# Tigellinus — Quo Vadis character guide > Tigellinus in Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** the noble Tigellinus **First appearance:** 0004-ii ## Snapshot Nero's prefect and chosen instrument, he turns the burning of Rome into a machine for hunting Christians and calls it order. ## Who they are Tigellinus holds the practical power in Nero's Rome: the guards, the informers, the pretexts. Where Petronius charms and Nero performs, Tigellinus simply arranges the arrests, and he understands that a scapegoat is more useful than a truth. His pursuit of the Christians, and of anyone Nero wishes removed, supplies the novel's engine of dread and forces every other character to choose what they will risk. ## Relationships ### [Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/nero) _professional_ Tigellinus is Nero's chief advisor and enforcer, encouraging his worst vices and carrying out his brutal orders. ### [Marcus Vinicius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/marcus_vinicius) _rivalry_ Tigellinus sees Marcus as a threat to his influence over Nero and actively works to destroy him. ### [Petronius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/petronius) _rivalry_ Petronius and Tigellinus are bitter rivals at court, representing the clash between refined hedonism and brutal ambition. ### [Petronius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/petronius) _rivalry_ Petronius and Tigellinus are bitter rivals at court, representing the clash between refined hedonism and brutal ambition. ### [Marcus Vinicius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/marcus_vinicius) _rivalry_ Tigellinus sees Marcus as a threat to his influence over Nero and actively works to destroy him. ### [Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/nero) _professional_ Tigellinus is Nero's chief advisor and enforcer, encouraging his worst vices and carrying out his brutal orders. ### [Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/nero) _professional_ Tigellinus is Nero's chief advisor and enforcer, encouraging his worst vices and carrying out his brutal orders. ### [Petronius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/petronius) _rivalry_ Petronius and Tigellinus are bitter rivals at court, representing the clash between refined hedonism and brutal ambition. ### [Marcus Vinicius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/marcus_vinicius) _rivalry_ Tigellinus sees Marcus as a threat to his influence over Nero and actively works to destroy him. ## In the story ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xviii) Mentioned as not yet able to command Petronius to open his veins. ### [Nero's Deferred Journey and the Augustian Revels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xxx) Plans a feast on the pond of Agrippa with lupanaria and nymphs, and offers to find the man stronger than Croton. ### [Vinicius to Lygia: A Letter from Antium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xxxviii) Offers to burn Antium for Nero's entertainment, but is dismissed as a fool. ### [Chapter XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xl) Tigellinus offers to burn Antium or build a wooden city for Nero to set on fire, showing his servility and lack of refinement. ### [Chapter XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xli) Mentioned as having reported to Nero about Senate whispers and as a contrast to Petronius in Nero's eyes. ### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xlii) Accused by Vinicius of being the executor of Nero's command to burn Rome. ### [The Night of Fire and Song](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xlvi) Prefect of the pretorians, dispatches couriers to Nero and arranges the guard, but shows uncertainty in the face of the crowd's fury. ### [Chapter XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xlviii) Tigellinus counters Petronius's advice and proposes blaming the Christians for the fire to divert public anger. ### [Chapter XLIX: The Informer's Testimony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/xlix) Supports Chilo's accusations, suggests that Petronius may also be a Christian, and is tasked with providing soldiers to arrest the Christians. ### [Chapter L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/l) Tigellinus is implicated in the persecution and is Petronius's rival. ### [LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/li) Organizes the gathering of wild beasts for the arena and refuses Vinicius's bribe, not wanting to offend Poppaea. ### [Chapter LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lv) Watches Vinicius and Petronius suspiciously during the games. ### [Chapter LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lviii) Mocks Chilo and Vestinius, boasts of arranging the games, and jeers at the Christian gods. ### [The Gardens of Torment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxi) Assists Nero in organizing the spectacle and remains at his side throughout. ### [The Martyrdom of Chilo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxii) Organizes the spectacle and defends the persecution; engages in tense exchanges with Petronius and others. ### [LXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxiii) Tigellinus continues efforts to persecute Christians despite growing public weariness and fear. ### [The Conspiracy and the Last Plea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxiv) Supports Nero by reminding Petronius that Lygia is in prison by Caesar's will. ### [The Evening Spectacle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxv) Urges Nero not to yield, suggesting use of the pretorians. ### [LXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxvii) Tigellinus is suspected of plotting revenge against Lygia and Vinicius, but his hands are tied by Nero's literary interest. ### [LXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxxii) Mentioned as having conquered Petronius in the political struggle. ### [The Last Feast of the Arbiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/lxxiii) Referenced in Petronius's letter as a mule-driver, highlighting the contempt Petronius holds for him. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/chapters/epilogue) Advises Nero about the seriousness of Vindex's rebellion but is ignored. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters/tigellinus - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/quo_vadis_se/characters