The 'Eternal Champion' is a fictional creation of the author
Michael Moorcock and is a recurrent feature in many of his novels.
The Multiverse, which consists of several universes, many layered dimensions, spheres, and alternate worlds, is the place where the eternal struggle between
Law and Chaos, the two main forces of Moorcock's worlds, takes place. In all these dimensions and worlds, these forces constantly war for supremacy. But the victory of either Law or Chaos would be disastrous for mankind, and therefore the Balance needs to work for a neutral balance.
The Eternal Champion, a Hero who exists in all
dimensions, times and worlds, is the one who's chosen by fate to fight for the Balance; however, he often doesn't know of his rôle, or, even worse, he struggles against it, never to succeed. (See the plot summaries for the various novels directly or indirectly linked to in this article.)
All the incarnations of the Eternal Champion are facets of each other, and the Champion may also be incarnated as Companion to another of his incarnations, or as Champion for an opposing force. (It is not certain whether any of the Champion's Consorts have themselves been Champion-incarnations.)
Some of the incarnations of the Eternal Champion include:
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Jherek Carnelian
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Jerry Cornelius
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Corum Jhaelen Irsei (an anagram of "Jeremiah Cornelius")
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Elric of Melniboné
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Erekosë, the one aspect of the Champion who remembers his previous lives.
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Dorian Hawkmoon
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Ulrich von Bek and some of his descendants.
★ Gaynor the Damned, Champion of Chaos (and especially of
Xiombarg, Queen of the Swords, and of Count Mashabak)
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Roland, one of the
paladins of
Charlemagne
★ Urlik Skarsol
★ Konrad Arflane
★ Sojan the Swordsman
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Oswald Bastable
★ John Daker
★ Flamadin