THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, is one of Rudyard Kiplings greatest stories and in this thread I will examine the historical characters and places that inspired this swashbuckling adventure set far beyond the frontiers of Christian civilisation. https://twitter.com/HopkirkPeter/status/1331269398221516801

In my view the principal inspiration for the story and characters is James Brooke the White Rajah of Sarawak. Like Dravot and Peachey James Brooke was a soldier of the East India Company seeking adventure in new lands, but unlike our two rouges Brooke was aristocratic

Being a relative of the 9th Lord Blantyre. Brooke set sail for Borneo seeking to become a merchant but when he arrived in Kuching in 1838 finding a vicious rebellion was taking place. He offered his expertise to the Sultans uncle and vanquished his enemies, like Dravot

And Peachey l. He restored Saifuddien II to his throne and in return he was made Rajah of Sarawak, and his family ruled the land till 1946.

Two other people I believe inspired the story, unlike scholars of Kipling, were James Abbott and John Nicholson. Unique among British soldiers John Nicholson was worshipped as a god by the inhabitants of the frontier, but remained true to his Christian conviction and whipped

those who prayed to him. Although Abbott was not worshipped he was viewed as fatherly figure to the Huzra, but he was undone as result of him 'going native', as he ruled his domain as a feudal Lord. He was removed by Herbert Edwardes fearing his affection for the natives

would bring disrepute not only to the Company but also the Crown. Nicholson is a clear influence as his presence was felt throughout India for centuries as he was idolised by native and British soldiers and had a statue in Delhi. There is no doubt as a child born and raised in

India Kipling would have been told many stories about him. For James the city of Abbottabad stood in his honour and was a hub for Europeans, additionally he lived till 1896 so was very much alive while Kipling wrote the story. Other potential candidates are the two Americans

Josiah Harlan and Alexander Gardner. Harlan spurred on by romantic rejection went to India to build a new life and managed to bluff his way into becoming Prince of Ghor. He also fancied himself a successor of Alexander and as a Mason would have been well known to Kipling.

Gardner was an adventurer who roamed the plains and deserts of Central Asia for 13 years before falling into the employee of Ranjit Singh. Although, his stories are likely exaggerated his wounds were real, including a cut across his throat that had to be clamped shut while eating

The mythical land of Kafiristan is in reality a very real place, and as the name would indicate, inhabited by Pagan Kafirs. The realm was briefly forgotten as a result of the vicious conquest of Amir Khans 1895 conquest where the inhabitants were converted and the land renamed

Nuristan, the land of illumination, but as the map shows a tiny portion of land was on the British side was spared. This area is now in Chitral and is home to the enigmatic Kalash people

The Kalash people of Pakistan practice ancient Hinduism and local Animism, and are an Indo-Aryan people said to be descendants of Alexander the Great and his army because of their fair complexion and light eyes. They are also concentrated on three valleys; Birir, Rumbur, and

Bomberet. Their main god is called Mahandeo and they decorate the altars with wooden horse heads, this report is from an Italian mission to the region in 1963. The Kalash of Nuristan still inhabit their lands but they are now almost entirely Muslim