← All characters

The Divine Comedy · Character

Charles Martel

Crowned prince of Hungary who appears in the Heaven of Venus.

minor

Also known as Martel, Charles

First appearance: Canto VIII: The Third Heaven of Venus and the Spirit of Charles Martel

Charles Martel shows up with force in Canto VIII: The Third Heaven of Venus and the Spirit of Charles Martel. The page is where that presence becomes real.

The spirit of the crowned prince who speaks of his brief earthly life, his love for Dante, and the political troubles of his kingdom.
In the storyCanto VIII: The Third Heaven of Venus and the Spirit of Charles MartelOpen this moment free

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

In Canto VIII: The Third Heaven of Venus and the Spirit of Charles Martel: The spirit of the crowned prince who speaks of his brief earthly…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Charles Martel sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Charles Martel in Canto VIII: The Third Heaven of Venus and the Spirit of Charles Martel

Character Web

30 connections

A slice of how Charles Martel sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

SPSt. PeterDADavidDADante AlighieriSOSordelloPBPope Boniface …CMCharles Martel

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Heavenly Guides and Saints
  • Protagonist

+25 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.

SetupAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

In this canto, the dramatic climax occurs when Dante, having been emboldened to ask Virgil to teach him the na…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

In the story

Charles Martel appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Charles Martel unlock in the free preview.

See Charles Martel in Canto VIII: The Third Heaven of Venus and the Spirit of Charles Martel