Dramatis Personae
Review of the characters and their position at the moment of their appearing
This story happened in the Year of Our Lord 1317 or 6825 since the Creation of the World in the reign of His Imperial Majesty Andronicus the Second, Basileus (Emperor) of the Roman Empire
The Doukas
The Doukas were one of the oldest houses in the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was no longer society of equals as it had been for centuries and noble birth was almost obligatory for a political success.
Nicephorus Comnenus Doukas: Despot of Morea (see the disctionary) and a head of the Doukas family; ex-megas logothete; leper
Anna Angelina Doukanina:(dead) wife of Nicephorus Doukas and mother of their three surviving children: Eudokia, Manuel and Alexius; niece of the Emperor
Manuel Doukas: eldest son of Nicephorus and his heir
Alexius Doukas: youngest son of Nicephorus and an officer in the Imperial army; by the will of his father he will inherit some of his lands (though most of them are given to Manuel) *.
Eudokia Doukanina Apoukaukus: daughter and edlest child of Nicephorus; married and living in Constantinople;
The Matsakes
This family came from Crete ruled by the Ventians. Whilst the local aristocrats were unsuccessful in their struggle against the occupaters, some of them emigrated into the Roman Empire.
Constantine Matsakes: steward of Nicephorus; he is also governor of the city of Mistra (the 'capital' of Morea); recognized by Loukas Matsakes as his bastard; owner of middle-sized pronoia(something like fief);
Loukas (Lucas) Matsakes: mentor of Constantine Matsakes;the man who recognised Constantine as his son; close to the Doukas;(dead)
The hetairas and their surrounding
Helena: hetaira(member of the elite class of companions; the Greek analogue of the Japanese geishas) in the service of Theodore and mistress of Manuel Doukas;
Clyo: hetaira and rival of Helena;
Maria: nine-year-old maid of Helena; Helena's pupil
David: trusted guard of Helena
Theodore: innkeeper; pimp; ex-brigand
Christopher: trusted man of Theodore; substitute of the latter when he is absent
Johns( John was common name in Byzantium; I have three unrelated with each other characters that bear that name)
Yanis (my ignorance in Greek resulted in confusing the name of Ioannis (John); There are two other Johns in the story so the incorrect form Yanis can do a good work) : servant considered to be close to Constantine Matsakes
John the Fast Sword: officer
John the Physician: physician of Nicephorus Doukas
The Philantropenus
Both the Philantropenus and the Branas were respected families that gave capable administrators and generals to the Empire
Romanus Philantropenus: high-ranked nobleman whose family (esp. his brother) is close to the Emperor; secret lover of Nicephorus before the latter became a leper.
The Branas
Theophil Branas: Chief Judge of Thessaloniki; cousin of Dyogenes Branas (look below)
Dyogenus Branas: secret lover of Nicephorus Doukas (before Romanus) (dead)
The Assen
The origin of that Roman family came from the ruling family of Bulgaria (the Northern neighbour of Byzantium). Unable to keep the power he had by birth, one of the Assen seeked help from the Romans. Whilst he could not become ruler of Bulgaria, he was successful to create a good family in the Empire. Like the case of many foreigners, the Roman branch of the Assen were soon completely romanised.
Andronicus Assen: high-ranked nobleman; first substitute of Nicephorus Doukas ; ally of Nicephorus; widower;
The Raouls and the Cantacuzenus:
The Raouls came from those Norman adventurers who chose the service to the Roman Empire. Many came but few succeeded to find their place in the conservative world of the Empire. The Raouls were one of those few. The Cantacuzenus had different fate: these were one of the influential families that were vying for prestige and power in the Empire.
Demetrius Raoul: right hand of the leader of the aristocratic opposition Michael Cantakuzenus; megas contostavlos in the Imperial army;
Michael Cantacuzenus: enemy of Nicephorus leader of the aristocratic opposition;
Others:
Kosmas: a physician; friend of Constantine and of the Doukas
George: officer and commander of the personal guard of Nicephorus Doukas;
Richard: English mercenary; currently in no service
Ephigenia: prostitute attended by Manuel the day of the accident with Manuel
___________
Other political figures:
Jesaiah: Partiarch of Constantinople; puppet master; Ally of Nicephorus Doukas(dead)
Michael the Ninth Palaelogus: son, heir and Co-Emperor of Andronicus the Second
* Unlike the case with Western Europe all the male children can inherit their father.
Dictionary:
Morea: the Byzantine part of Pelloponesus, Southern Greece.
Mistra: its main city, situated close to what was Sparta
pronoia: the Byzantine equivalent of the Western fief; at thye time of this story the Byzantine feudal system resembles the Western, though it never really had the complexed Western vassalage system; the only liege was the Emperor, though de facto there were unofficial relations between the aristocracy;
dynatoi: "strong" this is how the Byzantines called their aristocracy;
Co-Emperor: in Byzantium it was possible to have two Emperors at the same time(though, de facto, one was senior); in Late Byzantium it become practice for the Emperors to name their heirs Co-Emperors, though they kept the supreme power; yet, the co-Emperor often played important role in the government;
Notes: This story suffered ( ) few transfrormations and:
This story develops in Byzantine Morea. It is possible for the reader to see Ephesus instead of Mistra. This should be considered as mine mistake (I needed a silent place and overwhelmed by the Turks Ephesus is not). The same is concerned about the title of Nicephorus. His title is despot ( I long hesitated what title to give him). The despot is the title second of importance after that of the Emperor. It is given to influential figures ruling important provinces with significant independence (Morea is such a case).
Note(2): In the story you will not meet Byzantium or Byzantine; the Byzantines thought of themselves as Romans;
Note(3) If you find something that does not sound very logical, you can PM me. It's possible I have missed something during the updates.
Thanks to: The Guild and: Ludens, frogbeastegg; The_Flax.
And last note: I am not a native speaker. Most probably I will make mistakes in English. I would like to be excused for this ( however you can comment them – after all I should improve my language )
Also note this complexed story is not aimed against anybody or any group! ( I think nobody would claim the opposite while reading my story but I want to underline this just in case )
Bookmarks