Plantagenet Palliser is a main character in the Palliser series of novels by Anthony Trollope. The heir to the dukedom of Omnium, Palliser is a quiet, hardworking, conscientious man whose chief ambition in life is to become Chancellor of the Exchequer. He agrees to an arranged marriage with the great heiress of the day, the free-spirited, spontaneous Lady Glencora. She at first finds him boring and considers running away with her dangerous other suitor, the dashing, but penniless Burgo Fitzgerald. Palliser persuades his wife to travel to Europe to cement their relationship after learning of this--and is promptly offered the post of Chancellor, which he must decline, since his first priority is his wife. He is eventually given the post anyway. Despite their greatly different natures, the couple settles down to a happy married life, and the last book in the series, The Duke's Children, deals with the lives and loves of their three children. Upon inheriting the dukedom, he is forced to relinquish his beloved post at the exchequer, as it is against constitutional practice for members of the House of Lords to hold that post. When neither the Whigs nor the Tories are able to form a majority, a weak coalition government is the only solution. He is asked to become Prime Minister because he is an undivisive figure. He does not enjoy his tenure. His socially awkward personality is especially vexed by his wife's lavish parties - her attempt to help influence others to support him. Due to the fragile nature of the coalition, he accomplishes little other than to keep the kingdom on an even keel. Thus, when he has to leave office, it is with no little regret. The duchess dies suddenly. Only then does he realize how necessary she was to his happiness. In addition, she was his only true friend; all others were either merely political allies or her friends. In addition, he is left to deal with the marriage choice of two of their three grown children, neither of which initially meet with his approval. In the BBC's 1974 adaptation of the Palliser novels, the role of Plantagenet Palliser was played by Philip Latham.
Trivia
- In issue 2 of the comic The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume I, Palliser is the Prime Minister, and is forced to respond to threat by Robur the Conqueror.
