A Duke, and General recently returned from a successful campaign. He is loved by Amarantha, but is in love with Arthiopa, whom he has been supporting financially. On his return, he determines to marry Arthiopa despite the public charges of unchastity against her. His fidelity to her is constant despite a number of obstacles:
the Prince's attempts to marry Arthiopa himself,
capture and imprisonment,
first by the Prince, and
then by Heildebrand and Galeotto, and
the kindness of Amarantha.
He kills Galeotto in a duel then fights Heildebrand and is fatally wounded. He dies with Arthiopa.
AMARANTA
Galeotto's daughter, she is as kind and virtuous as her father is evil. She tries to defend Arthiopa, her rival, against charges of unchastity. Sent by Ascoli to undermine Altophil's loyalty to Arthiopa, she rescues the couple and helps Arthiopa to escape from the advances of Heildebrand. When Altophil kills her father, she kills herself in grief and horror.
ARTHIOPA
Daughter of a former Veronese general, she is the betrothed of Altophil. Left a pauper by her father, she has been maintained by Altophil. At the beginning of the play, she has been accused of unchastity and forced to perform public penance. Though she insists that her lover not ruin his reputation by marrying her, she agrees to marry him. She is prevented by the Prince's sudden determination to marry her himself. She is rescued by her rival Amarantha, but is ravished by Heildebrand, King of the Lombards, and dies in the same moment as her wounded lover Altophil.
ASCOLI
Prince of Verona. He investigates and vindicates Arthiopa on charges of unchaste behavior. He then dismisses Galeotto, who has falsely accused her, but then falls in love with her himself. He arrests and separates the lovers, Arthiopa and Altophil, hoping that he can persuade Altophil to marry Amarantha instead. He loses control of Verona when Galeotto betrays him to Heildebrand. He returns to power at the end of the play and vows to erect a monument to the three dead unfortunate lovers, Altophil, Amarantha, and Arthiopa.
BRUSCO
An old soldier. Rampino's companion, he assists him in deceiving his creditors and remains loyal to the Prince as long as possible.
CAPUCHIN
Accompanies Arthiopa in her public penance.
FIBBIA
One of Rampino's creditors, she is easily deceived by his promises of future employment at court.
FRISKIN
A tailor to whom Rampino owes money. He is promised that he will be employed by the new King, Heildebrand.
GALEOTTO
An advisor to the young Prince. He schemes to have his daughter Amarantha marry Altophil by arranging for Arthiopa to be falsely accused of unchastity. Stripped of his position for his misdeed, he then shifts his allegiance to Heildebrand, King of the Lombards, and arranges to have Altophil personally deliver Arthiopa to Heildebrand. He is briefly disturbed when Heildebrand wishes to seduce Amarantha, but persuades him to accept Arthiopa instead. He fights a duel with, and is killed by, Artophil.
GANDOLPHO
Morello's brother, he is also the captain of the fort in Verona, and at Galeotto's request, delivers the fort into the power of Heildebrand. He then repents and frees Ascoli.
HEILDEBRAND
King of the Lombards. He takes over Verona and tries to seduce Amarantha, then Arthiopa. Briefly persuaded by Arthiopa to respect her virtue, he changes his mind and ravishes her instead. He fights with, and is killed by, Artophil, wounding him fatally in the process.
HIRCO
A young soldier, friend of Rampino, he is also loyal to the Prince as long as possible and assists Rampino in getting the better of his creditors.
MORELLO
A follower of Galeotto's, he persuades his brother Gandolpho to betray the Prince and turn over the fort to Heildebrand.
RAMPINO
Loyal to the Prince–most of the time–Rampino is continually harassed by his creditors Fibbia and Friskin. When he reluctantly surrenders to Heildebrand, he convinces them that he can obtain for them court appointments, thus temporarily ridding himself of their importunities.
RANGONE
A Count, and captain of the Guard, he is active in freeing the prince and in foiling the designs of Heildebrand.