Porthos is a highly fictionalized version of the historical musketeer Isaac de Porthau.

Porthos, honest and slightly gullible, is the extrovert of the group, enjoying wine, women and song.

Though he is often seen as the comic relief, he is also extremely dedicated and loyal toward his friends and fellow Musketeers and stands out for his physical strength and size.

He is finally able to extract sufficient funds from an elderly lawyer's somewhat younger wife (whom he was romancing and later married) to equip himself for the Siege of La Rochelle.

The fictional Porthos is very loosely based on the historical musketeer Isaac de Porthau.