The White Devil

The White Devil Character List

Lodovico

An Italian count who is banished at the beginning of the play, and later acts as conspirator against Brachiano and Flamineo

Antonelli

A friend of Count Lodovico and a dependent of Francisco de Medici; he later acts as conspirator against Brachiano and Flamineo

Gasparo

A friend of Count Lodovico and a dependent of Francisco de Medici; he later acts as conspirator against Brachiano and Flamineo

Brachiano

Both a villain and hero in the play, Paulo Giordano Ursini is the Duke of Brachiano and the husband to Isabella; for the love of Vittoria, he has his wife and her husband Camillo killed

Camillo

Vittoria's husband, murdered by Brachiano

Flamineo

Vittoria and Marcello's brother, Brachiano's secretary, and the play's most scheming villain; he is driven by a desire to increase his social standing, but must rely on manipulation and wit to achieve his purposes

Vittoria

A Venetian lady who is first married to Camillo and then marries Brachiano, setting in motion the play's tragedy

Zanche

Vittoria's servant, an African Moor, and Flamineo's lover; she is aware of many schemes but follows her mistress all the way to death

Cornelia

Mother to Vittoria, Flamineo, and Marcello, and one of the play's few moral voices

Francisco

The Duke of Florence and brother to Isabella, he is involved in condemning Vittoria and then conspiring to kill Brachiano and Flamineo;his full name is Francisco de Medici

Isabella

The sickly wife of Brachiano, the sister of Francisco de Medici, and one of the play's few moral voices

Monticelso

A Catholic Cardinal until he is named Pope Paul IV, Monticelso is a hypocritical villain who uses his power to condemn Vittoria and then surreptitiously facilitate Brachiano's murder

Marcello

Vittoria and Flamineo's brother, and an attendant to the Duke of Florence

Giovanni

The son of Isabella and Brachiano, a seemingly chivalrous and moral boy who gains control after his father is murdered

Jacques the Moor

Giovanni's African servant

Conjurer

A disguised conjurer (or necromancer) who shows Brachiano the murders of Isabella and Camillo

Christophero

One of the line-less "ghost" characters who helps Doctor Julio murder Isabella

Guid-Antonio

A "ghost" character present at Isabella's death

Arragon

The Cardinal of Arragon; one of the cardinals present at Monticelso's election to Pope, and the announcer of the news

Hortensio

One of Brachiano's officers

Mulinassar

Francisco, disguised as a Moor while conspiring to kill Brachiano

Carlo

A member of Francisco's faction who resides in Brachiano's court, and aids the conspirators in their plan to murder Brachiano

Pedro

A member of Francisco's faction who resides in Brachiano's court, and aids the conspirators in their plan to murder Brachiano

Doctor Julio

A doctor who helps Flamineo and Brachiano poison Isabella, described as a quack and a criminal

Lawyer

The lawyer recruited to condemn Vittoria in her trial, characterized by his unnecessary use of flamboyant language

Ambassadors

Several ambassadors - from Savoy, France, England, and Spain - who are recruited to judge Vittoria's trial and later involve themselves in the plot

Matron

The matron of the house of convertities (home for penitent whores) to which Vittoria is sentenced