# Nome King — Ozma of Oz character guide > Nome King in Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the Nome King, Mr. Nome King, The King, XIII The Nome King Laughs, This Nome **First appearance:** 0013-xi-the-nome-king ## Snapshot The jolly, rock-colored monarch of the underground Nomes, who holds Ev's enchanted royal family as slaves and defends the bargain with cheerful, unshakable logic. ## Who they are Seated on a ruby-studded throne in a domed cavern, the Nome King greets Ozma and Dorothy with Santa-Claus good humor, smoking a pipe and quoting nursery rhymes while insisting he bought the Queen of Ev and her ten children fairly from their own king. His pleasantness is the trap: he twists every argument into a riddle of ownership, and his power over his enchanted slaves makes him the quest's central adversary. What makes him dangerous is not rage but the sense that he is enjoying himself. ## Relationships ### [Ozma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/ozma) _rivalry_ The Nome King is Ozma's primary antagonist, scheming to conquer Oz and oppose her rule. ### [Dorothy Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/dorothy_gale) _rivalry_ Dorothy directly opposes the Nome King's plans, often outsmarting him and thwarting his evil schemes. ### [Billina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/billina) _rivalry_ Billina cleverly outwits the Nome King, exposing his tricks and helping to defeat him. ### [Scarecrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/scarecrow) _rivalry_ The Nome King views the Scarecrow as a clever enemy who repeatedly undermines his plans. ### [Queen of Ev](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/queen_of_ev) _rivalry_ The Nome King holds the Queen of Ev and her children prisoner, making them his enemies. ### [Ozma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/ozma) _rivalry_ The Nome King is Ozma's primary antagonist, scheming to conquer Oz and oppose her rule. ### [Dorothy Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/dorothy_gale) _rivalry_ Dorothy directly opposes the Nome King's plans, often outsmarting him and thwarting his evil schemes. ### [Billina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/billina) _rivalry_ Billina cleverly outwits the Nome King, exposing his tricks and helping to defeat him. ### [Dorothy Gale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/dorothy_gale) _rivalry_ Dorothy directly opposes the Nome King's plans, often outsmarting him and thwarting his evil schemes. ### [Scarecrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/scarecrow) _rivalry_ The Nome King views the Scarecrow as a clever enemy who repeatedly undermines his plans. ### [Queen of Ev](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/queen_of_ev) _rivalry_ The Nome King holds the Queen of Ev and her children prisoner, making them his enemies. ### [Ozma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/ozma) _rivalry_ The Nome King is Ozma's primary antagonist, scheming to conquer Oz and oppose her rule. ## In the story ### [Ozma of Oz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/ozma-of-oz) The antagonist who transforms the royal family of Ev into ornaments and is ultimately defeated. ### [The Nome King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xi-the-nome-king) The ruler of the Underground World who holds the Queen of Ev and her children as transformed ornaments; he proposes a guessing game to Ozma. ### [XII: The Eleven Guesses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xii-the-eleven-guesses) Sets the condition of eleven guesses, watches Ozma's attempt, and cheerfully announces her failure. ### [XIII: The Nome King Laughs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xiii-the-nome-king-laughs) Laughs at the Tin Woodman's transformation, orders refreshments, and eventually retires for the night. ### [XIV: Dorothy Tries to Be Brave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xiv-dorothy-tries-to-be-brave) Reveals to his Steward that the Queen of Ev and her family are purple ornaments; plans to transform the remaining visitors into ornaments of specific colors. ### [XV: Billina Frightens the Nome King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xv-billina-frightens-the-nome-king) Terrified by the egg, reluctantly allows Billina to guess, and is frustrated by Dorothy's correct guess. ### [Purple, Green, and Gold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xvi-purple-green-and-gold) Sits on his throne surrounded by his army, enraged at the group's escape. ### [The Scarecrow Wins the Fight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xvii-the-scarecrow-wins-the-fight) Enraged by the broken enchantments, summons his warriors but is blinded by eggs. ### [The Fate of the Tin Woodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/chapters/xviii-the-fate-of-the-tin-woodman) Defeated and humiliated, he loses his magic belt, is threatened with transformation into a goose-egg, and fails to produce the Tin Woodman. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters/nome_king - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ozma_of_oz_se/characters