# Saturninus — Titus Andronicus character guide

> Saturninus in Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Saturnine, Proud Saturnine, Lord Saturnine, Saturninus Traitor, Saturninus Ay, Saturninus Friends, Saturninus Romans, Saturninus Aemilius

**First appearance:** 0000-titus-andronicus

## Snapshot

Rome's eldest prince and newest emperor, a man whose insecurity curdles into cruelty the moment his authority is questioned.

## Who they are

Saturninus claims the throne by primogeniture and immediately finds his title contested by Bassianus, the people's preference for Titus, and his own gnawing sense of inadequacy. He marries Tamora on impulse, elevating a captive queen to empress and binding his fate to hers. His willingness to believe the worst of Titus's family, and his eagerness to authorize their destruction, makes him less a villain than a weak man whose wounded pride becomes lethal.

## Relationships

### [Lucius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/lucius)

_rivalry_

Lucius opposes Emperor Saturninus, leading a rebellion against his tyrannical rule.

### [Titus Andronicus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/titus_andronicus)

_rivalry_

Saturninus views Titus as a political threat and grows increasingly hostile toward him after marrying Tamora.

### [Tamora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/tamora)

_romantic_

Saturninus marries Tamora, but their relationship is based on political convenience and mutual ambition rather than genuine love.

### [Lavinia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/lavinia)

_social_

Lavinia is initially betrothed to Saturninus but is forcibly taken by Bassianus, creating political friction.

### [Bassianus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/bassianus)

_rivalry_

Bassianus competes with his brother Saturninus for the emperorship and for Lavinia, leading to deadly conflict.

### [Lucius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/lucius)

_rivalry_

Lucius opposes Emperor Saturninus, leading a rebellion against his tyrannical rule.

### [Titus Andronicus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/titus_andronicus)

_rivalry_

Saturninus views Titus as a political threat and grows increasingly hostile toward him after marrying Tamora.

### [Titus Andronicus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/titus_andronicus)

_rivalry_

Saturninus views Titus as a political threat and grows increasingly hostile toward him after marrying Tamora.

### [Tamora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/tamora)

_romantic_

Saturninus marries Tamora, but their relationship is based on political convenience and mutual ambition rather than genuine love.

### [Bassianus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/bassianus)

_rivalry_

Bassianus competes with his brother Saturninus for the emperorship and for Lavinia, leading to deadly conflict.

### [Lavinia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/lavinia)

_social_

Lavinia is initially betrothed to Saturninus but is forcibly taken by Bassianus, creating political friction.

### [Tamora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/tamora)

_romantic_

Saturninus marries Tamora, but their relationship is based on political convenience and mutual ambition rather than genuine love.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Elected emperor, initially angry at Titus but is persuaded by Tamora to forgive.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Referenced as the emperor whom Tamora will charm and whose commonweal will be shipwrecked.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Joins the hunt with Tamora, comments on the early hour for new-married ladies.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii)

Discovers Quintus and Martius in the pit; accepts Tamora's forged letter as evidence of their guilt.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv)

Furious at Titus's arrows and letters, he orders the clown hanged and fears Lucius's rebellion.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii)

Attends the banquet, kills Titus, and is killed by Lucius.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/saturninus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters