# Nikolas Rokoff — The Beasts of Tarzan character guide > Nikolas Rokoff in The Beasts of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Rokoff, M. Rokoff **First appearance:** 0001-the-beasts-of-tarzan ## Snapshot A Russian schemer newly escaped from a French prison, whose hatred for Tarzan has curdled into a plan to destroy everything the ape-man loves. ## Who they are Rokoff has spent years trying to kill Tarzan and failed every time; now, freed by French incompetence, he has learned that striking at the man directly is futile. His plan is crueler—kidnap the wife and son, and make Tarzan watch helplessly from a distance. He is patient, theatrical in his cruelty, and convinced that this time the ape-man's savage instincts will not save him. ## Relationships ### [Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/jane_clayton) _rivalry_ Jane is the primary target of Rokoff's vengeful obsession, as he kidnaps her and her son to torment Tarzan. ### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/tarzan) _rivalry_ Rokoff is Tarzan's arch-nemesis, constantly plotting revenge and harm against him and his family. ### [The Chinaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/the_chinaman) _professional_ The Chinaman serves as Rokoff's subordinate, carrying out his orders. ### [Mugambi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/mugambi) _rivalry_ Mugambi opposes Rokoff as part of Tarzan's group, viewing him as a deadly enemy. ### [Sven Anderssen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/sven_anderssen) _rivalry_ Rokoff sees Sven as a traitorous obstacle, as Sven helps Jane escape his clutches. ### [Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/jane_clayton) _rivalry_ Jane is the primary target of Rokoff's vengeful obsession, as he kidnaps her and her son to torment Tarzan. ### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/tarzan) _rivalry_ Rokoff is Tarzan's arch-nemesis, constantly plotting revenge and harm against him and his family. ### [Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/jane_clayton) _rivalry_ Jane is the primary target of Rokoff's vengeful obsession, as he kidnaps her and her son to torment Tarzan. ### [The Chinaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/the_chinaman) _professional_ The Chinaman serves as Rokoff's subordinate, carrying out his orders. ### [Sven Anderssen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/sven_anderssen) _rivalry_ Rokoff sees Sven as a traitorous obstacle, as Sven helps Jane escape his clutches. ### [The Chinaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/the_chinaman) _professional_ The Chinaman serves as Rokoff's subordinate, carrying out his orders. ## In the story ### [The Beasts of Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/the-beasts-of-tarzan) The antagonist who orchestrated Tarzan's kidnapping and marooning. ### [Kidnapped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/i-kidnapped) Has escaped from prison and is orchestrating the kidnapping plot. ### [Marooned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/ii-marooned) Taunts Tarzan from the Kincaid's deck while holding up Tarzan's son; also extracts a cheque from Jane under threat to her child. ### [Beasts at Bay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iii-beasts-at-bay) Revealed through his note as the mastermind behind the plot against Tarzan's son and wife. ### [IV: Sheeta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iv-sheeta) Referenced as the Russian who marooned Tarzan on the island and threatened his son. ### [VI: A Hideous Crew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vi-a-hideous-crew) Referred to as the 'very bad white man' with a black beard, pursuing the party with the child. ### [Betrayed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/vii-betrayed) Arrives at the village after being summoned by the chief; oversees Tarzan's capture, taunts him, and kicks him. ### [VIII: The Dance of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/viii-the-dance-of-death) Taunts and physically assaults Tarzan, revealing that Jane is in danger, but is restrained by the chief from killing the prisoner prematurely. ### [Chivalry or Villainy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/ix-chivalry-or-villainy) Attempts to force Jane to submit, threatens to kill her baby, is interrupted by Anderssen. ### [The Swede](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/x-the-swede) Antagonist who abducted Jane and the child, fled upstream, and is pursued by Tarzan. ### [XI: Tambudza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xi-tambudza) Flees with Jane and the child, spreads stories of a 'white devil' to turn natives against Tarzan, and is retreating toward the east coast. ### [XII: A Black Scoundrel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xii-a-black-scoundrel) Pursues Jane and Anderssen; appears at the chapter's end in the village hut. ### [Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xiii-escape) Rokoff is enraged to find the child dead, threatens Jane with a fate worse than death, and is later knocked unconscious by her. ### [XIV: Alone in the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xiv-alone-in-the-jungle) Rokoff is discovered stunned after Jane's escape, his camp falls into chaos, and he flees into the jungle, eventually recapturing Jane by grabbing the canoe's mooring rope. ### [Down the Ugambi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xv-down-the-ugambi) Pursued by Tarzan, then by the pack; strikes Tarzan with a paddle, flees downstream, and reaches the Kincaid only to be challenged by a rifle. ### [In the Darkness of the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xvi-in-the-darkness-of-the-night) Flees downriver in a dugout, attempts to board the Kincaid but is driven back by Jane's fire; later coordinates with Paulvitch and sailors. ### [On the Deck of the Kincaid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xvii-on-the-deck-of-the-kincaid) Betrayed by his men and thrown to the deck, he is killed and devoured by Sheeta. ### [Jungle Island Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xx-jungle-island-again) Not directly present, but his crew from the Kincaid causes dissension in the camp. ### [The Law of the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/chapters/xxi-the-law-of-the-jungle) Referenced as the mastermind behind the kidnapping of little Jack; his plot is foiled by Paulvitch's betrayal. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters/nikolas_rokoff - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_beasts_of_tarzan_se/characters