# Johann — The Prisoner of Zenda character guide

> Johann in The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Master Johann, Poor Johann

**First appearance:** 0010-xi-hunting-a-very-big-boar

## Snapshot

A put-upon castle servant at Zenda, too fond of a local girl to notice he is being baited into betraying his master's secrets.

## Who they are

Johann runs the household at Zenda, waiting on Duke Michael's gentlemen and one mysterious lady, while sulking away from his sweetheart in town. Overworked and under-loved, he is exactly the kind of man whose vanity and appetite can be turned against him. His loose tongue and looser loyalties make him the thread by which the king's friends hope to unravel Michael's plans.

## Relationships

### [Sir Jacob Borrodaile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/characters/sir_jacob_borrodaile)

_professional_

Johann, a servant, interacts with Sir Jacob as part of the court's political and logistical operations.

### [Sir Jacob Borrodaile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/characters/sir_jacob_borrodaile)

_professional_

Johann, a servant, interacts with Sir Jacob as part of the court's political and logistical operations.

## In the story

### [II: Concerning the Colour of Men's Hair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/chapters/ii-concerning-the-colour-of-men-s-hair)

The duke's keeper who is startled by Rassendyll's red hair and mentions having seen the king.

### [XII: I Receive a Visitor and Bait a Hook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/chapters/xii-i-receive-a-visitor-and-bait-a-hook)

Mentioned as the servant at Zenda Castle who is being lured by the innkeeper's daughter.

### [An Improvement on Jacob's Ladder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/chapters/xiii-an-improvement-on-jacob-s-ladder)

The keeper captured by Rassendyll's men; reveals the layout of the king's prison and the murder plan.

### [A Night Outside the Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/chapters/xiv-a-night-outside-the-castle)

Brings news of the king's declining health, is flogged by Rupert, becomes more loyal to Rassendyll.

### [XVI: A Desperate Plan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/chapters/xvi-a-desperate-plan)

Provides critical intelligence about the castle's defenses and agrees to open the château door.

### [The Prisoner and the King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/chapters/xx-the-prisoner-and-the-king)

Wounded while defending the duke; sworn to secrecy about the events.

### [XXI: If Love Were All!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/chapters/xxi-if-love-were-all)

Brings Rassendyll supper and chatters about the aftermath of the events.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/characters/johann
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prisoner_of_zenda_se/characters