# The Count — Pan Tadeusz character guide

> The Count in Pan Tadeusz by Adam Mickiewicz.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Illustrious Sir Count, Count, Sir Count

**First appearance:** 0005-book-ii-the-castle

## Snapshot

A wealthy young nobleman with a romantic head, who stares at brooks like a heron and at castle walls like a poet in search of a subject.

## Who they are

The Count rides the countryside sketching ruins and sighing over views, respected for his lineage and kindness yet thought by everyone to lack something. He is drawn to the decaying Horeszko castle and to its last retainer Gervasy, whose grievance against the Soplicas feeds the Count's own sense of injured grandeur. His dreamy aestheticism and his rivalry for Sophia make him both a comic figure and a genuine threat to the fragile peace of the neighbourhood.

## In the story

### [Pan Tadeusz, Book 2: The Last Foray in Lithuania](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/chapters/pan-tadeusz)

The Count is enamored with Telimena and the romantic idea of the castle, and is persuaded by Gervasy to plan a foray.

### [Book I: Home-Keeping](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/chapters/book-i-home-keeping)

Mentioned as expected to arrive the next day for the boundary dispute.

### [Book II: The Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/chapters/book-ii-the-castle)

Visits the castle with Gervasy; muses on honor and revenge; sees Zosia in the orchard; interrupted by Friar Robak.

### [Book III: Flirting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/chapters/book-iii-flirting)

Sketches Telimena, flirts with her, and receives a forget-me-not blossom.

### [Book IV: Diplomacy and the Chase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/chapters/book-iv-diplomacy-and-the-chase)

Participates in the bear hunt and is saved from danger alongside Thaddeus.

### [Book V: Diplomacy and the Chase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/chapters/book-v-diplomacy-and-the-chase)

Wounded by the mention of the hunting-chamber; makes a bitter remark about the castle, escalating tensions.

### [Book VI: The Farmstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/chapters/book-vi-the-farmstead)

Mentioned as having marched to Dobrzyn with his household; Robak urges the Judge to reconcile with him.

### [Council](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/chapters/book-vii-council)

Arrives at the council, armed and mounted, rallying the nobles with a salute.

### [Book IX: The Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/chapters/book-ix-the-battle)

Captured and disarmed but left unbound; he is locked in the hall with his jockeys.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/characters/the_count
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pan_tadeusz_se/characters