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
