# Selim — The Indiscreet Jewels character guide > Selim in The Indiscreet Jewels by Denis Diderot. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Signor Selim, the miserable Selim, XLIII Selim **First appearance:** 0042-xli-the-history-of-selim-s-travels ## Snapshot A courtier and soldier whose polished wit and tangled romantic history make him the perfect narrator for tales of women who are won in a minute but never kept. ## Who they are Selim moves through the court as a man of easy charm and complicated conscience, his past full of women like Olympia who come to him with favors and leave with conditions. His long, painful pursuit of Cydalisa — a woman who grants him esteem but withholds love — reveals a man capable of genuine feeling beneath the gallantry. His stories give the novel its texture of social observation, showing how desire, rank, and self-deception operate in the world Mangogul's ring exposes. ## Relationships ### [Cydalisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/cydalisa) _romantic_ Cydalisa and Selim are secret lovers, meeting clandestinely despite the constraints of court life. ### [Kanaglou](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/kanaglou) _friendship_ Kanaglou and Selim share a bond of mutual respect and camaraderie, often supporting each other in court intrigues. ### [Erguebzed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/erguebzed) _rivalry_ Erguebzed sees Selim as a competitor for royal favor and frequently tries to discredit him. ### [Mirzoza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/mirzoza) _friendship_ Mirzoza and Selim are close friends who confide in each other and offer mutual emotional support. ### [Fulvia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/fulvia) _romantic_ Fulvia is a passionate admirer of Selim, pursuing him with intense desire despite his other attachments. ### [Mirzoza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/mirzoza) _friendship_ Mirzoza and Selim are close friends who confide in each other and offer mutual emotional support. ### [Kanaglou](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/kanaglou) _friendship_ Kanaglou and Selim share a bond of mutual respect and camaraderie, often supporting each other in court intrigues. ### [Erguebzed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/erguebzed) _rivalry_ Erguebzed sees Selim as a competitor for royal favor and frequently tries to discredit him. ### [Erguebzed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/erguebzed) _rivalry_ Erguebzed sees Selim as a competitor for royal favor and frequently tries to discredit him. ### [Cydalisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/cydalisa) _romantic_ Cydalisa and Selim are secret lovers, meeting clandestinely despite the constraints of court life. ### [Kanaglou](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/kanaglou) _friendship_ Kanaglou and Selim share a bond of mutual respect and camaraderie, often supporting each other in court intrigues. ### [Cydalisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/cydalisa) _romantic_ Cydalisa and Selim are secret lovers, meeting clandestinely despite the constraints of court life. ## In the story ### [XXVI: Mirzoza's Metaphysics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xxvi-mirzoza-s-metaphysics) Raises an objection to Mirzoza's system, questioning its demonstration. ### [Was Mangogul in the Right?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xxxi-was-mangogul-in-the-right) Present at the debate, offers a balanced view on women's virtue, and is appointed judge of the wager. ### [Seventeenth Trial of the Ring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xxxiv-seventeenth-trial-of-the-ring) Mentioned by Mirzoza as one whose conversation she enjoys. ### [Conversation on Literature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xxxv-conversation-on-literature) Argues for modern writers, defends the value of genius and invention over strict adherence to ancient rules. ### [Twenty-First and Twenty-Second Trials of the Ring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xxxviii-twenty-first-and-twenty-second-trials-of-the-ring) Arrives with Bloculocus to judge the wager. ### [XXXIX: Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xxxix-dreams) Contributes two personal dreams that illustrate Bloculocus's theory. ### [The History of Selim's Travels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xli-the-history-of-selim-s-travels) Narrates his European travels and amorous exploits to Mirzoza and Mangogul. ### [XLIII: Selim at Banza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xliii-selim-at-banza) Narrates his past amours, including his disguise as a widow in a convent and his cynical views on women. ### [XLIV: Twenty-Sixth Trial of the Ring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xliv-twenty-sixth-trial-of-the-ring) Mentioned as reposing with the favorite after the previous day's fatigues. ### [Cydalisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xlv-cydalisa) Old courtier who narrates his love affair with Cydalisa and agrees to the ring test on Fulvia. ### [Twenty-Seventh Trial of the Ring: Fulvia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xlvi-twenty-seventh-trial-of-the-ring) A sixty-year-old courtier, once confident in his relationship with Fulvia, now devastated by the ring's revelation of her infidelity. He initially plans to retire but is convinced to remain at court by Mirzoza and Mangogul. ### [Prodigious Events of the Reign of Kanaglou, Mangogul’s Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xlvii-prodigious-events-of-the-reign-of-kanaglou-mangogul-s-grandfather) The old courtier and eyewitness to Kanaglou's reign, he narrates the enchantments and admits to having followed the fashionable follies of the time. ### [Twenty-Eighth Trial of the Ring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/xlviii-twenty-eighth-trial-of-the-ring) Recounts his past adventure with Olympia, and later suggests testing Zaide. ### [Platonic Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/l-platonic-love) Supports Mangogul's view on love and narrates the story of Hilas and Iphis. ### [Thirtieth and Last Trial of the Ring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/chapters/li-thirtieth-and-last-trial-of-the-ring) Present with Mangogul and Mirzoza at the chapter's opening. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters/selim - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_indiscreet_jewels_se/characters