Beleth: The Terrible King of Hell
The demon Beleth, also known as Bileth, Bilet, or Byleth, is a Fallen Angel and the thirteenth of the seventy-two Spirits of Solomon. In the infernal hierarchy, he is described as a terrible and mighty king who commands eighty-five legions of demons.
Before his fall, Beleth is said to have belonged to the Angelic Order of Powers, a celestial rank associated with authority, spiritual warfare, and the maintenance of cosmic order. This former angelic status gives Beleth a powerful and commanding presence within the Solomonic tradition. He is not a minor spirit, but a ruler whose arrival is marked by grandeur, force, and danger.
The Arrival of Beleth
In the old grimoires, Beleth appears riding upon a pale horse, preceded by many musicians playing trumpets and other instruments. This dramatic entrance reflects his royal and martial nature. He comes like an infernal king entering court or battle, surrounded by sound, command, and ceremonial power.
When first summoned, Beleth is said to appear in a state of great anger. The magician must not panic, retreat, or show weakness. Instead, Beleth must be directed into the magical triangle by the magician, who points a hazel wand toward the southeast.
This moment is important because it reveals the strict ritual discipline of Solomonic magic. The spirit is not merely invited; he is commanded, contained, and approached through a framework of authority.
Courtesy, Courage and Command
Beleth must be treated with great courtesy, but never with fear. The grimoires are clear that if the magician shows fear, Beleth will lose respect for him forever. This detail makes Beleth one of the most striking examples of the psychological tension found in ceremonial demonology.
The magician must combine respect with firmness. Courtesy is required because Beleth is a king. Courage is required because he is dangerous. Command is required because the magical operation depends upon the magician’s ability to stand within authority and maintain control.
To protect himself, the magician is instructed to wear a silver ring on the middle finger of the left hand and hold it up to the face. This ring acts as a protective and symbolic barrier between the magician and the force of the spirit.
If Beleth refuses to cooperate, the magician must not collapse into hesitation. The ritual instructions state that the magician should continue with his commands, reinforcing the idea that successful spirit work depends on discipline, presence, and unwavering will.
Beleth and the Power of Love
Beleth is often associated with love, desire, attraction, and the stirring of powerful emotional bonds. In many traditions, he is called upon to inspire love between people, though his nature is far from gentle or sentimental. Beleth’s current is intense, commanding, and overwhelming.
This makes him a complex figure. He is not simply a demon of romance, but a spirit of powerful emotional force. His presence suggests the wild, dangerous, and sometimes uncontrollable side of desire. Love, in Beleth’s domain, is not passive. It is a force that can move, disturb, conquer, and transform.
According to Johann Weyer, a bottle of wine may help to mellow Beleth into cooperation. This detail adds a curious human note to an otherwise intimidating spirit, suggesting that even a terrible infernal king may be softened through the proper offering, tone, or ceremonial approach.
The Significance of Beleth
Beleth is one of the most formidable kings of the Goetia. His pale horse, musical procession, fierce anger, and demand for courage all mark him as a spirit of high rank and serious power. He belongs to a world where magic is not casual curiosity, but an encounter with hierarchy, danger, ritual, and command.
For students of demonology, Beleth represents the tension between fear and authority. He tests the magician’s nerve. He demands respect, but punishes weakness. He teaches that in the old grimoires, spiritual power was never separated from discipline, self-control, and the ability to stand firm before the unknown.
To study Beleth is to study one of the great infernal kings: a fallen power of command, desire, intensity, and royal force.
From “The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King” (1904) Written by S.L. MacGregor Mathers
The Thirteenth Spirit is called Beleth (or Bileth, or Bilet). He is a mighty King and terrible. He rideth on a pale horse with trumpets and other kinds of musical instruments playing before him. He is very furious at his first appearance, that is, while the Exorcist layeth his courage; for to do this he must hold a Hazel Wand in his hand, striking it out towards the South and East Quarters, make a triangle, without the Circle, and then command him into it by the Bonds and Charges of Spirits as hereafter followeth. And if he doth not enter into the triangle, at your threats, rehearse the Bonds and Charms before him, and then he will yield Obedience and come into it, and do what he is commanded by the Exorcist. Yet he must receive him courteously because he is a Great King, and do homage unto him, as the Kings and Princes do that attend upon him. And thou must have always a Silver Ring on the middle finger of the left hand held against thy face, as they do yet before AMAYMON. This Great King Beleth causeth all the love that may be, both of Men and of Women, until the Master Exorcist hath had his desire fulfilled. He is of the Order of Powers, and he governeth 85 Legions of Spirits. His Noble Seal is this, which is to be worn before thee at working.
From the Luciferian Goetia ( 2007 ) – Written by Michael Ford
“Beleth/Bileth or Bilet is a King whom appears Mighty and Terrible. Beleth is summoned and manifests upon a pale horse with musical instruments like horns playing near him. He does appear in flames and very angry, the magician even if working with the black mirror will want to silently create a triangle in the South and East Quarters, and command the spirit to take a calm form. When the flames cease, he appears as a King like older man with a long beard. Being of the Order of Powers, he does govern 85 Legions of spirits. Beleth is a useful Love Spell Spirit, whom you would will your desire to become flesh. “
From the “Pseudomonarchia Daemonum” ( 1583 ) Written by Johann Weyer (Johann Wier)
Bileth is a great king and a terrible, riding on a pale horsse, before whome go trumpets, and all kind of melodious musicke. When he is called up by an exorcist, he appeareth rough and furious, to deceive him. Then let the exorcist or conjuror take heed to himself; and to allaje his courage, let him hold a hazell bat in his hand, wherewithall he must reach out toward the east and south, and make a triangle without besides the circle; but if he hold not out his hand unto him, and he bid him come in, and he still refuse the bond or chain of spirits; let the conjuror proceed to reading, and by and by he will submit himselfe, and come in, and doo whatsoever the exorcist commandeth him, and he shalbe safe. If Bileth the king be more stubborne, and refuse to enter into the circle at the first call, and the conjuror shew himselfe fearfull, or if he have not the chaine of spirits, certeinelie he will never feare nor regard him after. Also, if the place he unapt for a triangle to be made without the circle, then set there a boll of wine, and the exorcist shall certeinlie knowe when he commeth out of his house, with his fellowes, and that the foresaid Bileth will be his helper, his friend, and obedient unto him when he commeth foorth. And when he commeth, let the exorcist receive him courteouslie, and glorifie him in his pride, and therfore he shall adore him as other kings doo, bicause he saith nothing without other princes. Also, if he be cited by an exorcist, alwaies a silver ring of the middle finger of the left hand must be held against the exorcists face, as they doo for Amaimon. And the dominion and power of so great a prince is not to be pretermitted; for there is none under the power and dominion of the conjuror, but he that deteineth both men and women in doting love, till the exorcist hath had his pleasure. He is of the orders of powers, hoping to returne to the seaventh throne, which is not altogether credible, and he ruleth eightie five legions.
From the “Dictionnaire Infernal” (edition of 1863 ) Written by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy
Original Text :
Byleth,démon fort et terrible, l’un des rois de l’enfer, selon la Pseudomonarchie de Wierus.
Il se montre assis sur un cheval blanc, précédé de chats qui sonnent du cor et de la trompe.
l’adjurateur qui l’évoque a besoin de beaucoup de prudence, car il n’obéit qu’avec fureur. Il faut pour le soumettre a
voir à la main un bâtonde coudrier ; et, se tournant vers le point qui sépare l’orient du midi, tracer hors du cercle où l’on s’est placé un triangle; on lit ensuite la formule qui enchaîne les esprits, et Byleth arrive dans le triangle avec soumission. S’il ne paraît pas, c’est que l’exorciste est sans pouvoir, et que l’enfer méprise sa puissance. On dit aussi que quand on donne à Byleth un verre de vin, il faut le poser dans le triangle; il obéit plus volontiers et sert bien celui qui le régale. On doit avoir soin, lorsqu’il paraît, de lui faire un accueil gracieux, de le complimenter sur sa bonne mine, de montrer qu’on fait cas de lui et des autres rois ses frères : il est sensible à tout cela. On ne négligera pas non plus, tout le temps qu’on passera avec lui, d’avoir au doigt du milieu de la main gauche un anneau d’argent qu’on lui présentera devant la face. Si ces conditionssont difficiles, enu’écompense celui qui soumet Bylet devient le plus puissant des hommes.
— Il était autrefois de l’ordre des puissances; il espère un jour remonter dans le ciel sur le septième trône, ce qui n’est guère croyable. II commande quatre-vingts légions.
Note from Occult World :
In the Dictionnaire Infernal Beleth is only ruling 80 legions instead of 85 as mentioned by Weyer.
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