Tardis

New to Doctor Who or returning after a break? Check out our guides designed to help you find your way!

READ MORE

Tardis
Advertisement
Tardis

Troilus

Prince Troilus was the youngest son of King Priam and husband of Vicki Pallister.

Biography[]

Troilus was the youngest child of King Priam of Troy, preceded by Paris, Hector and Cassandra. At the age of seventeen (TV: The Myth Makers [+]Donald Cotton, Doctor Who season 3 (BBC1, 1965).) or eighteen, (PROSE: The Myth Makers [+]Donald Cotton, adapted from The Myth Makers (Donald Cotton), Target novelisations (Target Books, 1985).) during the Trojan War, he met and was attracted to Vicki Pallister, rechristened "Cressida", although he was briefly afraid that she was a witch as Cassandra claimed. He was also jealous of Vicki's relationship with Steven Taylor, even when she assured him that they were only friends, and released her once the Greeks left Troy.

Troilus defended Vicki against Cassandra's accusations of witchcraft, being responsible for the Trojan Horse and setting Steven free from the dungeons through sorcery and left the city to find Steven at Vicki's urging. He encountered and slew Achilles, Hector's killer, in a fight, but was injured as he struck the final blow. Afterwards, he saw Troy burning and was found by Vicki, who had chosen to remain with him rather than leave in the TARDIS and suggested they go with Aeneas to build a new Troy. (TV: The Myth Makers [+]Donald Cotton, Doctor Who season 3 (BBC1, 1965).)

During their travels, Troilus and Vicki came across the Eighth Doctor, who was travelling with Charlotte Pollard and a young William Shakespeare. Afterwards, they headed towards Great Britain on Shakespeare's advice. (PROSE: Apocrypha Bipedium [+]Ian Potter, Short Trips: Companions (Short Trips, 2003).)

Vicki had trouble to adjust to her new life, since nobody shared her memories or her values. The Trojans thought she was possessed or insane, and wanted to abandon her on a rock in the middle of the sea. However, Troilus stood by her, and eventually the couple left Aeneas and settled down in Carthage, while the others went on their journey. They had two sons, and apparently lived a happy life. (AUDIO: Frostfire [+]Marc Platt, The Companion Chronicles (Big Finish Productions, 2007).)

Troilus was outlived by his wife. (AUDIO: Fugitive of the Daleks [+]Jonathan Morris, The First Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2024).)

Appearance[]

Troilus was a "rippling mass of muscle". Homer believed that Troilus resembled one of the "devilish good-looking" gods, namely Apollo or Hermes. (PROSE: The Myth Makers [+]Donald Cotton, adapted from The Myth Makers (Donald Cotton), Target novelisations (Target Books, 1985).) Vicki also believed that he was good-looking, although Priam claimed not to have noticed. (TV: The Myth Makers [+]Donald Cotton, Doctor Who season 3 (BBC1, 1965).)

Personality[]

Troilus seemed to be unaware of his good looks and was a pleasant and unspoilt young man. (PROSE: The Myth Makers [+]Donald Cotton, adapted from The Myth Makers (Donald Cotton), Target novelisations (Target Books, 1985).) He did not enjoy killing, but loved adventure. (TV: The Myth Makers [+]Donald Cotton, Doctor Who season 3 (BBC1, 1965).)

Behind the scenes[]

In The Storyteller, a minisode released in conjunction with the announcement of Doctor Who: The CollectionSeason 2 Blu-ray boxset, Vicki is seen talking to a young child, Sophia. While it is implied that they are related, it is not explicit.

Advertisement