Rabadash facts for kids

Prince Rabadash is a human character and the main antagonist (bad guy) in C. S. Lewis's fantasy book The Horse and His Boy. He is the oldest son of the Tisroc, who is the ruler of Calormen. This means Rabadash is next in line to become the Tisroc himself.

In The Horse and His Boy, Rabadash tries to take over Archenland, a country next to Narnia. But his plan is stopped by King Edmund and Queen Lucy of Narnia. They get help from a brave boy named Shasta. Rabadash's name might come from a Turkish phrase meaning "namesake of the Lord" or "namesake of God."

Rabadash's Life and Plans

Prince Rabadash decides to go to war because he is upset. He wanted to marry Queen Susan of Narnia, but she refused him.

Queen Susan's Visit to Calormen

Rabadash and his friends first visited Queen Susan in Cair Paravel, a castle in Narnia. He seemed to impress her then. Later, Queen Susan visited Tashbaan, the capital city of Calormen. Her brother, King Edmund, went with her.

While in Tashbaan, Susan learned that Rabadash was a very proud and unkind person. She became worried that he planned to force her to marry him. Because of this, Susan, Edmund, and their friends quickly escaped from Tashbaan.

Rabadash's Invasion Plan

Rabadash was very angry and felt insulted after Susan escaped. He asked his father, the Tisroc, for permission to lead a small group of soldiers to Narnia. His plan was to capture Susan when she returned to Cair Paravel.

Before that, he wanted to secretly attack and capture Anvard, the capital city of Archenland. If he succeeded, Anvard would become a base for Calormen to later invade Narnia.

The Tisroc did not openly support Rabadash's plan. He thought it would look bad if Calormen attacked a neighboring country without a good reason. Especially since Narnia was protected by a powerful being named Aslan. If Rabadash failed, the Tisroc could simply say he knew nothing about it.

The Attack on Archenland

Rabadash went ahead with his plan and led his soldiers into Archenland. However, King Lune of Archenland and his knights were warned about the invasion. A boy named Shasta had brought them the news.

King Lune and his knights were able to escape into Anvard castle. Rabadash, instead of realizing his plan had failed, decided to surround the castle and try to capture it.

Meanwhile, Shasta traveled across the mountains into Narnia. When he told King Edmund and Queen Lucy what was happening, they quickly gathered an army. They marched to Anvard to help King Lune.

The Battle and Rabadash's Capture

Rabadash's army was surprised and outnumbered by the Narnian forces. They were badly defeated in the battle. Rabadash himself was captured and brought before King Lune to be judged.

Rabadash's Transformation

At the end of The Horse and His Boy, Aslan gives Rabadash a chance to change his ways. King Lune had decided to let Rabadash go, but only if he agreed to certain conditions. Rabadash refused to accept these terms.

Because of his pride and refusal, Aslan transformed Rabadash into a donkey. Aslan then said that Rabadash had to go back to the temple of Tash in Tashbaan. He had to stand before the altar during the autumn feast, when many people would be watching. If he did this, he would turn back into a human.

However, there was a rule: Rabadash had to live within ten miles of the temple. If he ever left that area, he would turn back into a donkey forever, with no hope of changing back.

Rabadash's Rule as Tisroc

Because he could not leave Tashbaan, Rabadash could not declare war or lead armies. He also feared that if others gained glory in battle, they might try to take his throne. So, when he eventually became the Tisroc, his rule was very peaceful. His people even called him "Rabadash the Peacemaker."

But his people never forgot that he had been turned into a donkey. Behind his back, they called him "Rabadash the Ridiculous." Even after he died, if someone acted foolishly, people would say they were "a second Rabadash."

See also

In Spanish: The Horse and His Boy para niños