King Peleus

"You are welcome here. You may still make a good man."

- Peleus

King Peleus is the father of Achilles, and the King of Phthia.

Phthia
"Tiny, gemstone-sized Phthia was the smallest of our countries, set in a northern crook of land between the ridges of Mount Othrys and the sea. There is a stream on Mount Pelion that feeds the Apidanos River that runs through Phthia's lands. The halls of Peleus' palace are smaller than Patroclus's palace in Opus. The walls and floor were local marble, whiter than was found in the south."

- Description of Phthia, The Song of Achilles, Chapter Three

The rape of Thetis
"Peleus was one of those men whom the gods love: not divine himself, but clever, brave, handsome, and excelling all his peers in piety. As a reward, our divinities offered him a sea-nymph for a wife. It was considered their highest honor. After all, what mortal would not want to bed a goddess and sire a son from her? But, like all the gods' gifts, there was an edge to it; the goddess herself was unwilling."

- Song of Achilles, Chapter Three

The gods led Peleus to the place where Thetis liked to sit on the beach and gave him instructions. He must not let go of her, no matter which shape she took. He was a "pious and obedient man and did all that the gods had instructed him to." He was told that his line would be assured if he assaulted her, and that the son of Thetis would far surpass his father. The edge to this was that Thetis was unwilling.

The gods made her swear to stay with him for a year. The hour her sentence ended, she ran out of the house and back into the sea.

Family
He had a son with the sea nymph, Thetis. She was given to him as a gift from the gods, due to a prophecy saying her son would outshine his father. The union was not consensual on her part, with Peleus being instructed to "not to waste time with overtures", "hold[...] on despite her violent struggles". This resulted in her fathering Achilles, who grew up in Phthia with Peleus.

Relationship with Patroclus
He takes Patroclus in as an exiled youth, with the intention of training him and having him serve in Phthia's army.

"Skops, Peleus took to calling me. Owl, for my big eyes. He was good at this sort of affection, general and unbinding."

- The Song of Achilles, Chapter Six

He lets Patroclus sit at the table beside Achilles and permits him to speak if he likes.

After the other men leave, he sits with Patroclus and Achilles and tells them stories of his youth.

Description
He is described as being mild and having a smile-lined face. He liked to host and entertain. He seemed old to young Patroclus, bent over, but he was no more than fifty years old, like Patroclus' own father.

He is later described as good at "this sort of affection, general and unbinding," "gray and faded," and "a man of great modesty."

Life as a Soldier
Peleus was a friend of Heracles, served in his expedition against the Amazons, the war against King Laomedon, and as an Argonaut, along with his brother Telamon, who sailed with Jason upon the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece.

Charity
He raises many cast-off sons, keeping them in a long, barracks-styled room. Patroclus notes that the boys Peleus raised in his small kingdom would one day make him a fine army.

It was rumored that he had once been a runaway himself, and had a reputation for charity toward exiles.