General Alcazar

A guerrilla leader who becomes president of San Theodoros.

General Alcazar is a fictional military figure in The Adventures of Tintin. He first appears in The Broken Ear and later returns in Tintin and the Picaros. In the latter, he leads a small band of anti-government guerrillas called the Picaros, who are hiding in the South American jungle. He is married to Peggy Alcazar. His group is opposed to the government of General Tapioca, who rules the fictional nation of San Theodoros. With Tintin's help, Alcazar and his Picaros successfully storm the presidential palace during a carnival, seize control, and Alcazar becomes president, with Tapioca and Colonel Sponsz being exiled.

Quick Facts

Role: Leader of the Picaros
Affiliation: Picaros
First appears: The Broken Ear
Key rival: General Tapioca
Location: San Theodoros

Lore & Background

In Tintin and the Picaros, General Alcazar is the leader of the Picaros, a revolutionary group fighting against the military government of General Tapioca in the fictional South American nation of San Theodoros. Alcazar's wife, Peggy, is introduced in this story. The Picaros are initially hampered by Tapioca's tactic of air-dropping whiskey into the jungle to intoxicate them. Professor Calculus provides Alcazar with tablets that make the taste of alcohol disgusting, which helps sober the guerrillas. At Tintin's suggestion, the Picaros disguise themselves in the costumes of Jolyon Wagg's carnival troupe, the "Jolly Follies," and enter Tapiocapolis during the carnival. They storm the presidential palace and seize control, leading to Alcazar becoming president. Tapioca and Sponsz are exiled as punishment.

Reader's Guide

General Alcazar appears in Tintin and the Picaros as the leader of the Picaros, a guerrilla group hiding in the South American jungle. He is married to Peggy Alcazar. His key rival is General Tapioca, the military ruler of San Theodoros. Alcazar's group is initially weakened by Tapioca's tactic of air-dropping whiskey to intoxicate them. Professor Calculus provides tablets that make alcohol taste disgusting, which helps sober the Picaros. They storm the presidential palace and seize control, making Alcazar president. Tapioca and Sponsz are exiled. Alcazar's story is one of a revolutionary who, with outside help, overthrows a rival regime.