Jeronimo (also known as El Desemperano) is a fictional character in the pirate novel "Bonanza" (The Confusion, volume two of Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle). His full name is Excellentissimo Domino Jeronimo Alejandro Peñasco de Halcones Quinto, Marchioni de Azuaga et de Hornachos, Comiti de Llerena, Barcarrota, et de Jerez de los Caballeros, Vicecomiti de Llera, Entrín Alto y Bajo, et de Cabeza del Buey, Baroni de Barrax, Baza, Nerva, Jadraque, Brazatortas, Gargantiel, et de Val de las Muertas, Domino Domus de Atalaya, Ordinis Equestris Calatravae Beneficiario de la Fresneda, perhaps a satirical comment on nobility in general. Despite his upper-class Spanish upbringing, he has an incredibly foul mouth. Fortunately, he is as quick, as creative and as uninhibited with his sword as with his tongue.

Events from his life are loosely based on the story of Antony Machado de Brito, related by Gemelli Careri in "A barbarous murder". Partly because this historical figure was known for his skill at fighting and his inappropriate comments[1], the fictional character is presented as a having Tourette syndrome. Some amplifications of the syndrome are used for dramatic effect, particularly an extreme depiction of coprolalia ("offensive babbling", a symptom fewer than 10% of Tourette's patiens suffer), in a way that could be classified as clinomorphism. Alternative medicine sometimes attributes Tourette's to exposure to mercury (element), which is a major theme of the Baroque Cycle.

Sources

1. Excerpts of historical text, with Stephenson's thoughts on it