Abstract: A switched reluctance motor has a rotor disposed in an annular stator and formed mainly of a stack of iron plates. The rotor has pole protrusions that face the stator. The pole protrusions have weak magnetic portions provided therein. Each weak magnetic portion has a shape elongated from a leading outer point to a tailing inner point, or a shape that has a base side extending a leading outer point to a tailing inner point and that extends from the base side in the rotational direction and in the inward radial direction. The weak magnetic portions are formed of a material that has a weaker magnetism than the materials forming the other portions of the rotor.