Conan the Barbarian

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Conan is a male literary character who features in Conan.

Contents

Biography

Conan was a male human born in Cimmeria during the Hyborian Age as the son of Corin and Greshan. It was said that he was born on the battlefield and that he was the son of a village blacksmith. During a battle in Cimmeria, his mother, Greshan, was fatally wounded by an enemy while attempting to save her husband. The weakened Greshan uses the last of her strength to give birth to her son and names him Conan before dying. As a youth, he came to mature quickly where at 15 years old he had become a respected warrior who had participated in the destruction of the Aquilonian fortress of Venarium. After this, he was struck by wanderlust; beginning the colorful and exciting adventures chronicled by Howard and others, encountering various fabulous monsters, evil wizards, and beautiful princesses - he has traveled throughout the world and been a thief and outlaw, a mercenary and commander of a mercenary company, and a pirate. He begins building larger units of men, aiming for greater territorial ambitions, though his efforts are repeatedly thwarted, usually by the total massacre of his force excepting himself. However, by his forties, he finally succeeds in becoming king of Aquilonia, the most powerful kingdom of the age, having strangled the previous ruler, Numedides, on the steps of his own throne. In his sixties, Conan leaves his country—never to return—to seek new battles in the uncharted west, leaving Conan II, his son by Queen Zenobia, to rule Aquilonia in his stead.

Overview

Personality and attributes

In appearance, Conan was a male human with a square-cut black hair, blue eyes, tanned skin, and giant stature, often wearing a barbarian's garb. It was said that he had sullen, smoldering, and volcanic blue eyes. He was known both as Conan the Barbarian and also as Conan the Cimmerian.

He is a loyal friend to those true to him, with a barbaric code of conduct that often marks him as more honorable than the more sophisticated people he meets in his travels. Indeed, his straightforward nature and barbarism are constants in all the tales.

One noted trait in him was his sense of chivalry with him being extremely reluctant to fight women even when they fought him and had a strong tendency to save a damsel in distress.

Powers and abilities

Despite his brutish appearance, Conan uses his brains as well as his brawn. The Cimmerian is a highly skilled warrior, possibly without peer with a sword, but his travels have given him vast experience in other trades, especially as a thief. He's also a talented commander, tactician, and strategist, as well as a born leader.

During his travels around the world, the giant adventurer had picked up a wide amount of knowledge which in particular included the speaking and reading of many alien tongues. Many a sheltered scholar came to be astonished at the Cimmerian's linguistic abilities. His advanced knowledge of languages and codes and is able to recognize, or even decipher, certain ancient or secret signs and writings.

It was shown that he possessed an incredible stamina that allowed him to go without sleep for a few days.

He was also a talented commander, tactician, and strategist, as well as a born leader.

Notes

  • Conan the Barbarian was created by Robert E. Howard and his first appearance in Weird Tales v1 (December, 1932).

In other media

Television

  • In Conan the Adventurer, Conan appeared in the setting of the 1990s animated television series where he was voiced by actor Michael Donovan.
  • In Conan the Adventurer, Conan appeared in the setting of the 1990s live-action television series where he was portrayed by actor Ralf Moeller.

Films

  • In Conan the Barbarian, Conan appeared in the setting of the 1982 live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Conan was enslaved by the Vanir raiders of Thulsa Doom, a malevolent warlord who is responsible for the slaying of Conan's parents and the genocide of his people. Later, Thulsa Doom becomes a cult leader of a religion that worships Set, a Snake God. The vengeful Conan, the archer Subotai and the thief Valeria set out on a quest to rescue a princess held captive by Thulsa Doom.
  • In Conan the Destroyer, Conan appeared in the setting of the 1984 live-action film where he was once again portrayed by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
  • In Conan the Barbarian, Conan appeared in the setting of the 2011 live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Jason Mamoa.

Video Games

  • In Age of Conan: Unchained, Conan appeared in the setting of the MMORPG video game.

Comics

Appearances

  • Weird Tales: (1932).

External Links

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