The summoning circle is drawn with consecrated ink. The conjurer reads the final verse of the Invocation of the Spirits. The sound that comes from the triangle is not a voice. It is a great rustling, like the shaking of a thousand feathers. Andrealphus appears. No, Andrealphus is not a prince in demonology. In the standard hierarchy of the Ars Goetia, he is a Great Marquis, commanding 30 legions of spirits. He is depicted as a peacock, a bird that symbolizes vanity and pride, and he teaches geometry, astronomy, and the art of deception.
Is Andrealphus a prince in demonology? No, he is a Great Marquis in the Ars Goetia. Learn his rank, history, symbolism, and how he differs from demon princes. ***
What Does the Ars Goetia Say About His Rank?
The Ars Goetia, the first book of The Lesser Key of Solomon (Lemegeton), is the primary source for Andrealphus’s rank. Compiled in the 17th century from earlier manuscripts, it lists 72 spirits. Each spirit receives a title: king, duke, prince, marquis, count, or president. Andrealphus is numbered the 65th spirit and bears the title Great Marquis. Not prince. Not king. The distinction matters because the hierarchy determines the spirit’s authority, the number of legions under its command, and the formalities required during evocation. Earlier sources confirm the same. Johann Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1563), a key precursor to the Ars Goetia, also calls Andrealphus a marquis. Weyer wrote his compendium of demons as a physician and demonologist, drawing from the Liber Officiorum Spirituum and other medieval grimoires. The rank has been consistent across the surviving manuscript tradition.
Where Did Andrealphus Appear in the Manuscript Tradition?
The oldest known manuscripts of the Lemegeton date to the mid-17th century, though the material is older. Andrealphus appears in the Sloane Manuscripts (British Library, Sloane 3824 and 3825) and in the Harleian Manuscript 6483. In these texts, his name is spelled variously: Androalphus, Andrealphus, or Andrafinus. The variations are common in handwritten transmission, where scribes misread blackletter script. The name itself is a Latinized form of uncertain origin. Some demonologists connect it to the Greek andreios (manly) and alphos (white leprosy), but no definitive etymology exists. What is certain is that the figure appears in the same company as demons like Buer, Purson, and Marbas, all of whom are marquises. The manuscript tradition never promotes him to prince.
What Does the Peacock Form Symbolize?
Andrealphus appears as a peacock, a bird that makes a great noise with his feathers. The peacock is not a random choice. In medieval bestiaries, the peacock’s flesh was said to be incorruptible, and its tail feathers, covered with eyes, symbolized the all-seeing church or the omniscience of God. For a demon, the peacock is a parody of divine power. The eyes on the feathers suggest false knowledge, vanity, and the illusion of wisdom. The peacock also carries a specific warning. In Christian iconography, the peacock was a symbol of pride, the sin that caused the fall of Lucifer. Andrealphus, as a fallen angel of the order of Dominations, embodies that pride. He is a teacher of geometry and astronomy, sciences that medieval demonologists considered legitimate but dangerous if pursued without humility. The peacock’s harsh call and the rustling of its tail are sounds that the conjurer hears before the spirit speaks.
How Does a Magician Evoke Andrealphus?
The Ars Goetia provides specific instructions for evoking each spirit. For Andrealphus, the conjurer works within a protective circle, using a triangle of manifestation placed outside it. The triangle is where the spirit must appear. The conjurer holds a consecrated wand or ring and recites the appropriate conjuration from the text. Andrealphus teaches geometry, astronomy, and the art of “making things appear straight and true.” He can also transform a person into a bird, or make them appear beautiful and charming. The text says he “can turn a man into a bird, and make a man seem handsome.” The transformation is not physical; it is an illusion that deceives the senses. The noise of his arrival is a key detail. The conjurer does not hear a voice first. They hear the rustling of feathers, described as “a great noise.” Only after that does Andrealphus speak. This auditory cue is a sign that the spirit has been bound to the triangle and is ready to answer questions.
How Does Andrealphus Compare to a Demon Prince?
Demons of princely rank in the Ars Goetia include Stolas, Orobas, and Seere. Stolas teaches astronomy and appears as a raven or a crowned owl. Orobas appears as a horse and gives true answers about divinity and creation. Seere appears as a beautiful man riding a winged horse and can travel great distances instantly. The differences are not just in title. Princes command fewer legions on average than marquises. Andrealphus commands 30 legions, while Stolas commands 26, Orobas 20, and Seere 26. The number of legions is not a strict measure of power; it reflects the spirit’s function. Marquises are often associated with teaching, deception, and the arts of war. Princes are more concerned with prophecy, travel, and the mysteries of the divine. Andrealphus is sometimes confused with Amdusias, a duke who also appears as a peacock or a unicorn. Amdusias makes trees move and teaches music. The peacock form is shared, but the ranks differ. Duke is above marquis but below prince. The confusion likely arises from late 19th-century occult texts that reordered the hierarchy.
What Are the Common Misconceptions About Andrealphus?
One persistent misconception is that Andrealphus is a prince because of his high legion count. 30 legions is a large number. By comparison, many kings command fewer legions. But rank is not determined by legions. The title is fixed in the source texts. The Goetia does not use a consistent military hierarchy: a marquis can command more than a king. Another misconception is that the peacock form is inherently evil. It is not. The peacock is a symbol of vanity, but also of beauty and wisdom. The demon uses those symbols to tempt the magician into pride. The conjurer is warned not to trust the spirit’s appearance or the illusions it offers. A third misconception is that the Ars Goetia is a “satanic” text. It is not. It is a grimoire of ceremonial magic, intended to force spirits to serve the magician’s will. The spirits are bound by divine names and the authority of Solomon. The goal is not worship but control. Andrealphus is a tool, not a deity.
FAQ
Is Andrealphus a prince in the Ars Goetia?
No. He is a Great Marquis, the 65th spirit, commanding 30 legions of spirits. What does Andrealphus teach?
He teaches geometry, astronomy, and the art of making things appear straight and true. He can also create illusions of beauty and transform people into birds (in appearance only). How does Andrealphus appear in evocation?
He appears as a peacock, with a great rustling noise of feathers. He speaks after the noise subsides, answering questions from within the triangle. What is the difference between a marquis and a prince in demonology?
Princes (Stolas, Orobas, Seere) are higher in rank and deal with prophecy, travel, and divine mysteries. Marquises (Andrealphus, Purson, Marbas) are teachers, deceivers, and warriors. The titles are fixed in the source manuscripts and do not always correlate with the number of legions under command. ***
Andrealphus is not a prince, but his rank as a Great Marquis places him among the most active teaching spirits in the Goetia. The peacock’s feathers carry a warning about knowledge and pride that every conjurer should heed. For a deeper look at the full hierarchy and the 72 spirits, explore our demonology and Goetia hub. The glossary entry for Marquis explains the other titles, and our guide to the Ars Goetia covers the history of the manuscript tradition that preserved Andrealphus’s name.