A mute role. A soldier who enters with Caesar in I.ii..
ANDATES
A "ghost character." The Moon Goddess, Diana. She does not appear on stage, but the druids Belinus and Lantonus receive her oracle: "Loud doth the King of Beasts roare, / High doth the Queene of Birds soare: / But her wings clipt soone grow out: / Both repent they are so stout. / Till C. gainst C. strike a round, / In a perfect Circle bound. " At the end of the play, when Caesar and Cassibelane have made peace, Lantonus solves the riddle: Lion and eagle stand for the Britains and the Romans: "The Semicircles, / First letters of the Leaders names, we see / Are ioyn'd in true loues endlesse figure. / Both come of Troiane race, both nobly bold, / Both matchlesse Captaines, on one Throne behold."
ANDROGEUS
King Lud's son, the elder brother of Themantius. After their father's death, their uncle Cassibelane has become protector of Britain, the two princes being too young to rule the country. At the beginning of the play, everybody is still pleased with this arrangement. Cassibelane remains the ruler of the whole country with all its little kingdoms, but he confers Troynovant (London) and Kent to Androgeus, and Cornwall to Themantius. When he hears of Caesar's plans to invade Britain, Cassibelane sends Androgeus to the Scots and Picts to ask for help, and Androgeus returns with their combined forces, lead by Cadallan. Caesar has to flee. During the celebration of the victory, the two princes start a playful fencing match. Two courtiers, Eulinus and Hirildo imitate them, and Hirildo, Cassibelane's nephew, gets unfortunately killed before his uncle's eyes. In his anger, Cassibelane declares that Eulinus should be executed for this, whereas Androgeus maintains that Eulinus as his own kinsman should have a fair trial by the laws of Troynovant. Cassibelane still insists on his authority. Because of this incident, Androgeus and Themantius plan to fight the usurper of their throne. Together with Mandubrace they contact Caesar. Caesar returns with a bigger army, and Androgeus, Themantius and Mandubrace with the Trinobants, Cenimagnians, Segontiackes, Ancalites, Bybrockes, and Cassians join his side. After Eulinus' suicide, Androgeus feels guilty of having raised a civil war. He urges Caesar to make peace with Cassibelane, defers his rights to the throne to his brother Themantius and Troynovant to Mandubrace. He leaves the country with Caesar.
ANDROGEUS' YOUNG SON
A mute role. He is not mentioned in the dramatis personae. Mandubrace brings him as a hostage to Caesar.
ARIOVIST
A "ghost character." The German King whom Caesar has defeated before he turns against Britain (I.ii.)
ATRIUS
Quintus Atrius is the commander of the Roman fleet. He has to tell Caesar that a storm has destroyed their ships while the army has been engaged in a battle.
BARDS
As a chorus, five bards (or Poets Laureate), accompanied by a harper, sing two songs at the end of every act. At the end of the first act, they sing songs of spring and love. At the end of the second act, they sing of the ancestors, of ancient Brute who tamed the giants and founded a second Troy, of his son Locrine and Elstrid, of Leill, Rex Pacificus and Elud, Badud and Mulmutius, and in the second song they praise the living kings, Cassibelane and Nennius. At the end of act III, they rejoice over the victory, in act IV they complain Alecto's raising (the Roman army) and Landora's death, and in act V, before Mercury and the two ghosts end the play, they sing songs of peace.
BELI MAUR
A "ghost character." Mentioned in the dramatis personae. Beli Maur (or Beli Mawr or Heli) was a former king of Britain, the father of Lud, Cassibelane and Nennius.
BELINUS
A chief Nobleman. Cassibelane's counselor.
BLADUD
Only mentioned. Former King of Britain, founder of Bath, mentioned in the Bards' song in act II.
BRENNUS
In the introduction to the play, Mercury enters with the ghosts of Brennus and Camillus. Brennus was the leader of the Gauls who crossed the Appenine in 391 AD, annihilated a Roman army of 40,000 men at the Allia in 390 AD, and then ransacked Rome. M. Furius Camillus was the Roman dictator who finally drew the Gauls under Brennus from the city (cf. Plutarch, Lives, "Camillus"). The two warriors are in complete armor, they have their swords drawn and want to continue their fight, till Mercury tells them that they cannot kill each other because have already been dead for a long time. But now, so many years later, Romans and Britains are again at war, and the two ghosts should incite their countrymen. In scene II.vii, the ghost of Brennus appears and speaks to Nennius and the ghost of Camillus to Caesar. Caesar later mentions that Camillus visits him every night, and after Nennius' death, Cassibelane mentions that Brennus has visited him. At the end of the play, they comment on the braveness of their countrymen, and Mercury has the two ghosts become friends at last.
BRITAEL
King of Demetia (Wales), a follower of Cassibelane.
BRUTE
Only mentioned. The Trojan Brute is the legendary founder of Troynovant (London) and the first King of Britain.
CADALLAN
A "ghost character." He comes with an army of 18,000 Picts and Scots to join Cassibelane's army against Caesar.
CAESAR'S DAUGHTER
A "ghost character." She does not appear on stage, but Caesar hears of her death after he has lost the first battle against Cassibelane.
CARVILIUS
Petty King in Kent. The "four Kings of Kent" (Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus and Segonax) are followers of Cassibelane.
CAMILLUS
In the introduction to the play, Mercury enters with the ghosts of Brennus and Camillus. Brennus was the leader of the Gauls who crossed the Appenine in 391 AD, annihilated a Roman army of 40,000 men at the Allia in 390 AD, and then ransacked Rome. Marcus Furius Camillus was the Roman dictator who finally drew the Gauls under Brennus from the city (cf. Plutarch, Lives, "Camillus"). The two warriors are in complete armor, they have their swords drawn and want to continue their fight, till Mercury tells them that they can no longer kill each other because have already been dead for a long time. But now, so many years later, Romans and Britains are again at war, and the two ghosts should now incite their countrymen. In scene II.vii, the ghost of Brennus appears to Nennius and the ghost of Camillus to Caesar. Caesar later mentions that Camillus visits him every night, and after Nennius' death, Cassibelane mentions that Brennus has visited him. At the end of the play, the two ghosts comment on the braveness of their descendants, and Mercury convinces them to become friends at last.
CASSIBELANE
Beli Maur's son, Nennius' brother. Cassibelane became Protector of Britain when his brother Lud, the former King of Britain, died, because the two princes Androgeus and Themantius were too young to rule the country. At the beginning of the play the two princes are still pleased with this arrangement. Cassibelane remains the ruler of the whole country with all its little kingdoms, but he keeps his court at Verulam and confers Troynovant (London) and Kent to Androgeus, and Cornwall to Themantius. When he hears of Caesar's plans to invade Britain, he sends his kinsmen to all parts of Britain to raise an army and he immediately gets support from all the kingdoms. He refuses to pay tribute to Rome and to send noble ladies as hostages, and he answers Caesar's demands with a letter in which he points out that their two nations are equal as they are both of Trojan origin. Caesar's first attempt at conquering Britain is not successful. The Romans are defeated and Caesar has to flee. After the funeral of Cassibelane's brother Nennius the Britains celebrate their victory. During this celebration Androgeus and Themantius play at foils, and two courtiers, Eulinus and Hirildo, start to play too. Hirildo, Cassibelane's nephew, is unfortunately killed before his uncle's eyes. Cassibelane gets angry and declares that Eulinus has to die, whereas Androgeus maintains that Eulinus as his own kinsman should have a fair trial by the laws of Troynovant. Eulinus escapes, but Cassibelane still insists on his authority. Because of this incident, Androgeus and Themantius plan to fight the usurper of their throne. Together with Mandubrace they contact the Romans. Caesar's second invasion is more successful now, although he loses his ships in a storm. Following his counselor's advice, Cassibelane goes to Caesar and offers peace. Caesar accepts, they exchange gifts and become friends, but Caesar can still set up the conditions: Cassibelane remains in power till he dies, Themantius instead of Androgeus shall then wear the crown, Mandubrace shall get Troynovant, and Britain shall pay a yearly tribute of 3,000 pound silver to Rome.
CASSIBELAUNUS
Imperator Britannorum, Latin name of Cassibelane
CINGETORIX
Petty King in Kent. The "four Kings of Kent" (Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus and Segonax) are followers of Cassibelane.
COMIUS ATREBAS
Officer in Caesar's army. Being a Gaul, Comius tries to help both sides, he sees himself as a mediator, and he is also used in this capacity by both sides. When he first comes to warn Cassibelane to be friendlier to Caesar, Cassibelane calls him false-hearted and a spy and has him put in chains, but after his first victory over Caesar he sets him free again. Comius and Belinus advise Cassibelane to surrender in the end.
CORDELLA
A "ghost character" (in the dramatis personae as "Lady mentioned"). Hirildus is in love with her.
CRIDOUS
King of Albania, follower of Cassibelane.
DRUM
A mute role. A soldier who enters with Caesar.
DUNVALLO MULMUTIUS
Only mentioned. Dunvallo Mulmutius was a former king of Britain, a lawgiver, whose sons have "climbed the alps" and invaded Rome, as the bards sing. Nennius in his dying speech hopes to see him in heaven.
ELDELL
Only mentioned. A former king of Britain, mentioned by Lantonus. In Eldell's reign, the gods foretold what was going to happen.
ELSTRID
Only mentioned. Locrine's lover and second wife, mentioned in the Bards' song in act II.
ELUD
Only mentioned. A former king of Britain, mentioned in the Bards' song in act II.
ENSIGN
A mute role. A soldier in Caesar's army.
EULINUS
Also spelled Evelinus. A kinsman ("nephew") of Androgeus. He is a courtier, like his best friend Hirildas, and deeply in love with Landora, but Landora is in love with Hirildas, whereas Hirildas is in love with Cordella and does not care for Landora. To please his friend, Hirildas forces Rollano, Landora's servant, to let Eulinus as "Hirildas" into her room at night. Eulinus then spends the night with her. During the celebration of their victory against the Romans, Androgeus and Themantius start a fencing match. Hirildas and Eulinus fight as well, and Hirildas gets accidentally killed before the eyes of his uncle, Cassibelane. In his anger, Cassibelane declares that Eulinus should be executed for this, whereas Androgeus maintains that Eulinus as his own kinsman should have a fair trial by the laws of Troynovant. Eulinus wants to commit suicide because he has killed his best friend in jest, but he is hindered by his kinsmen and taken away. When he hears later that his love Landora has killed herself - either because of Hirildo's death or because of the raging civil war–he kills himself, too.
FURIUS CAMILLUS
In the introduction to the play, Mercury enters with the ghosts of Brennus and Camillus. Brennus was the leader of the Gauls who crossed the Appenine in 391 AD, annihilated a Roman army of 40,000 men at the Allia in 390 AD, and then ransacked Rome. Marcus Furius Camillus was the Roman dictator who finally drew the Gauls under Brennus from the city (cf. Plutarch, Lives, "Camillus"). The two warriors are in complete armor, they have their swords drawn and want to continue their fight, till Mercury tells them that they can no longer kill each other because have already been dead for a long time. But now, so many years later, Romans and Britains are again at war, and the two ghosts should now incite their countrymen. In scene II.vii, the ghost of Brennus appears to Nennius and the ghost of Camillus to Caesar. Caesar later mentions that Camillus visits him every night, and after Nennius' death, Cassibelane mentions that Brennus has visited him. At the end of the play, the two ghosts comment on the braveness of their descendants, and Mercury convinces them to become friends at last.
GUERTHED
King of Ordouicia (Ordovicke). Follower of Cassibelane.
HARPER
A harper accompanies the Chorus of five Bards.
HELI
A variant of Beli Maur or Beli Mawr.
HERMES
Mercury calls himself "Hermes" in the introduction.
HIRILDAS
A courtier, kinsman ("nephew") of Cassibelane. Lady Landora is in love with him, but he does not care for her because he is in love with another lady, Cordella. When he hears that his best friend Eulinius is deeply in love with Landora, he forces Rollano, her servant, to let Eulinus as "Hirildas" into her room at night. Eulinus then spends the night with her. During the celebration of their victory against the Romans, Androgeus and Themantius start a fencing match. Hirildas and Eulinus fight as well, and Hirildas gets accidentally killed before the eyes of his uncle, Cassibelane. Alternately spelled Hireglas.
HULACUS
A Druid. He and his colleague Lantonus discuss the immortality of the soul and reincarnation. On Cassibelane's request, they then have to perform a ritual to get an oracle from Andates, the Moon Goddess, which Lantonus only solves at the end of the play. Towards the end of the play, Volusenus brings Hulacus as prisoner to Caesar. Caesar asks him questions about god and man, and about his own future. Hulacus tells him to keep away from the Senate house and to beware of Brutus.
JULIUS CAESAR
Caesar has conquered Germany and Gaul and is about to invade Britain. In a letter to Cassibelane he demands that Britain pays tribute to Rome and sends noble ladies as hostages. Cassibelane declines to follow these orders. For Caesar, the Britons are worthier enemies than the Gauls. It grieves him to fight his own people, as both nations claim to be descendents of Troy, but the Britons have helped the Belgians, they are rude and must be frightened before they can become friends. In his first attempt to conquer the island he loses a lot of men who drown when they have to wade to the shore in their heavy armor. Cassibelane has managed to raise an army from all the kingdoms of the island. In the battle, Caesar fights with Nennius and wounds him mortally, but he has to flee nevertheless and he loses his sword "Crocea Mors." He decides to leave the country and come back with a bigger army. Mandubrace comes as a messenger to offer the succour of Androgeus and Themantius, and now Caesar can oppose Cassibelane with a stronger force. He encounters Cassibelane's army twelve miles off the coast and remains relatively successful, but in the meantime his fleet gets destroyed by a storm. He has to accept Cassibelane's peace offer, they exchange gifts and become friends, but Caesar can still set up the conditions: Cassibelane remains in power till he dies, Themantius instead of Androgeus shall then wear the crown, Mandubrace shall get Troynovant, and Britain shall pay a yearly tribute of 3,000 pound silver to Rome.
LABERIUS
An officer in Caesar's army who fights with Rollano and gets killed by the wounded Nennius. Alternately spelled Labienus.
LANDORA
A "ghost character" (in the dramatis personae as "Lady mentioned"). She is in love with Hirildus, but he does not care for her because he is in love with another lady, Cordella. When he hears that his best friend Eulinius is deeply in love with Landora, he forces Rollano, her servant, to let Eulinus as "Hirildas" into her room at night. Eulinus then spends the night with her. Rollano, her servant, later tells Eulinus that his lady killed herself by taking poison–either because of her grief after Hirildus' death or because of the civil war.
LANTONUS
A Druid. He and his colleague Lantonus discuss the immortality of the soul and reincarnation. On Cassibelane's request, they then have to perform a ritual to get an oracle from Andates, the Moon Goddess, which Lantonus only solves at the end of the play.
LEILL
Only mentioned. A former king of Britain, mentioned in the Bards' song in act II.
LOCRINE
Only mentioned. A former king of Britain, mentioned in the Bards' song in act II.
LOCRINUS
Latin form of Locrine. Only mentioned. A former king of Britain, mentioned in the Bards' song in act II.
LUD
A "ghost character." Lud is mentioned in the dramatis personae, but does not appear as a character in the play. He was the former King of Britain, a son of Beli Mawr and the brother of Nennius and Cassibelane. When the play begins, he is already dead and his brother Cassibelane has become Protector of the country, his own sons, Androgeus and Themantius, being too young to rule Britain. King Lud leant his name to Ludgate on the western city wall and, according to at least one tradition, the word London is a corruption of his name.
MANDUBRACE
According to Caesar's De Bello Gallico (V.20) Mandubrace's father Imanuentius had been King of Troynovant and had been killed by Cassibelane. We first hear from Mandubrace in the play as a kinsman with whom Hirildo intends to go hunting. He first appears on stage when Androgeus and Themantius plan to join Caesar against Cassibelane. He says that his father has been "butchered" by Cassibelane and that he himself has now been banished. Androgeus and Themantius send him to Caesar, where he then appears "wounded and bloody" with Androgeus's son as hostage. At the end, Caesar gives him Troynovant.
MANDUBRATIUS
Latin form of Mandubrace.
MASQUE
A "dancing masque of six" enters after Nennius' funeral, and two bards sing Britain's victory.
MERCURY
In the introduction to the play, Mercury enters with the ghosts of Brennus and Camillus. Brennus was the leader of the Gauls who crossed the Appenine in 391 AD, annihilated a Roman army of 40,000 men at the Allia in 390 AD, and then ransacked Rome. M. Furius Camillus was the Roman dictator who finally drew the Gauls under Brennus from the city (cf. Plutarch, Lives, "Camillus"). The two warriors are in complete armor, they have their swords drawn and want to continue their fight, till Mercury tells them that they can no longer kill each other because have already been dead for a long time. But now, so many years later, Romans and Britains are again at war, and the two ghosts should now incite their countrymen. In scene II.vii, the ghost of Brennus appears to Nennius and the ghost of Camillus to Caesar. Caesar later mentions that Camillus visits him every night, and after Nennius' death, Cassibelane mentions that Brennus has visited him. At the end of the play, they comment on the braveness of their countrymen, and Mercury has the two ghosts become friends at last.
MINISTERS
Ministers help at the ritual that the druids Hulacus and Lantonus perform to get an oracle from Andates, the Moon Goddess.
MOURNERS
Mourners attend the funeral of Nennius in III.vii.
MULMUTIUS
Only mentioned, but mentioned several times. Dunvallo Mulmutius was a former king of Britain, a lawgiver, whose sons have "climbed the alps" and invaded Rome, as the bards sing. Nennius in his dying speech hopes to see him in heaven.
NENNIUS
Beli maur's son, Cassibelane's and Lud's brother. The "Britain Hector" is spurnt on to fight against Caesar by the ghost of his ancestor, Brennus. He fights Caesar in a man-to-man combat and gets wounded. But Caesar has to flee nevertheless and he even loses his sword "Crocea Mors." The wounded Nennius is still able to kill Laberius, too. He dies only after having heard that the Romans have fled and the battle is won. In his dying speech, he wants to have Caesar's sword, Crocea Mors, in his grave and he looks forward to meeting Brute and Dunwallo in heaven.
QUINTUS ATRIUS
Commander of the Roman fleet. He comes in IV.iv.50 to tell Caesar that a storm has destroyed their ships.
ROLLANO
He is a Belgian Gaul who has fled from the Romans first to Germany and now to Britain. In Troynovant he has become a servant to Lady Landora, and Hirildas forces him to let Eulinus into his lady's rooms at night. As a soldier, he is the typical miles gloriosus. Before both invasions he is the first to inform Cassibelane of the approaching Roman fleet. As soon the Romans have landed and the battle starts, he is afraid. He meets a Roman officer, Laberius, and tries to flee. When Laberius leaves, he brags to have put him to flight. Laberius then calls an ensign to witness, so that Rollano has to fight. But now Rollano yields immediately. Laberius, who despises him as a coward, treads on his head, beats him with his own sword and leaves him. When Eulinus, Androgeus and Belinus come, he tells them that he has made the strongest captain of the Romans flee, but he has to run away again when he sees Laberius reenter. After Nennius' funeral he is the first to have a tankard and a leg of capon at the banquet.
SEGONAX.
Petty King in Kent. The "four Kings of Kent" (Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus and Segonax) are followers of Cassibelane.
SOLDIERS
Soldiers of Caesar's and Cassibelane's army.
TAXIMAGALUS
Petty King in Kent. The "four Kings of Kent" (Cingetorix, Carvilius, Taximagulus and Segonax) are followers of Cassibelane.
TENUANTIUS
Another form for Themantius.
THEMANTIUS
King Lud's son, the younger brother of Androgeus. Also called Tenuantius. After their father's death, their uncle Cassibelane has become protector of Britain, the two princes being too young to rule the country. At the beginning of the play, everybody is still pleased with this arrangement. Cassibelane remains the ruler of the whole country with all its little kingdoms, but he confers Troynovant (London) and Kent to Androgeus, and Cornwall to Themantius. During the celebration of the first victory over Caesar, the two princes start a playful fencing match. Two courtiers, Eulinus and Hirildo imitate them, and Hirildo, Cassibelane's nephew, gets unfortunately killed before his uncle's eyes. In his anger, Cassibelane declares that Eulinus should be executed for this, whereas Androgeus maintains that Eulinus as his own kinsman should have a fair trial by the laws of Troynovant. Cassibelane still insists on his authority. Because of this incident, Androgeus and Themantius plan to fight the usurper of their throne. Together with Mandubrace they contact Caesar. Caesar returns with a bigger army, and Androgeus, Themantius and Mandubrace with their Trinobants, Cenimagnians, Segontiackes, Ancalites, Bybrockes, and Cassians join his side. After Eulinus' suicide, Androgeus feels guilty of having raised a civil war. He urges Caesar to make peace with Cassibelane and defers his rights to the throne to Themantius.
TRUMPET
A mute role. A soldier who enters with Caesar in I. ii.
UOLUSENUS
Other spelling of Volusenus.
CAJUS VOLUSENUS
An officer in Caesar's camp. Also spelled Uolusenus. He has to go to Britain as an ambassador and spy. He brings Caesar's letter to Cassibelane, in which Caesar asks the Britains to pay tribute for having helped the Gauls, and to submit ladies as hostages. When he comes back to Caesar, he says he has seen a paradise. The letter he brings back to Caesar says that the Britons refuse to follow his demands, as both Romans and Britons were descendents of Troy.