# Savinien de Portenduère — Ursule Mirouët character guide

> Savinien de Portenduère in Ursule Mirouët by Honoré de Balzac.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Monsieur Savinien, Saint Savinien, Monsieur Savinien de Portenduère, Vicomte Savinien de Portenduère, Vicomte de Portenduère, Portenduère

**First appearance:** 0001-ursule-mirou-t

## Snapshot

A prodigal vicomte returned to a shrunken inheritance, Savinien defends Ursule's honor at his mother's table with a lover's reckless gallantry.

## Who they are

Savinien de Portenduère has come home to Nemours to face debts, a proud mother, and a name that no longer pays for anything. When Madame de Portenduère receives Ursule with vinegar courtesy, he presses the doctor's hand and invents a nobility for him on the spot, unable to bear her blushes. His willingness to spend dignity where others hoard it marks him as the one man in Nemours whose ambition runs toward love rather than money.

## Relationships

### [Ursule Mirouët](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/ursule_mirouet)

_romantic_

Savinien and Ursule are deeply in love, overcoming social and familial obstacles to be together.

### [Doctor Minoret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/doctor_minoret)

_friendship_

Doctor Minoret respects Savinien and supports his relationship with Ursule, acting as a benevolent ally.

### [Madame Goupil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/madame_goupil)

_rivalry_

Madame Goupil schemes against Savinien, seeing him as an obstacle to her family's ambitions.

### [Madame de Portenduère](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/madame_de_portenduere)

_family_

Madame de Portenduère is Savinien's overprotective mother, concerned with social status and his future.

### [Vice-Admiral Kergarouët](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/vice_admiral_kergarouet)

_family_

Vice-Admiral Kergarouët is Savinien's wealthy relative who helps him restore his family's fortune.

### [Abbé Chaperon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/abbe_chaperon)

_friendship_

Abbé Chaperon counsels Savinien and supports his relationship with Ursule, acting as a moral guide.

### [Ursule Mirouët](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/ursule_mirouet)

_romantic_

Savinien and Ursule are deeply in love, overcoming social and familial obstacles to be together.

### [Ursule Mirouët](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/ursule_mirouet)

_romantic_

Savinien and Ursule are deeply in love, overcoming social and familial obstacles to be together.

### [Doctor Minoret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/doctor_minoret)

_friendship_

Doctor Minoret respects Savinien and supports his relationship with Ursule, acting as a benevolent ally.

### [Madame Goupil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/madame_goupil)

_rivalry_

Madame Goupil schemes against Savinien, seeing him as an obstacle to her family's ambitions.

### [Madame de Portenduère](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/madame_de_portenduere)

_family_

Madame de Portenduère is Savinien's overprotective mother, concerned with social status and his future.

### [Abbé Chaperon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/abbe_chaperon)

_friendship_

Abbé Chaperon counsels Savinien and supports his relationship with Ursule, acting as a moral guide.

## In the story

### [Part I: The Heirs in Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/chapters/part-i-the-heirs-in-alarm)

In debt in Paris, having squandered money; his mother sends him twenty thousand francs.

### [Part II: The Minoret Property](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/chapters/part-ii-the-minoret-property)

Argues with his mother about marrying Ursule, determined to defy her opposition.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters/savinien_de_portenduere
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/ursule_mirou_t_se/characters