Anonymous
(George Chapman?)
CHARLEMAGNE, or THE DISTRACTED EMPEROR
(Perhaps the same as the lost play THE FATAL LOVE)
1584—circa 1605
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
BERTHA
Bertha is the daughter of Eudon. She marries La Busse, and helps him to solve the riddle imposed by Charlemagne.
BISHOP TURPIN
Bishop Turpin is a counselor to the Emperor Charlemagne. After the death of Theodora, he finds the ring under her tongue and discovers that this was the cause of Charlemagne's obsessive love for her. The bishop himself becomes the object of the Charlemagne's affections while he holds the ring, but he tries to use it to heal division in the court; he returns the ring to Charlemagne so that the Emperor cannot be controlled by any of his subjects.
CHARLEMAGNE
Charlemagne is the legendary Holy Roman Emperor. An old man at the time of the play, he marries Theordora at the instigation of Ganelon. Charlemagne's obsessive love for his new wife leads him to neglect affairs of state, to shun his heir Orlando, and to refuse to bury Theodora after her death in childbirth. Bishop Turpin discovers that the magical ring, which he finds under her tongue, caused Charlemagne's love for Theodora; when Turpin and La Fue hold the ring Charlemagne woos them in her place. Charlemagne banishes Ganelon for his plot against Orlando and sets Ganelon's son La Busse a riddle that he must solve to redeem Ganelon's fortunes. La Busse must come before Charlemagne on a road never used by horse or man, riding on a beast that is neither horse, mare or ass but that is nonetheless a 'usual thing for burden'. He must be neither clothed nor naked, and bring with him his greatest friend and greatest enemy as companions. La Busse solves the riddle by meeting the Emperor on a newly ploughed field, riding a mule, clothed in a net and accompanied by his greatest friend (a spaniel) and his greatest enemy (his wife). He thus regains Charlemagne's favor for Ganelon. However, when Ganelon's crimes are discovered the Emperor imposes a new sentence: Ganelon and Didier, as his associate, are to be broken on the wheel. Finally, Bishop Turpin gives the magical ring to Charlemagne in order that the Emperor should henceforth love only himself and not be under the influence of any of his subjects.
DIDIER
Didier is a courtier who has lost his own fortune and tries to rise through others. He agrees to poison Orlando at the request of Ganelon, but he betrays Ganelon and testifies against him to Charlemagne. He returns to Ganelon's service and buries the corpse of Richard for him. He is sentenced by Charlemagne to be broken on the wheel when his actions are discovered.
ELDEGRAD
Eldegrad is the mother of Ganelon, Gabriella and Theodora, and grandmother of La Busse. She plots with Gabriella to break the friendship between Ganelon and Richard. Thus, she hopes that Gabriella can win Richard's love when he is free from Ganelon's influence and disapproval. Their forgery of letters between Richard and Gabriella results in Ganelon's murder of Richard when he thinks that his friend has dishonored his family. Ganelon kills Gabriella and Eldegrad when he discovers their fabrications.
EUDON
Eudon is a courtier and the father of Bertha. He endorses the marriage of Bertha to La Busse despite the fall of Ganelon, and he helps La Busse to solve the riddle set to him by Charlemagne.
GABRIELLA
Gabriella is the daughter of Eldegrad, the sister of Ganelon and Theodora, and the aunt of La Busse. She is infatuated with Ganelon's friend Richard, who does not return her affection. Because Ganelon opposes the match, she plots with Eldegrad and forges letters in order to break up the friendship between the two men. This results in Ganelon's murder of Richard when he thinks that his friend has dishonored his family. Ganelon kills Gabriella and Eldegrad when he discovers their fabrications.
GANELON
Ganelon is the son of Eldegrad, the father of La Busse, and the brother of Gabriella and Theodora. He tries to gain influence over the throne of Charlemagne and advance his family by encouraging the Emperor's marriage to Theodora. To assist Theodora in her conquest of Charlemagne, he has provided her with a ring that makes the Emperor fall in love with whoever carries it. Ganelon urges his friend Richard to woo Theodora and father her child. He is given the office of Constable of France, but loses all his status when his plot to poison Orlando, Charlemagne's heir, is betrayed by Didier. Gabriella and Eldegrad forge a letter intended to disrupt his friendship with Richard; he murders Richard believing that his friend has dishonored his sister. When he discovers the truth, he kills Gabriella and Eldegrad. Ganelon is sentenced by Charlemagne to be broken on the wheel when the full extent of his plots is discovered.
LA BUSSE
La Busse is the son of Ganelon and a friend of Orlando. He is hostile towards his father's plots, supporting Orlando as the rightful heir. After Ganelon's disgrace, however, he loyally attempts to win back the favor of Charlemagne on his father's behalf. La Busse marries Bertha, the daughter of Eudon, and with their help solves Charlemagne's riddle in order to redeem Ganelon. He leaves the court despairing when his father's murders of Richard, Gabriella and Eldegrad are discovered.
LA FUE
La Fue is a choleric and physically unappealing clown, who serves Ganelon. He feuds with Didier before becoming the unlikely love-object of Charlemagne when he holds the magic ring. He later comes before Charlemagne in finery, having returned the ring to Bishop Turpin, and is humiliated by the court.
LEWIS
A "ghost character." Lewis is the supposed son of Charlemagne and Theodora, who dies giving birth to him. His father is, however, more likely to be Richard. His birth is described, but he never appears in the play and his eventual fate is not revealed.
OLIVER
Oliver is a friend and supporter of Orlando. He plots with Reinaldo to reduce the influence Ganelon over Richard. Going in search of Richard, he discovers Ganelon's murders and arrests Ganelon and Didier.
ORLANDO
Orlando is the nephew of Emperor Charlemagne and heir to the throne. His victories in Spain are reported at the start of the play, but he fears that Charlemagne's marriage to Theodora will result in the birth of a new heir and the ruin of his fortunes. Orlando is given to despair, preferring to comment than to take action of his own even after the birth of Theodora's son Lewis. He regains Charlemagne's favor when the plots against the Emperor are revealed, and he is granted the throne of Spain.
REINALDO
Reinaldo is the brother of Richard, and he is a follower of Orlando. He reports the news of Orlando's victories in Spain to Charlemagne. He also plots with Oliver to reduce the influence of Ganelon over Richard.
RICHARD
Richard is a courtier and the brother of Reinaldo. He is a close friend of Ganelon, who urges him to woo Theodora and father her child (thus securing an heir closer to the throne). He is loved by Gabriella, but he does not return her affection. Richard is granted Ganelon's offices and rank by Charlemagne after his friend's disgrace, and he is forbidden to see him. He visits Ganelon in secret to warn him that he is danger from Reinaldo and Oliver, but he is murdered by Ganelon under the mistaken impression that Richard has dishonored Gabriella.
THEODORA
Theodora is the daughter of Eldegrad, the sister of Ganelon and Gabriella, and the aunt of La Busse. Under the influence of Ganelon (who gives her a magic ring) she marries Charlemagne, whose infatuation with her is caused by the ring. She later engages in an affair with Ganelon's friend Richard. Theodora dies shortly after the birth of her son Lewis, whose father is thought to be not Charlemagne but Richard. Charlemagne lavishes affection on her corpse and refuses to have her buried until Bishop Turpin discovers the magic ring under her tongue and removes it.