Character guide

Imogen

major

Also known as Fidele, Innogen

Daughter of Cymbeline, secretly married to Posthumus, disguises herself as a boy named Fidele.

Posthumus Leonatus

major

Also known as Leonatus, Posthumus

Imogen's banished husband, wagers on her fidelity, later fights for Britain.

Cymbeline

major

King of Britain, father of Imogen and the lost princes, conflicted between Rome and Britain.

Cloten

major

Queen's boorish son, pursues Imogen and plots against Posthumus.

Queen

supporting

Cymbeline's scheming wife, mother of Cloten, plots to poison Imogen.

Pisanio

supporting

Loyal servant to Posthumus and Imogen, helps Imogen escape.

Belarius

supporting

Also known as Morgan

Exiled nobleman who raised Cymbeline's lost sons in the Welsh mountains.

Guiderius

supporting

Also known as Polydore, Cadwal

Cymbeline's lost son, raised by Belarius, kills Cloten.

Arviragus

supporting

Also known as Cadwal

Cymbeline's younger lost son, raised by Belarius, befriends Fidele.

Iachimo

supporting

Also known as Signior Iachimo

Italian villain who wagers on Imogen's chastity and deceives Posthumus.

Caius Lucius

supporting

Also known as Lucius

Roman ambassador and general, later captured by the Britons.

Philario

minor

Posthumus's host in Rome, friend to Iachimo.

Cornelius

minor

Court physician who gives the Queen a harmless potion instead of poison.

Sicilius Leonatus

minor

Also known as Sicilius

Ghost of Posthumus's father, appears in Jupiter's vision.

Jupiter

minor

King of the gods, descends in a vision to comfort Posthumus.

Euriphile

minor

Deceased wife of Belarius, mother figure to the lost princes.

First Lord

minor

Attendant lord in Cymbeline's court, often with Cloten.

Second Lord

minor

Another lord in court, critical of Cloten.

Julius Caesar

minor

Also known as Caesar

Historical Roman leader, mentioned as having conquered Britain.

Augustus Caesar

minor

Also known as Augustus

Roman emperor during the play's events, demands tribute from Britain.