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The following is a very basic, relatively spoiler-free introduction to the four main characters of Berusaiyu no Bara, followed by brief introductions of other key players in the story. The pictures shown are mostly screen captures from the anime, while the bottom left of each set is the Lady Oscar (live action) version of that character, and the bottom right is the manga rendition.
As these are spoiler-free, the descriptions are rather short! This page will give you a very basic introduction, but to learn more you should watch the series or read the manga! ;)
Some images are broken -- I'm aware of this and trying to upload new ones. Also, this list isn't complete just yet. (I'm working on it!) Thanks and my apologies! ^^;;;
The Main Four
Oscar François de Jarjayes
Oscar is the Rose of Versailles. Her father, General de Jarjayes (an actual historic figure) had no sons to become heir to his military legacy, so when Oscar was born, he decided to raise her as a man to fill that role.
Because of the way she was raised, she has a strong sense of duty and loyalty, and her integrity is infallible. She is a source of strength for the Queen, Marie-Antoinette, whom she serves for the majority of the story. Oscar carries herself with a never-faltering bravery, and because of this and her slightly androgynous (well, androgynous in anime-version 1700s France) appearance that she is often believed to be a man until informed otherwise (by Fersen most notably).
It is because of her strong loyalty to the crown that she also has naivete and a painful ignorance of the suffering of the commoners. It is not until her best friend André introduces her to the plight of other commoners (like himself) that Oscar begins to realize the injustices in French society.
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André Grandier
Orphaned as a young child, he was brought into the Jarjayes home to serve as a brother to Oscar and liason between her and Oscar's father. But above all, he is Oscar's steadfast best friend, sparring partner, and loving companion. Although he is technically also Oscar's stableboy and servant, Oscar treats him as an equal even if others refuse to do likewise. For the first half of the series, he is a rather insignificant brother-like figure who bears little importance to the movement of the story--but only for the first half. As he is a commoner who serves and lives amongst nobles but does not have nobleman status, he is both the audience's and Oscar's bridge from the fantasy land of the nobility to the harsh reality of the commoners' suffering.
Somewhat dog-like in his unfaltering loyalty to Oscar, he is nonetheless admirable if only for his incredible patience and willingness to sacrifice anything for the things he believes in and the people he loves.
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Marie-Antoinette
The (in)famous tragic queen of France, she is painted in much more sympathetic tones in BeruBara. She is seen as an innocent who was unknowingly manipulated by power-hungry nobility, and made into a tool for extortion. As time progresses, her innocense slowly becomes hubris, where she begins to believe that as Queen she is never at fault. This is especially tragic in light of her friendship for Oscar, who remains by the Queen's side for twenty years.
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Hans Axel von Fersen
A Swedish nobleman and intellect who has a long-term affair with Marie Antoinette and gains the affections of Oscar in the meantime. Seemingly faultless (and kind of flat as a character), he is at odds with himself over his love for the Queen of France and propriety.
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Other Important Characters
General Jarjayes
Daddy dearest to Oscar, master of the Jarjayes house. Thanks to his ambitions for his family to continue their military legacy, he decided to raise his last daughter as a man (hence Oscar). Full of pride and loyalty to tradition, he's taught Oscar everything he knows and is very proud of his "son."
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Rosalie Lamorliére
The second daughter of a destitute woman living in the slums of Paris, Oscar befriends her and takes her in after tragedy strikes Rosalie's home. Later serves as chambermaid to Marie-Antoinette as she awaits the guillotine.
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Much to everyone's disappointment, Alain is not in the live action movie!
Alain de Soissons
An officer in the French Guard corps B, who is a master swordfighter, heavy drinker, and great comrade of André's.
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Jeanne de la Motte-Valois
Ambitious Jeanne, the older sister of Rosalie, strikes off on her own to seek her fortune, and when she can't find it, she makes it!
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Comte de Girodelle
A nobleman and commanding officer in the Royal Guard with Oscar, he is both her peer and admirer. In the anime and manga, he kind of disappears in the story for a little bit and then comes back later with a big role to play in the story. He's so entirely different in the movie, that to say the movie Girodelle and the anime/manga Girodelle are polar opposites is just scratching the surface!
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Bernard Châtelet
A journalist and major player in the Revolution, he becomes a friend of Oscar, André, and Rosalie, after being the catalyst in an important yet tragic event in the middle of the story.
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Comtesse de Polignac
An aristocrat who befriends Marie-Antoinette and uses her manipulations to sway the queen into giving Polignac what she wants for herself and her annoying daughter, Charlotte.
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Charlotte de Polignac
Charlotte is actually quite a minor character, but worth mentioning for two reasons. One, she is the unofficial president of the Ladies of Versailles Court Oscar Fanclub (--that's not what it's called, but she really is the head of the Oscar fangirls). Two, one of the best (if not THE best) written episodes in the entire show is devoted to her, surprisingly.
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Versailles no Bara and all associated intellectual property are © Riyoko Ikeda.
Everything on this website was legally procured by the site author, CCS, for the sake of sharing the fandom on the internet. Please do not take anything here as it was a lot of work and money to gather.
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