Abrulges
Abrulges (Duke of the Eastern Infernal Hierarchy)
Abrulges is a spirit named in the Ars Theurgia-Goetia (often simply called the Ars Theurgia), a section of the Lesser Key of Solomon concerned with spirit-hierarchies, directional rulers, and the complex organisation of infernal powers. He appears among the spirits associated with Pamersiel, described as the first and chief spirit under Carnesiel—who is styled in the text as the infernal Emperor of the East. In this system, the East is not merely a compass point, but a symbolic domain representing authority, command, and the dawning force of will.
Within this hierarchy, Abrulges is given the rank of Duke, placing him among a class of spirits considered both powerful and highly volatile—agents of enforcement, disruption, and forceful movement. Dukes in the Theurgic model often operate as executive powers: they do not rule the entire empire, but they carry out the imperatives of higher authorities.
Nature and Reputation
The Ars Theurgia attributes to Abrulges a temperament that is anything but cooperative. He is described as arrogant and deceitful, and the text warns explicitly that he should never be trusted with secret matters. This is a significant point in Solomonic spirit-lore: secrecy, oaths, and reliability are treated as magical necessities, not social virtues. A spirit known for deception is considered spiritually unstable—one that will distort information, twist instructions, or create unnecessary complications merely for the sake of disorder.
This reputation marks Abrulges as a spirit whose primary qualities include:
Aggression and provocation
- Manipulation and falsehood
- Pride, superiority, contempt for the operator
- A tendency toward disruption rather than harmony
In practical occult terms, Abrulges represents the danger of rash alliances: forces that appear strong and useful, yet contaminate the working through betrayal, exaggeration, or covert sabotage.
The Paradox of Use: Aggression Turned to Purpose
Despite the cautionary tone, Abrulges is not framed as useless. Like many spirits in grimoire tradition, he embodies a paradox: even hostile powers can be directed when constrained by ritual authority. The text suggests that Abrulges’ naturally aggressive nature may, under certain conditions, be turned toward beneficial outcomes.
This is a recurring theme in Solomonic magic—particularly within the Theurgic current:
A spirit’s vice can become its function.
Aggression, when bound, becomes protection. Force, when commanded, becomes banishment.
Thus Abrulges and his fellow dukes are said to be employable for defensive purposes, especially:
- Driving away spirits of darkness
- Clearing oppressive presences
- Breaking lingering hauntings
- Purging disturbed domestic spaces
The text specifically notes their usefulness against entities that haunt houses, placing Abrulges within the category of spirits sometimes used as infernal wardens—dangerous, but capable of driving out other, lesser intrusive forces.
Abrulges in Haunted House Tradition
Hauntings in grimoire literature are often framed less as “ghost stories” and more as spiritual infestations: residues, attachments, parasitic entities, or wandering intelligences that linger around people, objects, or locations. A duke like Abrulges, with an inherently combative nature, is therefore imagined as a spirit that can be unleashed (under strict constraint) to intimidate, overwhelm, or expel such presences.
However, the implication is always the same: a spirit that can drive out darkness may also bring darkness with it if the magician lacks authority, clarity, or proper protection.
Occult World Interpretation
In a symbolic-esoteric reading, Abrulges can be understood as an embodiment of weaponised pride—the force that destroys obstacles, but also destroys trust. He is the archetype of the ally you can deploy in conflict, but never invite into intimacy. When called, he represents:
- Aggressive boundary-setting
- Confrontation and expulsion
- Strategic hostility
The dangers of arrogance and manipulation
In this sense, Abrulges is both warning and tool: a spirit of hostile force, useful in cleansing and banishment workings, but fundamentally unsuitable for anything requiring honesty, spiritual refinement, or confidential counsel.
SOURCE:
The Dictionary of Demons written by Michelle Belanger
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