Rhodri ap Owain—Welsh villain turned hero. CP, AMOV, DP
Rhonwen Dda—Welsh/Saxon heroine DP. Healer CP
Rhun ap Rhodri—Welsh patriot; son of Rhodri. Twin of Rhydderch. Redhead. DB, hero of WTH
Rhydderch ap Rhodri—Welsh patriot; son of Rhodri & Rhonwen. Redhead. Twin of Rhun. DB, hero of WTH
Rhys ap Rhodri—Eldest son of Rhodri; hero of DB. Appears in AMOV
Roar Knutsen—Dane; henchman of Gorm in WVP
Robert de Montbryce—Eldest son of Ram and Mabelle; born in England. Becomes Comte de Montbryce. CP, AMOV, DP; hero of PIB; DOL;HK
Robert de Pontrouge—father of Peridotte HC
Rodrick Rambaud de Montbryce—son of Gallien and Peridotte; twin of Grace HC; hero SP
Roget—Malraux’s steward in HK
Romain de Montbryce—son of Robert; brother of Alexandre FT
Ronan MacLachlainn—Hero of Dark Irish Knight DIK
Rosamunda Lallement—mute heroine HK
Rosetta Venestre—Alexandre’s niece FT
Roussel—Norman;first steward of Shelfhoc appointed by Ram
Simon Hugo—Norman serf at Alensonne who murders Arnulf de Valtesse to avenge his daughter. CP
Stephen de Montbryce—Gallien’s youngest son SP
Stephen Marquand—ILDE Norman neighbour of Meltons; grandfather of heroines of HK
Suannoch Ascha FitzRam—(Swan) daughter of Aidan; heroine of SP
Sybilla de Taloche—ILDE; heroine; Angevin; widow of Denis de Sancerre, mother of the dwarf, Denis de Sancerre. Marries Antoine de Montbryce
Tandine Grisjaune (de Villiers)—lady-in-waiting to Empress Maud; friend of heroine HC
The Wolf—nickname of Lope Velasco DOL
Théobald Cormant—Norman steward; brother of Barat
Titus—giant accomplice of Godefroy SP
Torfinn—father of Reider in WVP; murdered by Gorm
Torod—Norman villain; thug, henchman of Renouf ILDE
Trésor—Cook at Ellesmere. The French word means ‘treasure’.CP
Tristan Bonhomme—Son of Honoré; steward at Montbryce
Tybaut—AMOV; steward at Shelfhoc Hall; Norman; his descendant in SP
Tyrel Venestre—Alexandre’s nephew FT
Vangeline Bonhomme—Wife of Fernand; dies in 1066; CP
Vermudo Díaz—Aragonese; villain DOL
Victoire—Cook at Domfort Castle; ILDE
Victor de Cullène—first husband of heroine of SP
Vincent Lallement—brother of heroines of HK
William de Montbryce—Gallien’s second son SP
Wilona Melton—Saxon mother of Devona, heroine of ILDE
Winrod Revandel—brother of Letyce HK
Woolgar—Married name of Ascha Bronson, widow of Sir Caedmon Woolgar, a housecarl of King Harold who died at Hastings; CP, AMOV
Mythical/Religious
Aegir—Norse god of the sea DOL
Alban—first English martyr; the city of St. Albans grew around his shrine HK
Arianrhod—Celtic goddess
Belatucadros —Welsh god of war and vengeance on enemies HC
Freyja—Norse goddess of fertility;WVP
Hel—Norse word for Hell WVP
Hospitallers—Knights of the Order of St. John DOL
Màni—Norse god of the Moon
Order of Saint John—religious order founded to help the sick DOL
Valhalla—Norse ‘heaven’
Vàr—Norse goddess of oaths
Locations
Alnwick—in Northumbria. Site of a battle in 1093 between Roger de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria, and Malcolm, King of Scotland. Malcolm and his son were killed. Agneta rescues Caedmon from the battlefield and tends his injuries. AMOV
Anjou—Geographic area of France south of Normandy. Its people are called Angevins. Normans and Angevins were traditional enemies. ILDE; HC;FT
Aragón—Medieval kingdom in northeastern Spain DOL
Arundel Castle—famous Norman castle in Sussex HK
Aure—river in Bayeux
Badajoz—city in Spain DOL
Bayeux—cathedral city in Normandy where historic tapestry of the Conquest can be viewed
Beal—coastal village in Northumbria close to Holy Island STL
Belisle Castle—Antoine’s castle in Normandie
Bianca—camp follower and cook from Genoa FT
Bolton—Village in Northumbria; location of Kirkthwaite Hall AMOV;STL
Brodeur—Captain of the guard at Montbryce FT
Cantabrian Sea—today known as the Bay of Biscay DOL
Carnac—village in Brittany; site of ancient monoliths HK
Capilla del Relicario—Reliquary chapel, Santiago de Compostella cathedral DOL
Chaca—Aragonese name for the ancient town of Jaca DOL
Civitote—site of the heroic rescue of thousands of crusaders by Caedmon and Amadour AMOV
Coll de Lladrones—Hill of Thieves DOL
Commote—A Welsh area of administration, similar to a county.
Dubh Linn (or Dyflin)—Dublin DIK
East Preston—Sussex village; sight of fictitious manor deeded to Antoine HK
Ellesmere—Location of castle given to Ram as a reward by William the Conqueror. Ram and Mabelle eventually turn a derelict Anglo-Saxon earthwork into a vibrant, thriving castle.
Flandres—medieval county of Flanders HC
Galicia—kingdom/region in the west of Spain DOL
Hastings—Site of historic battle in 1066 that forever changed the history of England and Normandy CP
Hrolla-landriht—Hrolla’s land; now known as Rollright famous for standing stones in England SP
Husembro—hidden cove on Danish coast WVP
King Stone—monolith at Rollright SP
King’s Men—standing stones at Rollright SP
Kingston Gorse—Sussex village, site of fictitious manor deeded to Antoine ILDE;HK
Kirkthwaite Hall—Ancestral home of Agneta’s family, destroyed in a raid by the Scots AMOV
Kolbrand’s Path—fictitious seat of the MakNab clan on the coast of Scotland STL
Köln—German (Saxon) town, known as Cologne in English; CA
Lande Pourri—A wooded area outside Caen PIB
Le Manio—ancient giant monolith in Carnac HK
León—kingdom/region in central Spain DOL
Lindisfarne Abbey—historic Benedictine monastery on Holy Island STL
Llansanfraid—site of Myfanwy Mabelle’s priory DIK
Malmesbury—English town site of many battles SP
Massilia—now known as Marseilles, France DOL
Mont St. Michel—Abbey church of Carolingian origin built on an island off the French coast.
Navarra—kingdom/region of Spain DOL
Northumbria—North east part of England; site of constant conflict between Scots and Normans.
Offa’s Dyke—ancient earthwork built by kings of Mercia DIK
Oiasso—today known as Irún, Spain DOL
Ouistreham—village on the French coast HK
Pamplona—city in Spain; capital of Navarra; famous today for the running of the bulls DOL
Palazzo Laterano—medieval residence of the Pope in Rome SP
Poling— Sussex village; sight of fictitious manor deeded to Antoine HK
Prestetone—hamlet on Welsh seacoast (present day Prestatyn) DIK
Pyrenees (Perinés)— mountain range between France and Spain DOL
Rhydycroesau—Welsh border village CP;DP;DIK
Rosko—port in Brittany HK
Ruyton—Location of Shelfhoc Hall
Sagrajas—site of famous medieval battle in Spain between Christians and Moors DOL
St. Winefride’s Well—historical place of pilgrimage DIK
San Juan de la Peña—monastery near Jaca; St. John of the Rock DOL
Santa Cristina—priory hospital in the Pyrenees DOL
Santiago de Compostela—Holy site to which thousands of pilgrims sti
ll flock; reputed resting places of bones of St. James DOL
Shelfhoc Hall—Ancestral home of the Woolgars in Ruyton, Shropshire, England.
Sord Colmcille—St. Columba’s Well, near Dublin DIK
Strand—Danish island principality WVP
Tamworth Castle—historical building, seat of the Marmion family HC
Túr MacLachlainn—Ronan’s estate in Ireland DIK
Via Francigena—medieval pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome SP
Wallingford—strategic town on the River Thames CP; SP
Whispering Knights—standing stones at Rollright SP
Ynys Môn—Holy Island, Wales DIK
Animals
Apollo—Izzy de Montbryce’s horse DOL
Ariel—Rhodri’s Welsh pony DP
Becca—hovawart dog at Shelfhoc SP
Bendik—hovawart dog at Shelfhoc SP
Boden—English mastiff in ILDE
Brevis—Denis’ horse HK
Brigantia—English mastiff in ILDE
Brindis—Ram de Montbryce’s horse in CP
Cob—Swan’s palfrey SP
Espérance—Cat who brings solace to Robert during his imprisonment. The word means ‘hope’. PIB;FT
Faol—Irish wolfhound; hero of FT
Fortis—Black stallion; Ram’s favourite mount; saves his life at Hastings CP
Fortissima—Rhoni’s mare, descended from Fortis DIK
Löwe—Dieter’s Rottweiler, CA
Lux—Rosamunda’s palfrey HK
Nox—Adam’s black stallion HK
Regis—Antoine’s stallion ILDE
Schnell—Dieter’s greyhound, CA
Sibell—Mabelle’s mare in CP
Souflette—donkey in HK
Thor—alaunt gentil hound belonging to Ragna FitzRam, named after Norse god of thunder WVP
Topaz—kitten HK
Velox—Hugh’s stallion in ILDE
Vormund—Hovawart breed dog; saves Dieter’s life CA
Wyvern—Caedmon’s horse; saves his life at Alnwick. AMOV
Historical figures
Adelaide—daughter of Henry I; married Holy Roman Emperor and later Geoffrey of Anjou; became known as Matilda, then Maud.
Alfonso Sánchez—King of Aragón DOL
al-Kindi—historical figure born in Basra; medieval Islamic physician; DOL
Boadicea—warrior queen in ancient Briton; also Boudicca HK
Clito—see William Clito
Curthose—see Robert Curthose
Earl of Chester—Hugh d’Avranches. Historical figure. Known by the Welsh as Hugh Vras (the Fat) PIB, DIK
Edgar the Aetheling—Saxon; historical figure. Claimant to throne of England taken by William the Conqueror. Aetheling is a Saxon term for “next in line”; appears in CP and AMOV
El Batallador—nickname given to King Alfonso, means “The Battler” earned because he fought the Moors DOL
El Cid—historical figure; Spanish hero of the Reconquista DOL
Empress Maud (see Adelaide)
Felicia de Roucy—historical figure; mother of King Alfonso of Aragón DOL
Frangipane—influential family in medieval Rome AMOV; SP
Fulk—Count of Anjou; father of Geoffrey HC
Geoffrey of Anjou (the Handsome)—historical figure;Angevin betrothed to Maud, Henry’s daughter.HC; FT
Heinrich—Historical figure; Holy Roman Emperor; CA
Henry Beaumont—Earl of Warwick; historical figure; DB
Iftikhar ad-Daula—historical figure; governor of Jerusalem DOL
King David of Scotland(Dabíd mac Choluim)—historical figure FT
King Harald Hardråda of Norway—Historical figure; pretender to the English throne; killed by King Harold’s army at Stamford Bridge; CP
King Harold II of England—Historical figure; Saxon brother-in-law of Edward the Confessor. Claimed the throne on Edward’s death; slain at Hastings by the Conqueror’s army; CP
King Henry I—Norman king of England; son of William the Conqueror; known as Henry Beauclerc; succeeded his brother William Rufus on the throne. Historical figure; PIB;HK;HC
King Henry II—Henry FitzEmpress Plantagenet SP
King Malcolm Canmore of Scotland—Historical figure. CP & AMOV
King William I of England—William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandie. CP, ILDE; historical figure
King William Rufus—William II of England; son of the Conqueror; AMOV; historical figure
Lothar von Süpplingenburg—Saxon Duke who became Holy Roman Emperor CA
Margaret, Queen of Scotland (Saint Margaret)—AMOV, CP; historical figure known for her piety; Saxon; second wife of King Malcolm Canmore; sister of Edgar Aetheling.
Matilda (see Adelaide)
Nicolas Breakspear—Pope Adrian IV; only Englishman ever to become Pope; SP
Raymond de St. Gilles—historical figure; Raymond of Toulouse; Crusader who took Jerusalem in 1099 DOL
Robert Curthose—Son of William the Conqueror; became Duke of Normandie on his father’s death; coveted his brother Henry’s throne; captured by Henry at Tinchebray and imprisoned for the remainder of his life. PIB
Robert de Bellême—historical figure; son of Roger de Montgomery
Robert of Leicester—English earl SP
Roger de Montgomery—historical figure; cousin of the Conqueror, notorious for his cruelty HK
Sancho Ramírez—historical figure; king of Aragón and Navarra DOL
Sigeric—Archbishop of Canterbury who established the Via Francigena pilgrimage route SP
Stephen of Blois—grandson of the Conqueror; became king after Henry I; HC; FT;SP
Theobald du Bec—Archbishop of Canterbury SP
Waleran—twin brother of Robert of Leicester SP
William Adelin—historical figure; Crown Prince of England, son of Henry I, drowned in 1120 STL; HC
William Clito—historical figure; son of Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy; killed at Aalst; HC
Yusuf ibn Tashfin—historical figure; Arabic warrior DOL
Other
Cairdis—Ronan’s sword, a gift from Rhodri, means Friendship DIK
Curia regis—Latin for King’s Court ILDE
Encaustum—ink
La Blanche Nef—Infamous White Ship that sank in 1120 taking with it hundreds of sons and daughters of the English nobility, including the Crown Prince, William, son of Henry I STL
Les oreillons—mumps HK
Llys (plural Llysoed)—A building that served as a royal court for a commote in Wales. Stone castles were virtually unknown in England and Wales before the Conquest
Moors—peoples of Arabic origin who conquered most of Spain in medieval times DOL
Motte—raised central bastion of a Norman castle
Nakers—medieval drums -set of two worn by drummer
Neuadd—The communal great hall in Welsh buildings
Peridot—a greenish gemstone HC
Rebec—medieval stringed instrument
Reconquista—Reconquest of Spain from the Moors DOL
Shawm—medieval wind instrument
White Ship—see La Blanche Nef
LEXICON
Fr.=French
W.=Welsh
G.=German
OE.=Old English
S.=Scottish
L.=Latin
D.=Danish
Sp.=Spanish
IG.= Irish Gaelic
I.=Italian
Ab L. by
Abaya -Arabic garment
Abbesse Fr. Abbess
A bientôt Fr. See you soon
Adelante Sp. Onwards
A demain Fr. Until tomorrow
Af Odin! D. By Odin!
Afon Dyfrdwy W. River Dee
Ahora Sp. Now
Aingeal IG Angel
Alaunt gentil Fr. Breed of hound
À l’Irelande! Fr. To Ireland!
Allons-y! Fr. Let’s go!
Alto! Sp. Stop!
Am
ici I. friends
Amour Fr. Love
Ange Fr. Angel
Anoche Sp. Last night
Ap (or Ab) W. Son of
Arrête Fr. Stop!
Arthrite Fr. Arthritis
Auf Weidersehen G. Goodbye
Au revoir Fr. Goodbye
Au secours! Fr. help!
Aux armes! Fr. To arms!
Ave Maria, gratia plena L. Hail Mary, full of grace
Barm OE. Yeast
Basta Sp. Enough!
Bella I. Beautiful one
Bébé Fr. Baby
Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus L. Blessed be Almighty God
Benedicti L. Blessed
Bien Fr. Good
Bienvenidos Sp. Welcome
Bienvenu(e) Fr. Welcome
Bliaut Fr. Medieval long sleeved dress
Brychan W. Woven blanket
Cairdis IG Friendship
Camilla Sp. Litter, stretcher
Camino Sp. Road, way
Céard sa diabhal IG What the devil!
Ceilliau W. Testicles,
C’est moi Fr. It’s me.
Chansons courtoises Fr. Courtly love songs
Cisoires Fr. scissors
Codex L. journal
Cog -type of ship
Colonus, pl. Coloni L. Bondservants, later known as serfs
Commote W. area of administration in Wales
Comte Fr. Count
Comtesse Fr. Countess
Corre! Sp. Run!
Couilles Fr. Testicles
Críost IG Christ!
Croeso-i W. Welcome
Cuirass(e) Fr. Breastplate armour
Currach IG coracle
Cú G.Dog
Cymru W. Wales
Cymraeg W. Welsh language
Da Dad, father
Dadaidh S. Daddy
Dañjer! Breton word for danger
Demesne Fr. Estate
Demoiselle Fr. Miss, unmarried woman
De rien Fr. You are welcome
Derrière Fr. Bottom, backside
Dewch yn W. Come in
Dia IG God!
Dieu Fr. God
Dios Sp. God
Ddoe W. Yesterday
Dormitorio Sp. Dormitory
Dors bien Fr. Sleep well
Draugr D. Revenant, lost soul
Droit de seigneur Fr. right of a nobleman to take a virgin before her husband on their wedding night
Dros Cymru W. For Wales
Duw W. God