Dramatis Personae

  Italia

  Nobles

  Guilhelm - Margrave of Montferat

  Judith- his wife

  Conrad - Margrave Guilhelm’s oldest surviving son, defender of Tyre in the 3rd Crusade

  Boniface - younger brother, head of the 4th Crusade

  Commoners

  *Pons - mercenary captain to Margrave Guilhelm

  *Cyn - sargent of crossbowmen to Conrad of Montferat

  *Marius - courier and cavalry scout to Margrave Guilhelm

  Constantinople

  Nobles

  Andronikos I Komnenos - (co)Eastern Roman Emperor

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  Alexios II Komnenos - (co)Eastern Roman Emperor, son of Emperor Manuel, 2nd cousin of Andronikos I

  Maria of Antioch - mother of, and Empress regent to, Alexios II. Widow of Emperor Manuel, aka Xene (after becoming a nun)

  Anna of France - betrothed to Alexios II

  John Ducas - Sebastokrator

  Andronikos Ducas Angelos - Admiral of the Byzantine fleet, brother of John

  Euphrosyne Katamonitissa - his wife

  Alexios Angelos - their elder son

  Issac Angelos - their younger son

  Theodore Kantakouzenos - a wealthy young noble

  ^Helena - Andronikos' first wife.

  Alexios Komnenos 'the Cupbearer' - illegitimate son of Emperor Manuel

  Commoners

  *Brian the Saxon - A captain of the Verangian guard

  Maraptikee - Andronikos' favorite concubine

  Stephen Hagiocharistophrites - Andronikos’ cat’s-paw

  Pterygeonites - bearer of the chalice of Mithridatium

  Skleros Seth - an astrologer

  *Nestor - a storyteller

  *Brother Daniel - a stylite

  *Alexander “the Great” - charioteer for the Blue faction

  *Fat George - head of Constantinople’s underworld

  *Pandarus - dealer in quality slaves / pimp

  Zinthzinphitees - hunchback / seller of luck and insults

  * fictional character

  ^ historical person whose actual name has been lost to history

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