# Citizen Chauvelin — The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel character guide > Citizen Chauvelin in The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Chauvelin, V Chauvelin, V **First appearance:** 0001-i ## Snapshot A cold-eyed agent of the Committee of Public Safety who has made the Scarlet Pimpernel his personal obsession, and will trade any scruple for the chance to see him dead. ## Who they are Chauvelin moves through Revolutionary Paris with the authority of Robespierre's committee behind him and a private hatred burning beneath his calm. He has tasted humiliation at the Pimpernel's hands more than once, and the memory of Calais sharpens every order he gives. His quarrel with colleagues like Tinville over how to stage the kill — quiet batch or public spectacle — shows a man whose vanity and vengeance are inseparable from his politics. He is the engine of the hunt, and the novel's early tension comes from watching him close in. ## Relationships ### [Citizen Rateau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/citizen_rateau) _professional_ Chauvelin and Rateau are close colleagues in the revolutionary secret police, working together on surveillance and arrests. ### [Paul Molé](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/paul_mole) _professional_ Chauvelin frequently interacts with Paul Molé as a subordinate agent or informant in revolutionary operations. ### [Simonne Evrard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/simonne_evrard) _psychological_ Chauvelin manipulates Simonne Evrard, using her as a pawn to gain information or leverage against her lover Marat. ### [Citizen Lebel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/citizen_lebel) _professional_ Lebel is a trusted subordinate of Chauvelin, assisting in administrative and field duties for the revolutionary committee. ### [Jean Paul Marat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/jean_paul_marat) _rivalry_ Chauvelin and Marat are political rivals within the revolutionary leadership, vying for influence and power. ### [Sir Percy Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/sir_percy_blakeney) _rivalry_ Chauvelin is obsessed with unmasking Sir Percy as the Scarlet Pimpernel, their cat-and-mouse game driving the central conflict. ### [Lucile Clamette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/lucile_clamette) _psychological_ Chauvelin uses Lucile Clamette as a tool for manipulation, exploiting her connections to Etienne for intelligence. ### [Madame la Marquise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/madame_la_marquise) _rivalry_ Chauvelin views Madame la Marquise as an enemy of the revolution, relentlessly pursuing her for her aristocratic ties. ### [Esther Vincent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/esther_vincent) _psychological_ Chauvelin manipulates Esther Vincent, threatening her safety to coerce information from her lover Merri. ### [The Leridans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/the_leridans) _professional_ The Leridans are a family of revolutionary informants or agents who report to Chauvelin. ### [Petite Maman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/petite_maman) _family_ Petite Maman is Chauvelin's mother, with whom he has a strained but dutiful relationship. ### [Citizen Rateau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/citizen_rateau) _professional_ Chauvelin and Rateau are close colleagues in the revolutionary secret police, working together on surveillance and arrests. ## In the story ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/iv) Chauvelin, a powerful and pitiless member of the Committee of Public Safety, confronts Molé and orders his arrest after a disturbing moment of recognition. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/v) Recognizes the Scarlet Pimpernel in Paul Molé, arranges his solitary confinement, and feels triumphant. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/vi) Arranges the prisoner's transfer to the Abbaye, feels anxious and nervy about the Scarlet Pimpernel's apathy. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/vii) Interviews Jeannette Maréchal and deduces the Scarlet Pimpernel's plot to rescue Marat's adopted child. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/viii) Interviews the Leridans, reconstructs Marat's revenge plot, and recognizes the English doggerel as a sign of the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/ix) Fabricates evidence by claiming the doggerel rhyme was found in Paul Molé's cell to convince Fouquier-Tinville of the prisoner's identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/x) Plagued by doubt and a sense of the uncanny, Chauvelin struggles to reconcile the prisoner's appearance with his knowledge of the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/xi) Chauvelin is driven by doubt and superstition, visits the Leridans' house, and discovers he has been tricked by the Scarlet Pimpernel's men. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned as having miscalculated by not accounting for two Paul Molés and the league's support. ### [A Question of Passports](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/a-question-of-passports) Mentioned as having suffered humiliation at the hands of the Scarlet Pimpernel and his League. ### [The Old Scarecrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/the-old-scarecrow) The antagonist, attempting to capture the Pimpernel and thwart his plans. ### [The Traitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/the-traitor) Chauvelin is deeply involved in the pursuit of the Scarlet Pimpernel, suspecting betrayal within his ranks. ### [The Cabaret de la Liberté](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/the-cabaret-de-la-libert) Present at the cabaret, observing and plotting against the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [Needs Must—](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/needs-must) Dictates the letter to Lucile Clamette, intercepts Henri de Montorgueil's reply, and sets a trap at the château to recover the papers. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/i) Dictates the letter to Lucile, remaining impassive and manipulative. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/ii) Confronts Lebel about the compromising receipts and plans to use Lucile Clamette's letter to trap the Montorgueils. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/v) Spends the sixth night at the château, waiting for the Montorgueils to deliver the papers; he has mastered the secret spring in the chimney. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/vi) Forced by Sir Percy to escort the Clamettes; humiliated and outwitted. ### [A Battle of Wits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/a-battle-of-wits) Chauvelin is the primary antagonist, matching wits with the Scarlet Pimpernel in a battle of intellect and strategy. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/ii) Arrives at the château, identifies Rateau as a suspect, and orders the pursuit. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/iii) Leads the pursuit of Rateau and devises the plan to let him enter Paris unmolested. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/iv) Leads the pursuit of Rateau, coordinating with Tournefort and Gourdon. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/v) Leads the pursuit of Rateau, displaying icy calm and strategic insight; suspects Rateau's actions are linked to the Comtesse de Sucy and the Englishman. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/vi) Furious and humiliated after being tricked by the Scarlet Pimpernel's ruse, he finds the doggerel rhyme that mocks his pursuit. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/vii) Implied to have been responsible for the failed capture of Rateau, according to Tournefort. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters/citizen_chauvelin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/characters