Rudolph Rassendyll is the main character in the novel "The Prisoner of Zenda," written by Anthony Hope. He is an Englishman who travels to the fictional European country of Ruritania and becomes embroiled in a royal intrigue when he discovers he looks remarkably like the imprisoned king, Rudolf Elphberg. Rassendyll is characterized by his adventurous spirit and strong sense of honor. When he assumes the king's identity to thwart a conspiracy against the throne, he faces numerous challenges, including political machinations and personal dilemmas, all while trying to protect the king and restore order to Ruritania.