He is the stereotype of a leader's right-hand advisor who appears loyal but plots against his master — in ways similar to the popular view of Louis XIII of France and Cardinal Richelieu; King Théoden and Gríma Wormtongue; or Goscinny's Caliph Haroun El Poussah and Grand Vizier Iznogoud; or the later Asterix characters Vizier Hoodunnit and Rajah Watzit.
Haroun El Poussah (also called Haroun El Plassid in English or Harun-El-Pullah in Finnish) is the caliph in the Iznogoud comics series, created by René Goscinny and Jean Tabary.