Sharpe’s Triumph characters

Appears from the start

A sergeant in the 33rd Regiment whose courage during the fall of Seringapatam brought promotion and the respect of Colonel Wellesley. Sharpe can now read, possesses a concealed fortune in Tippoo Sultan's jewels, and has discovered that he is exceptionally good at war, but Hakeswill still has the patience and malice to ruin him.

Appears from the start

A British officer who deserts his East India Company command for better prospects with the Maratha armies. Dodd establishes his new loyalty by ordering the destruction of men and civilians he has abandoned, then places his military experience at the service of Britain's enemies.

Appears from the start

An East India Company intelligence officer who survived captivity in Seringapatam. Principled, stubborn, and deeply religious, McCandless is charged with finding William Dodd and brings Sharpe because the sergeant combines fieldcraft with a personal loyalty he trusts.

First appears in chapter 2

Sharpe's old sergeant and determined enemy. Hakeswill uses military regulations, theft, and false accusations as weapons, trusting his authority over common soldiers and his obsessive belief that he cannot be killed.

First appears in chapter 2

A cavalry sergeant and one of Sharpe's trusted friends in India. Lockhart helps him turn part of his secret hoard of jewels into usable money and offers the fellowship of an experienced soldier without Hakeswill's malice.

Also known as Colonel Wellesley

First appears in chapter 3

The British commander directing the campaign against the Maratha armies. Wellesley is exacting, ambitious, and willing to move with alarming speed when calculation tells him that boldness offers the best chance of victory.

First appears in chapter 3

A British engineer serving Wellesley's army and already acquainted with Sharpe. Stokes values practical solutions and treats Sharpe's intelligence as more important than the social gulf between an officer and a ranker.

First appears in chapter 4

A Hanoverian adventurer who has risen to command a formidable Maratha-trained army. Pohlmann understands European drill and Indian politics, and faces Wellesley as a professional soldier whose allegiance follows opportunity rather than nationality.

First appears in chapter 5

A French officer serving in the Maratha forces. Joubert is caught between his employment, the dangers of the campaign, and concern for his wife as the opposing armies close toward battle.

First appears in chapter 5

Captain Joubert's French wife, traveling in the uncertain world surrounding the Maratha army. Simone is isolated by the campaign and forms a wary connection with Sharpe when his mission brings him across her path.