# Palafox — Saragossa character guide

> Palafox in Saragossa by Benito Pérez Galdós.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0004-iii

## Snapshot

The young Captain-General whose handsome figure and reckless courage make him the living symbol of Saragossa's resistance, even as others do the governing.

## Who they are

Palafox is the illustrious commander whose prestige rests on noble birth, personal bravery, and a refusal of scandalous favors that endeared him to the people. He appears wherever danger is greatest, encouraging the weak and rewarding the brave, while real direction falls to counsellors like Father Basilio and generals O'Neill, Saint March, and Butron. To the Saragossans he is the patriotic ideal made flesh, and his presence at the front turns wavering men back into the fire.

## In the story

### [Saragossa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se/chapters/saragossa)

The military leader guiding the resistance.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se/chapters/viii)

Defiantly refuses surrender terms and issues a proclamation, though it is attributed to Basilio Boggiero.

### [The Eleventh Day: The Breach](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se/chapters/x)

Captain-General; later delivers a stirring speech.

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se/chapters/xx)

Hurried to the point of danger during the assault on Santa Mónica and issued a proclamation to raise spirits.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se/chapters/xxiii)

Appears at the entrance of the street to rally the defenders, his presence and gestures inspire the troops to continue fighting.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se/chapters/xxvi)

Issues proclamations to rally the citizens, offering his own possessions and creating a new military order.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se/chapters/xxxi)

Mentioned as being taken prisoner to France despite promises.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se/characters/palafox
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saragossa_se/characters