An influential and manipulative elderly nobleman who holds a high position at court. He is a master of social maneuvering, constantly scheming to secure advantageous marriages and positions for his three children.

The illegitimate but favorite son of the wealthy Count Bezukhov, Pierre is a socially awkward, stout, and philosophical young man who has just returned to Russia. An admirer of Napoleon and an idealist, he struggles to fit into St. Petersburg society and navigate the schemes of those interested in his potential inheritance.

Prince Andrei’s pious, plain-faced, and gentle sister who lives in isolation at the Bald Hills estate. She endures the harsh, tyrannical treatment of her eccentric father with Christian patience and devotes herself to his care and her religious studies.

The daughter of the scheming Prince Vassily, Hélène is renowned as the most beautiful woman in St. Petersburg society. While possessing a statue-like elegance and charm that captivates men, she is internally cold, self-absorbed, and intellectually vacuous.

Hélène's handsome but reckless and amoral brother. A hedonist who spends his time drinking and partying, he is a constant source of trouble for his father, who is desperate to marry him off to a wealthy heiress.

The son of the impoverished Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya, Boris is an ambitious and calculating young man. Determined to rise in rank and wealth, he uses his social connections and charm to navigate both the military and high society hierarchies.

The Emperor of the French and the primary antagonist of the Russian military campaign. To some characters like Pierre, he is initially a symbol of revolutionary greatness; to others, he is a usurper threatening Europe.

A handsome, intelligent, but cynical aristocrat who is deeply disillusioned with his marriage and superficial high society life. Seeking purpose and glory, he decides to leave his pregnant wife at his father's country estate to serve as an aide-de-camp to General Kutuzov.

The elderly, one-eyed commander-in-chief of the Russian army. Unlike the younger officers seeking glory, he is wise, patient, and weary, favoring strategy and time over aggressive action.

An officer in the Semenov regiment and a notorious gambler and duelist. He is a close friend of Anatole Kuragin and practically lives with him, known for his cruelty, bravery, and wild antics that often scandalize society.

The lively, impulsive, and enchanting younger daughter of the Rostov family, known for her beautiful singing voice and boundless energy. She is the darling of her family and begins the novel as a thirteen-year-old girl eagerly observing the romances and dramas of the adults around her.

The eldest son of the Rostov family, Nikolai is an earnest and patriotic young man who abandons his university studies to join the Hussars. He is deeply loyal to his family and dreams of defending his Tsar and country on the battlefield.

The orphaned poor cousin of the Rostov children who has been raised alongside them. She is quiet, self-sacrificing, and deeply in love with her cousin Nikolai, though her lack of a dowry makes a marriage between them difficult.