This play began life in the children's repertoire of the Queen's Revels at Blackfriars before being pirated and presented at the Globe by the King's Men. The Induction to the play discusses this incident.
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ALTOFRONTO, GIOVANNI
Giovanni Altofronto, the deposed Duke of Genoa, is the real identity of the disguised malcontent, Malevole.
AURELIA
Aurelia, Duchess to Duke Pietro, is first the lover of Mendoza, and then, as a result of Maquerelle's deception, becomes the lover of Ferneze. When Mendoza regains her favor, Aurelia tells him to murder Pietro. After the apparent death of Pietro, Mendoza banishes Aurelia and declares his plan to marry Maria. As she is banished, Maria repents her behavior to the hermit (the disguised Pietro). At a masque celebrating Maria's return to court, Aurelia is reunited with Pietro.
BIANCA
Bianca is a lady attending on the Duchess Aurelia.
BILIOSO
Bilioso is an old marshal in the service of Duke Pietro. He is verbally abused by Malevole. Bilioso alternates between favor and dislike of Malevole depending on Malevole's status with Pietro.
CAPTAIN
The Captain of the Citadel. He was appointed to his post by Altofronto, and he remains faithful both to his position and to the old Duke. He now guards Maria and leads her into the masque celebrating her return to court.
CELSO
Celso, a friend to Duke Altofronto, is the only character that knows Malevole's true identity. Celso assists Malevole throughout the play.
EMILIA
Emilia is a lady attending on the Duchess Aurelia.
EQUATO
Equato is a courtier in Genoa.
FERNEZE
Ferneze, a young courtier, is enamoured of Aurelia and becomes her lover by showering Maquerelle with gifts of jewels. After Duke Pietro and Mendoza try to kill Ferneze, he recovers from his wounds and joins Malevole and Celso in their plot against Duke Pietro.
FERRARDO
Ferrardo is a minion to Duke Pietro who is verbally abused by Malevole for his effeminate mannerisms.
GENOAN DUKES
Disguises adopted by Malevole, Pietro, Celso, and Ferneze in order to gain entry into the masque celebrating Maria's return to court.
GUERRINO
Guerrino is a courtier in Genoa.
HENRY CONDELL
Henry Condell, an actor of the King's Men at the Globe Theatre, argues with Sly and Sinklo about the play, and theatrical issues in general, in the Induction.
HERMIT
Disguise adopted by Pietro after Mendoza believes that he has successfully had him murdered. Pietro goes to court in this disguise and reports his own death. Mendoza tries to arrange for the hermit and Malevole to poison each other in the citadel.
JOHN LOWIN
John Lowin, an actor of the King's Men at the Globe Theatre, argues with Sly and Sinklo about the play, and theatrical issues in general, in the Induction.
JOHN SINKLO
John Sinklo and Sly try to sit on the stage during the Induction. They exchange banter with the actors about the rival Blackfriars theatre and argue with them about the play that is about to be performed, and over theatrical issues in general. They are finally taken to a private box, and the play is allowed to begin.
MALEVOLE
Malevole is the malcontent. He entertains the usurping Duke Pietro by railing against the members of the court, including Pietro himself. Malevole is actually the deposed Duke Altofronto who has remained in Genoa in disguise in order to seek revenge upon Pietro. Malevole reveals to Pietro Aurelia's affair with Mendoza, and helps Ferneze recover in secret after Pietro and Mendoza try to kill him. Mendoza pays Malevole to kill Duke Pietro, but Malevole reveals the plot to Pietro, who goes to court disguised as a hermit and reports his own death. After Mendoza banishes Aurelia from court, he asks Malevole to deliver a ring and a declaration of love to his own wife, the former Duchess to Duke Altofronto, in the citadel. Mendoza tries to arrange for the hermit and Malevole to poison each other in the citadel. When Pietro expresses regret for his actions as Duke, and declares his support for Duke Altofronto, Malevole reveals to Pietro his true identity. Malevole tells Mendoza the hermit is dead, and tricks him into thinking that he (Mendoza) has poisoned Malevole. During a masque celebrating Maria's return to court, Malevole arrives with Celso, Pietro, and Ferneze disguised as Genoan dukes. Malevole ultimately reveals his identity, is reunited with Maria, and is restored as Duke of Genoa.
MAQUERELLE
Maquerelle, a bawd, tricks Aurelia into abandoning Mendoza, and encourages her to adopt Ferneze as a lover instead. Maquerelle accompanies Malevole when he delivers Mendoza's ring to Maria in the citadel.
MARIA
Maria is the Duchess to the deposed Duke Altofronto of Genoa. After Mendoza banishes Aurelia and takes control of the dukedom, he reveals his plan to marry Maria and sends Malevole, her husband in disguise, to deliver her from the prison. At a masque celebrating Maria's return to court, Malevole reveals his true identity, is restored as Duke of Genoa and reunited with Maria.
MENDOZA
Mendoza is a minion of Aurelia who has helped Pietro's rise to power by orchestrating his marriage to Aurelia, thus establishing a political alliance between Genoa and Florence. Mendoza cuckolds Pietro until Ferneze displaces him as Aurelia's favorite. When Pietro accuses Mendoza of cuckolding him, Mendoza claims to be innocent and shifts the blame to Ferneze. Pietro makes Mendoza his heir, and they plan to kill Ferneze in a way that makes it appear as if Mendoza is actually defending Ferneze so that Mendoza can regain Aurelia's trust and thereby discover any plans she might have to seek revenge upon Pietro. After regaining Aurelia's confidence, Mendoza (on her instructions) pays Malevole to murder Pietro, and Malevole reveals the plan to Pietro. After Pietro, disguised as a hermit, reports his death to the court, Mendoza banishes Aurelia from court and reveals his plan to marry Maria, the imprisoned wife of Duke Altofronto. Mendoza also plans to have Malevole and the hermit (the disguised Pietro) poison each other in the citadel in a way that casts suspicion on Maria, and thereby helps Mendoza coerce her into marriage. After Malevole reveals his true identity and is restored as Duke of Genoa, Mendoza is banished.
MERCURY
Mercury is the presenter of the masque celebrating Maria's return to court.
PAGES
Three pages attend on Duke Pietro.
PASSARELLO
Passarello is a fool to Bilioso who gossips with Malevole about Pietro and Maquerelle.
PIETRO IACOMO
Pietro Iacomo, Duke of Genoa, has deposed Giovanni Altofronto (now disguised as Malevole) before the opening of the play. Duke Pietro is entertained by the railing of Malevole, who also reveals to him Aurelia's affair with Mendoza. When Mendoza convinces Pietro of his innocence, and shifts the blame to Ferneze, the two plot to kill Ferneze, and carry out their plan, though Ferneze later recovers from his wounds in secret. When Malevole reveals to Pietro Mendoza's plan to kill him, Pietro goes to court disguised as a hermit and reports his own death. Mendoza tries to arrange for the hermit and Malevole to poison each other in the citadel. Pietro ultimately expresses regret for his actions as Duke, and when he declares his support for Duke Altofronto, Malevole reveals to him his true identity. During a masque celebrating Maria's return to court, Pietro arrives with Celso, Malevole, and Ferneze disguised as Genoan dukes. Ultimately Pietro is reunited with Aurelia after Malevole reveals his identity and is restored as Duke.
PREPASSO
Prepasso is a gentleman usher in the service of Duke Pietro.
RICHARD BURBAGE
Richard Burbage, an actor of the King's Men at the Globe Theatre, argues with Sly and Sinklo about the play, and theatrical issues in general, in the Induction.
SUITORS
Mendoza dismisses "three or four suitors" at the beginning of a scene, declaring that he will examine their suits.
TIRE-MAN
The Tire-Man attempts to move Sly and Sinklo from the stage during the Induction.
WILLIAM SLY
William Sly and Sinklo try to sit on the stage during the Induction. They exchange banter with the actors about the rival Blackfriars theatre, and argue with them about the moral message of the play about to be performed. They are finally taken to a private box and the play is allowed to begin.