalry of two religions at her heels, trusting no one and resting nowhere. She is less a prize than a tactician of her own escape, slipping from a hermit's designs and from enchanted coursers with the same wary speed. Her flight is the engine of the poem's first half: wherever she goes, the greatest warriors abandon duty, camp, and crown to follow.

## Relationships

### [Orlando](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/orlando)

_psychological_

Angelica is the object of Orlando's obsessive love, driving him to madness when she rejects him.

### [Orlando](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/orlando)

_psychological_

Angelica is the object of Orlando's obsessive love, driving him to madness when she rejects him.

## In the story

### [Orlando Furioso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/orlando-furioso)

The beautiful princess of Cathay, pursued by many knights, whose actions spark conflicts and quests.

### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-i)

Flees through the forest, encounters Sacripant, and recounts her journey.

### [Canto II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-ii)

Flees from Rinaldo during the duel; object of both Rinaldo's and Sacripant's desire.

### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-viii)

Captured by pirates while asleep and taken to Ebuda for sacrifice.

### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-ix)

Orlando searches for her throughout the Moorish camp and beyond, but she is not found in this canto.

### [Canto XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xi)

Escapes Rogero using the magic ring, hides in a cave, and later disguises herself in rustic clothes to return to the Levant.

### [Canto XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xii)

The lady-love Orlando seeks; she uses her ring to escape and observes the knights' confusion.

### [Canto XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xix)

Heals Medoro, marries him, and departs for Catay.

### [Canto XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/chapters/canto-xxiii)

Mentioned as having healed and wed Medoro, leaving a bracelet as reward; her faithlessness triggers Orlando's madness.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters/angelica
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/orlando_furioso_se/characters