What was the name of the rat king in “The Nutcracker”? - briefly
The ruler of the vermin in The Nutcracker is called the Mouse King. He leads the army of mice against the Sugar Plum Fairy’s forces.
What was the name of the rat king in “The Nutcracker”? - in detail
The antagonist leading the vermin army is identified as the Mouse King, sometimes rendered as the Rat King in English translations of the ballet. In E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original tale, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse‑King,” he is explicitly called “the King of the Mice.” The character appears in the following forms:
- Original story (1816): Referred to as “der Mäusekönig” (the Mouse King), a regal rodent who commands twelve subordinate mice.
- Marius Petipa’s 1892 choreography: Retains the title “Mouse King,” portrayed by a principal dancer in a costume that emphasizes a crown and elongated claws.
- English‑language productions: Frequently translate the title to “Rat King,” though the choreography and narrative remain unchanged; the name serves only as a linguistic adaptation.
Key attributes:
- Crowned with a jeweled circlet, symbolizing authority over the mouse legion.
- Commands a battle against the Nutcracker, culminating in a duel that resolves with the Nutcracker’s victory.
- Represents the dark, chaotic force that the heroine, Clara, must help overcome.
Thus, the creature leading the hostile rodent forces is officially the Mouse King, occasionally labeled the Rat King for translation convenience.