Character guide

Romola de' Bardi

major

Also known as Romola, Madonna Romola, Poor Romola, The Romola, Romola de ' Bardi

Daughter of a blind scholar, she becomes Tito's wife and struggles with loyalty, duty, and faith.

Tito Melema

major

Also known as Tito, Messer Tito, Messer Tito Melema, Melema

A handsome, charming Greek scholar whose self-serving choices lead to betrayal and tragedy.

Baldassarre Calvo

major

Also known as Baldassarre, Presently Baldassarre

Tito's adoptive father, a scholar and warrior, who seeks revenge after being betrayed.

Tessa

major

Also known as pretty Tessa, little Tessa, Pretty little Tessa, poor little Tessa, Poor little Tessa, L Tessa, the little Tessa

A simple, trusting peasant girl who becomes Tito's secret wife and bears his children.

Girolamo Savonarola

major

Also known as Fra Girolamo, Fra Girolamo Savonarola, Savonarola, the overmastering Fra Girolamo, Girolamo, the Frate, The Frate, Frate

The fiery Dominican friar who preaches reform and wields great spiritual and political influence in Florence.

Nello

supporting

Also known as Nello, the Greek

The talkative barber whose shop is a hub of gossip and news in Florence.

Bardo de' Bardi

supporting

Also known as Bardo Bardi, de ' Bardi, the Bardi, Messer Bardo

Romola's blind father, a passionate scholar and collector of antiquities.

Piero di Cosimo

supporting

Also known as Piero, Piero mio

An eccentric painter and friend of Tito, known for his sharp observations and strange fancies.

Bernardo del Nero

supporting

Also known as Messer Bernardo del Nero, Bernardo, Messer Bernardo, del Nero, Nero

An elderly statesman and loyal Medici supporter, Romola's godfather and trusted advisor.

Bratti Ferravecchi

supporting

Also known as Bratti, the cautious Bratti

A shrewd second-hand dealer who finds Tito after his shipwreck.

Monna Brigida

supporting

Also known as Brigida, Monna

Romola's affectionate, somewhat vain aunt who cares for her after her father's death.

Dolfo Spini

supporting

Also known as Messer Dolfo Spini, Messer Dolfo, Spini, the thickheaded Dolfo Spini, Dolfo

A leader of the Compagnacci, a rowdy aristocratic youth faction opposed to Savonarola.

Niccolò Machiavelli

supporting

Also known as Niccolò, our young Niccolò Macchiavelli, Niccolò Macchiavelli, young Niccolò Macchiavelli, Macchiavelli

A young Florentine diplomat and political observer who appears in the Rucellai garden scenes.

Monna Lisa

minor

Also known as Lisa, old deaf Lisa

Nello's deaf, elderly wife who assists in the barber shop.

Lillo

minor

Tessa and Tito's young son, who appears in the later parts of the novel.

Bernardo Rucellai

supporting

Also known as Bernardo, Messer Bernardo, Rucellai, the Rucellai, Messer Bernardo Rucellai, poor Bernardo, Bernardo Ruccellai

A wealthy Florentine who hosts intellectual gatherings in his gardens.

Fra Domenico of San Marco

supporting

Also known as San Marco, Fra Domenico, Honest Fra Domenico

A devoted follower of Savonarola who participates in the trial by fire.

Lorenzo Tornabuoni

minor

Also known as Tornabuoni, Lorenzo

A young Florentine nobleman and friend of Tito, later executed for conspiracy.

Bartolommeo Scala

minor

Also known as Scala, Bartolommeo Scala, Messer Bartolommeo Scala, Messer Bartolommeo

Chancellor of Florence and a patron of learning, appears in scholarly debates.

Francesco Cei

minor

Also known as Francesco, Cei, Messer Francesco Cei, Messer Francesco

A poet and critic who argues with Savonarola's followers.

Domenico Cennini

minor

Also known as Messer Domenico Cennini, Domenico the practical, Cennini, Domenico Cennini, Messer Domenico

A practical Florentine businessman and scholar.

Piero de' Medici

minor

Also known as Piero, clever Medici, the Medici

The exiled head of the Medici family, whose return is plotted.

Messer Naldo

minor

Also known as Naldo

A minor character mentioned in the context of Florentine politics.

Messer Luca Pitti

minor

Also known as Messer Luca

A historical Florentine figure mentioned in passing.

Maso

minor

Also known as old Maso

An old servant in the Bardi household.

Dino

minor

Also known as poor Dino

Romola's brother who became a Dominican friar and died young.

Lorenzo de' Medici

minor

Also known as Lorenzo, the lamented Lorenzo, Lorenzo the magnificent and subtle, Lorenzo the Magnificent

The late Magnificent ruler of Florence, mentioned as a past figure.

Ser Ceccone

minor

Also known as Ceccone, Now Ser Ceccone

A notary or clerk involved in legal matters.

Francesco Valori

minor

Also known as Messer Francesco Valori the archangel Michael, Valori, Messer Francesco Valori

A prominent supporter of Savonarola in the Florentine government.

Giannozzo Pucci

minor

Also known as Pucci, old Pucci, Giannozzo

A Florentine citizen involved in political events.

Goro

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or worker.

Camilla Rucellai

minor

Also known as Camilla

A member of the Rucellai family, present at the garden supper.

Politian

minor

Also known as Angelo Poliziano, Angelo, Poliziano

A famous humanist poet, mentioned in scholarly circles.

Fra Luca

minor

Also known as Fra Luca—had

Another name for Dino, Romola's brother, as a friar.

Niccolò Ridolfi

minor

Also known as Niccolò, Ridolfi

A Florentine nobleman involved in political affairs.

Ninna

minor

Tessa and Tito's young daughter.

Luigi Pulci

minor

Also known as Messer Luigi Pulci, Messer Luigi, Luigi, Pulci

A poet, mentioned in literary discussions.

Monna Ghita

minor

Also known as Monna

A minor female character, possibly a neighbor or acquaintance.

Maestro Tacco

minor

Also known as Maestro

A doctor or healer mentioned in the story.

Fra Salvestro Maruffi

minor

Also known as Fra Salvestro

A Dominican friar associated with Savonarola.

Cronaca

minor

An architect and follower of Savonarola.

Maestro Vaiano

minor

Also known as Maestro, Meanwhile Vaiano, Vaiano

A minor character, possibly a craftsman or official.

Lollo

minor

A minor character, possibly a peasant or servant.

Cecco d'Ascoli

minor

Also known as Cecco

A historical figure mentioned in passing.

Piero Capponi

minor

Also known as Capponi, Piero

A Florentine statesman and military leader.

Messer Greco

minor

A minor character, possibly a Greek scholar or merchant.

Domenico Mazzinghi

minor

Also known as Messer Domenico, Domenico, Messer, Messer Domenico Mazzinghi

A Florentine citizen, possibly a lawyer or official.

Nofri

minor

Also known as stepfather Nofri, father Nofri

A minor character, possibly a stepfather to someone in the story.

Pietro Cennini

minor

Also known as Pietro, the Cennini, Cennini

A member of the Cennini family, possibly a printer or scholar.

Pagolantonio Soderini

minor

Also known as Pagolantonio, Soderini, Messer Pagolantonio Soderini

A Florentine politician, possibly a Gonfaloniere.

Sandro

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or artist.

Ser Cioni

minor

A notary or clerk.

Fra Francesco

minor

A friar, possibly a follower of Savonarola.

Marullo

minor

Also known as the accomplished Marullo

A Greek scholar married to Alessandra Scala.

Alessandra Scala

minor

Also known as Alessandra

The learned daughter of Bartolommeo Scala, married to Marullo.

Demetrio Calcondila

minor

Also known as the venerable Demetrio Calcondila, Calcondila

A Greek scholar in Florence.

Menico Cennini

minor

Also known as Cennini

Another member of the Cennini family.

Monna Berta

minor

A minor female character.

Giovanni de' Medici

minor

Also known as the Cardinal Giovanni de ' Medici, the Cardinal Giovanni, the Medici

The young Cardinal, later Pope Leo X, mentioned in political contexts.

Niccolò Caparra

minor

Also known as Caparra, Niccolò

A minor character, possibly a craftsman or worker.

Luca Corsini

minor

Also known as Messer Luca Corsini

A Florentine nobleman.

Antonio Pollajuolo

minor

Also known as Antonio

A painter and sculptor, mentioned in artistic circles.

Jacopo di Nola

minor

Also known as Jacopo

A man who made a strange accusation against Tito.

Leonardo da Vinci

minor

Also known as Leonardo, Leonardo Bruno, Leonardo da

The famous artist and inventor, mentioned in passing.

Marsilio Ficino

minor

Also known as Ficino

A Neoplatonic philosopher, mentioned in scholarly contexts.

Fra Benedetto

minor

Also known as Benedetto, the little Benedetto

A young friar, possibly a follower of Savonarola.

Bernardo Dovizi

minor

Also known as a certain young Bernardo Dovizi of Bibbiena, Young Bernardo Dovizi, Dovizi

A witty young man from Bibbiena, later a cardinal.

Gian Fantoni

minor

A minor character, possibly a friend of Tito.

Taddeo

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant or worker.

Guccio

minor

A minor character, possibly a servant.

Messer Angelo

minor

A minor character, possibly a government official.

Aldo Manuzio

minor

The famous Venetian printer, mentioned in scholarly contexts.

Gaddi

minor

A minor character, possibly an artist or craftsman.

Lamberto dell' Antella

minor

A minor character, possibly involved in politics.

Giovan Battista Ridolfi

minor

Also known as Battista Ridolfi, Ridolfi

A member of the Ridolfi family, possibly involved in politics.