Michael

Also known as: Angel / Arch-Angel / Arch-Angel Michael / Prince of Angels / great Arch-Angel / the Arch-Angel / the Arch-Angelick Power · Family: Heaven · Role: archangel · First appears: Book 6

In Book 6, God commands Michael and Gabriel to lead Heaven’s armies against the rebellious angels. Michael’s sword wounds Satan, who is carried back to his chariot; their weapons meet in battle.

In Book 11, God sends Michael to Paradise, where he tells Adam and Eve they must leave and till the ground. He reveals to Adam the first murder and death, then shows him visions of what will come to him and his descendants. In Book 12, Michael takes Adam and Eve by the hand and leads them through Eden’s eastern gate and down to the plain.

Relationship record

Life events

• God orders Michael and Gabriel to lead Heaven’s armies against the rebellious angels.(Book6 · 📍 Heaven)
  • With: God Gabriel Son
  • “Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, And thou, in military prowess next, Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints”
• Michael’s sword wounds Satan, who is carried back to his chariot for protection.(Book6 · 📍 Heaven)
  • With: Satan
  • “it met The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor staid, But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared All his right side: Then Satan first knew pain, And writhed him to and fro convolved”
• God decrees Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Paradise and perpetual banishment.(Book11 · 📍 Paradise)
  • With: God Adam Eve
  • “From the Paradise of God / Without remorse drive out the sinful pair;”
• Michael announces that Adam and Eve must leave Paradise and till the ground.(Book11 · 📍 Paradise)
  • With: Adam Eve
  • “to remove thee I am come, / And send thee from the garden forth to till / The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil.”
• Michael reveals mankind’s first murder and death to Adam.(Book11 · 📍 Paradise)
  • With: Adam
  • “the unjust the just hath slain, / For envy that his brother’s offering found / From Heaven acceptance;”
• Michael reveals the future consequences of humanity’s original sin through prophetic visions.(Book11 · 📍 Paradise)
  • With: Adam
  • “To show thee what shall come in future days / To thee, and to thy offspring: good with bad / Expect to hear;”
• Michael leads Adam and Eve from Paradise through Eden’s eastern gate after their banishment.(Book12 · 📍 Eden)
  • With: Adam Eve
  • “In either hand the hastening Angel caught Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast To the subjected plain; then disappeared.”

Book 6

• commander: God “Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince,”
• enemies with Satan “The sword / Of Michael from the armoury of God / Was given him tempered so, that neither keen / Nor solid might resist that edge: it met / The sword of Satan”

Book 11

• commander: God “Michael, this my behest have thou in charge; / Take to thee from among the Cherubim / Thy choice of flaming warriours”
• sender: God “Michael, this my behest have thou in charge; / Take to thee from among the Cherubim / Thy choice of flaming warriours”
• pupil: Adam “know, I am sent / To show thee what shall come in future days / To thee, and to thy offspring:”
• subordinate: Adam (Michael directs Adam during the prophetic vision.) “Ascend This hill; let Eve (for I have drenched her eyes) Here sleep below; while thou to foresight wakest;”

Book 12

• pupil: Adam “This having learned, thou hast attained the sum / Of wisdom; hope no higher”
• with Eve (Michael escorts Eve from Eden.) “In either hand the hastening Angel caught / Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate / Led them direct”
• with Adam (Michael escorts Adam from Eden.) “In either hand the hastening Angel caught / Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate / Led them direct”

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Extracted from the original text of Paradise Lost. Made with Rho MD.