# Carthoris of Helium — Thuvia, Maid of Mars character guide > Carthoris of Helium in Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Carthoris, Helium, the jeddak of Helium, the impatient Carthoris, the Prince of Helium, Prince of Helium **First appearance:** 0000-i-carthoris-and-thuvia ## Snapshot Son of John Carter and Dejah Thoris, he fights for Thuvia of Ptarth with a swordsman's fury and a heart he cannot quite hide. ## Who they are Carthoris moves through the royal gardens of Ptarth as the Warlord's heir, yet his rank matters less to him than the woman whose hand he takes before a file of guardsmen. His temper is quick, his blade quicker, and his devotion to Thuvia burns plainly enough that both she and his rival Astok read it unspoken. When guilt for a crime he did not commit is shifted onto him, that same reckless loyalty drives him across Barsoom to clear his name and find her. ## Relationships ### [Thuvia of Ptarth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/thuvia_of_ptarth) _romantic_ Carthoris is deeply in love with Thuvia, who initially resists but eventually reciprocates his affection. ### [Tario of Lothar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/tario_of_lothar) _rivalry_ Carthoris and Tario are direct antagonists, competing for Thuvia and clashing over the fate of Lothar. ### [Jav](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/jav) _friendship_ Jav, a Lotharian, becomes a loyal ally and guide to Carthoris, helping him navigate the dangers of Lothar. ### [Astok of Dusar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/astok_of_dusar) _rivalry_ Astok is a jealous suitor of Thuvia and a political enemy of Carthoris, plotting to kill him and frame him for murder. ### [Kar Komak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/kar_komak) _friendship_ Kar Komak, a bowman of Lothar, becomes a steadfast friend and warrior ally to Carthoris. ### [Vas Kor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/vas_kor) _rivalry_ Vas Kor is an enemy of Carthoris, involved in the plot to abduct Thuvia and frame Carthoris. ### [Kulan Tith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/kulan_tith) _friendship_ Kulan Tith is a prince of Kaol and a friend to Carthoris, though their alliance is tested by the conflict over Thuvia. ### [John Carter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/john_carter) _family_ John Carter is Carthoris's father, the Warlord of Mars, who appears briefly to support his son. ### [Komal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/komal) _rivalry_ Carthoris must fight and ultimately kill Komal, the beast that guards the Lotharian temple. ### [Tario of Lothar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/tario_of_lothar) _rivalry_ Carthoris and Tario are direct antagonists, competing for Thuvia and clashing over the fate of Lothar. ### [Thuvia of Ptarth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/thuvia_of_ptarth) _romantic_ Carthoris is deeply in love with Thuvia, who initially resists but eventually reciprocates his affection. ### [Kar Komak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/kar_komak) _friendship_ Kar Komak, a bowman of Lothar, becomes a steadfast friend and warrior ally to Carthoris. ## In the story ### [Carthoris and Thuvia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/i-carthoris-and-thuvia) Son of John Carter; defends Thuvia's honor; confesses his love but respects her betrothal to Kulan Tith. ### [II: Slavery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/ii-slavery) Mentioned as the prince who declared his love; his flier is seen approaching Ptarth; he is the principal bidder at the slave market. ### [III: Treachery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/iii-treachery) Prince of Helium, suspected of abducting Thuvia, sent by his father to Ptarth to prove his innocence. ### [IV: A Green Man’s Captive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/iv-a-green-man-s-captive) Pursues Thuvia after her abduction, fights the red abductors, and follows the green warrior into the mountains. ### [The Fair Race](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/v-the-fair-race) Defends Thuvia from the Torquasians, fights with sword, and protests his innocence regarding her abduction. ### [VI: The Jeddak of Lothar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/vi-the-jeddak-of-lothar) Observes the mysterious disappearance of the dead bowmen and the lack of wounds on the Torquasians; stands defiantly before Tario, refusing to crawl. ### [VII: The Phantom Bowmen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/vii-the-phantom-bowmen) Defies Tario, learns about Lothar's phantom warriors, and resolves to rescue Thuvia. ### [The Hall of Doom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/viii-the-hall-of-doom) Arrives to rescue Thuvia; strikes Tario for threatening her. ### [The Battle in the Plain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/ix-the-battle-in-the-plain) Survives the fall into Komal's pit, sword ready; suggests Jav materialize bowmen against Tario; leaves Thuvia with Jav to search for a passage through the cliffs. ### [Kar Komak, the Bowman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/x-kar-komak-the-bowman) Pursues Thuvia after being deceived by Jav; meets Kar Komak; fights alongside Thuvia and Komal against Torquasians and Dusarians. ### [XI: Green Men and White Apes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/xi-green-men-and-white-apes) Wounded and captured by Torquasians, then dragged by white apes; reunites with Kar Komak and orchestrates their escape. ### [XII: To Save Dusar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/xii-to-save-dusar) Mentioned as the one falsely blamed for Thuvia's abduction; his supposed guilt is a strategic cover for Dusar. ### [XIII: Turjun, the Panthan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/xiii-turjun-the-panthan) Disguised as Turjun, a panthan, he infiltrates Dusar's forces and overhears the plot to kill Thuvia. ### [XIV: Kulan Tith's Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/chapters/xiv-kulan-tith-s-sacrifice) Disguised as a panthan, he rescues Thuvia, fights Astok and Vas Kor, and later prepares to leave before Thuvia confesses her love. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters/carthoris_of_helium - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/thuvia_maid_of_mars_se/characters