# Prince Ippolit Kurágin — War and Peace character guide > Prince Ippolit Kurágin in War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. **Role:** minor **Also known as:** Ippolit, Prince Ippolit, the delightful Prince Ippolit **First appearance:** 0005-ii ## Who they are The foolish, awkward brother of Anatole and Hélène, often the butt of jokes in society. ## In the story ### [Dramatis Personae](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/dramatis-personae) Introduced as the older son of Prince Vasíli Kurágin, in the diplomatic service but dissipated and foolish. ### [Part I: 1805](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/part-i-1805) Makes a social blunder with a story in French, providing comic relief and highlighting the superficiality of the gathering. ### [Anna Pavlovna's Soirée](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/i) Mentioned by Vasili as a 'quiet fool,' one of his two disappointing sons. ### [Anna Pavlovna's Soirée (Part 2)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/ii) Arrives with Mortemart, whom he introduces. ### [Anna Pávlovna's Soirée (Part 2)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/iii) Joins the circle, noted for his ugliness and imbecilic expression despite resembling his sister; makes an awkward comment about ghost stories. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/v) Attempts to lighten the mood with a poorly told, unintelligible anecdote, displaying his social awkwardness. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/vi) Acts awkwardly and intrusively, whispering to and lingering near Princess Liza. His clumsy behavior and laughter highlight his foolishness and lack of social grace. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/vii) Mentioned in passing by Princess Liza as a reference to the tone she used in a previous social setting. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/ix) Not present in the provided excerpts. ### [The Rostovs' Name Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/x) Mentioned indirectly via gossip about Anatole Kuragin's scandal and expulsion from Petersburg, establishing the Kuragin family's notorious reputation. ### [Farewells at Bald Hills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xxviii) Not present in the chapter excerpts. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/v) Not present in the provided excerpts. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/ix) Not present in the chapter excerpts. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xi) A secretary to the embassy and the butt of the set's jokes. His pompous, nonsensical attempt to discuss politics is met with derisive laughter, revealing his incompetence and social role as a fool. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/i) Mentioned in Pierre's internal monologue as Hélène's brother, part of the family history that gives Pierre pause about pursuing her. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/ii) Implied to be among the 'members of the family' at the supper where the fate of his sister Hélène is to be decided. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/v) Not present in the provided excerpts. ### [The Council of War Before Austerlitz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xii) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Standard and the Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xvi) Not present in this chapter's excerpts. ### [The Banquet for Prince Bagratión at the English Club](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/iii) Not mentioned in the provided excerpts. ### [The Duel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/iv) Not mentioned in the provided excerpts. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/vii) Not present in this chapter. ### [Pierre's Initiation into Freemasonry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/iv) Indirectly referenced through the 'Swiss who had formerly been tutor at the Kurágins'', connecting the ceremony to Petersburg society. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/vi) Present at the soirée, described by Anna Pávlovna as a 'charming young fellow'. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/vii) Attempts and fails to deliver a joke about 'Le Roi de Prusse,' disrupting the conversation and appearing foolish. ### [Pierre's Initiation into Freemasonry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/iv) Indirectly referenced through the mention of a Swiss tutor who formerly worked at the Kurágins', placing the Masons within Pierre's known social circle. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/vi) Present at the soirée, described by Anna Pavlovna as a 'charming young fellow' upon his introduction to Boris. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/vii) Attempts to tell a joke about 'Le Roi de Prusse' but fails to deliver it coherently, causing awkwardness and Anna Pavlovna's disapproval. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xvi) Not present in this chapter. ### [Tilsit and the Meeting of Emperors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xix) Not present in this chapter. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xix) Not present in the chapter excerpts. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/ix) Not directly present, but his brother Anatole is the central Kuragin figure in this chapter. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xiii) Not mentioned in the provided excerpts for this chapter. ### [The Ball at Zakret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/iii) Not directly mentioned, but his sister Elèn (Countess Bezúkhova) is a central figure in the ball scene. ### [The Moscow Assembly of Nobles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xxii) Not explicitly mentioned in the provided excerpts. ### [The Emperor's Appeal to the Nobility](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xxiii) Not present or mentioned in the provided excerpts. ### [The Moscow Assembly of Nobles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xxii) Not directly mentioned in the provided excerpts, but implied to be among the transformed, familiar personalities in uniform at the gathering. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/iv) Not present in this chapter's excerpts. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/vi) Not directly mentioned in the provided excerpts, but his sister Hélène's salon is a central setting. He is implied to be part of that French-leaning circle. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/iv) Not present in this chapter. ### [Princess Márya's Dilemma at Boguchárovo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/x) Not present in this chapter's excerpts. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/vi) Not directly active, but his sister Hélène's salon is a central setting for the pro-French, pro-Napoleon viewpoint, representing the opposing camp. ### [Princess Márya at Boguchárovo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/x) Not present in the chapter. No direct mention or action. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/i) Makes an awkward, nonsensical remark ('The path to Warsaw, perhaps') in an attempt to be witty, highlighting his foolishness. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/i) Makes an awkward, nonsensical interjection ('The path to Warsaw, perhaps') that highlights his social ineptitude. ### [Pierre Before Davout](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/x) Not present in the excerpts. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xii) Not present in the chapter excerpts. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/iv) Not present in this chapter. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/xiv) Not present in this chapter's excerpts. ### [The Retreat and the Fall of Kutúzov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/chapters/x) Not present in this chapter's excerpts. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/characters/ippolit_kuragin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/war_and_peace/characters