Rabadash

Prince Rabadash was the eldest son of the Tisroc of Calormen during the Golden Age of Narnia. During this time, the Monarchs of Narnia attempted to establish diplomatic relations with Calormen. Rabadash wanted to marry Queen Susan of Narnia, and courted her heavily during her and King Edmund's visit to Tashbaan. However, when she began to have doubts, he hinted that he might hold the Narnian delegation prisoners until Susan consented, or even outright force her to marry him. The Narnians were able to escape Tashbaan by night aboard their ship.

Furious, Rabadash demanded his father invade Narnia, but the Tisroc, who feared the Pevensies because he believed they wielded powerful magic, refused. Unwilling to give up, Rabadash conceived a plan to lead a raid to conquer Archenland, then use it as a staging post to conquer Narnia and capture Susan. During a secret meeting in the palace, he proposed this plan to his father, who consented. This meeting was accidently overheard by two Tarkheena, one of whom, Aravis, told her traveling partner Shasta These travellers crossed the desert just ahead of Rabadash's raiding force and warned King Lune of Archenland.

When Rabadash arrived at Anvard, an army of Narnians and Archenlanders were prepared for him. In the Battle of Anvard the Calormenes were defeated, and Rabadash lost a swordfight with King Edmund and was taken prisoner alongside the surviving Calormenes.

After the battle, Rabadash was brought to trial before the monarchs of Narnia and Archenland. During this time, Aslan confronted him about his aggression, but he was unrepentant and continued to bluster. As punishment, Aslan turned Rabadash into a donkey which could be undone once he goes into Tash's temple during his country's Great Autuum Feast. Aslan warned him that if he ever left Tashbaan again, he would resume the donkey form for the rest of his life. Rabadash succeeded his father as the Tisroc, and stayed in the city because of the curse, which meant he was unable to lead military campaigns. Thus his reign was one of the most peaceful in Calormen's history, earning him the official title "Rabadash the Peacemaker". Behind his back and after his death, however, due to his crushing defeat and transformation, he was referred to as "Rabadash the Ridiculous." His name became so infamous, that when people would make stupid decisions, they were referred to as "Second Rabadash".

Rabadash