Character guide

Prince Arthur

major

Also known as Arthur, the Prince, the Briton Prince, Prince Arthure

The titular knight of magnificence who aids various questing knights throughout Faerie Land.

Sir Calidore

major

Also known as Calidore, the courteous Knight

The Knight of Courtesy on a quest to subdue the Blatant Beast.

Sir Artegall

major

Also known as Artegall, the righteous Artegall, the noble Arthegall

The Knight of Justice, sent to rescue Irena from the tyrant Grantorto.

Sir Guyon

major

Also known as Guyon, the good Guyon

The Knight of Temperance who destroys the Bower of Bliss.

Britomart

major

Also known as fayre Britomart, the warlike Britonesse, the brave Mayd

The female Knight of Chastity who seeks her destined love Artegall.

Redcrosse Knight

major

Also known as the Redcrosse Knight, Saint George

The Knight of Holiness, champion of Una, who slays the dragon.

Una

major

Also known as Fayre Una, Dame Una, Fidelia

The daughter of a king, representing Truth, who travels with the Redcrosse Knight.

Florimell

major

Also known as Fayre Florimell, the snowy Florimell

A beautiful lady pursued by many knights, beloved of Marinell.

Marinell

supporting

Also known as Sir Marinell, the lucklesse Marinell

A knight protected by his mother from love, later won by Florimell.

Talus

supporting

Also known as swift Talus, the Souldan

Artegall's iron man squire, an invincible enforcer of justice.

Duessa

major

Also known as false Duessa, Fidessa, the proud Duessa

A deceitful sorceress representing Falsehood, antagonist to Una.

Archimago

supporting

Also known as subtill Archimago, Archimage

An evil enchanter who creates illusions to deceive knights.

Scudamour

supporting

Also known as Sir Scudamour, the gentle Scudamour

A knight who seeks to rescue his lady Amoret from the enchanter Busirane.

Amoret

supporting

Also known as the gentle Amoret, fayrest Amoret

The lady of Scudamour, imprisoned by Busirane and later rescued by Britomart.

Sir Calepine

supporting

Also known as Calepine, the good Sir Calepine

A courteous knight who aids Serena and battles the Blatant Beast.

Serena

minor

Also known as the faire Serena, Of faire Serena

A lady rescued by Sir Calepine from a savage attack.

Pastorella

supporting

Also known as Fayre Pastorell, faire Pastorella, the fayrest Pastorell

A shepherdess beloved by Sir Calidore, later revealed to be of noble birth.

Braggadocchio

supporting

Also known as Braggadochio, Proud Braggadocchio

A boastful and cowardly knight who steals Florimell's girdle.

Trompart

minor

Also known as crafty Trompart

Braggadocchio's cunning squire.

Belphebe

supporting

Also known as Belphœbe, the faire Belphebe

A chaste huntress and twin sister of Amoret, representing pure beauty.

Timias

supporting

Also known as young Timias, the foule foster Timias

Prince Arthur's loyal squire, who falls in love with Belphebe.

Satyrane

supporting

Also known as Sir Satyrane, the good Sir Satyrane

A half-satyr knight known for his strength and hospitality.

Paridell

supporting

Also known as Sir Paridell, false Paridell, Sir Paridel

A deceitful and lustful knight who seduces Hellenore.

Hellenore

minor

Also known as Dame Hellenore

The unfaithful wife of Malbecco who elopes with Paridell.

Malbecco

minor

Also known as IX Malbecco

A jealous old husband who is tormented by his wife's infidelity.

Radigund

supporting

A warrior queen of the Amazons who defeats and enslaves Artegall.

Merlin

minor

Also known as the great Magitien Merlin

The legendary wizard who prophesies Britomart's destiny.

Gloriana

supporting

Also known as Gloriane, the Faery Queene

The Faerie Queene who sends knights on their quests.

Palmer

supporting

Also known as the Palmer, Sir Palmer

Guyon's wise and temperate guide on his quest.

Mammon

minor

Also known as Forthy great Mammon

The demon of wealth who tempts Guyon in his cave.

Pyrochles

minor

Also known as rash Pyrochles, Lord Pyrochles

A fiery and wrathful knight, brother of Cymochles.

Cymochles

minor

Also known as proud Cymochles

A knight of intemperance and brother of Pyrochles.

Até

minor

Also known as vile Atè

The goddess of discord and mischief who stirs up strife.

Cambell

supporting

Also known as Cambell victour, Cambel

A knight who fights for his sister's love in Book IV.

Triamond

supporting

Also known as Sir Triamond

A knight who becomes Cambell's sworn brother after combat.

Cambina

minor

The sister of Triamond who brings peace between the knights.

Blandamour

minor

Also known as Sir Blandamour

A false and fickle knight who pursues Florimell.

Grantorto

minor

Also known as the great Grantorto

A giant tyrant who oppresses Irena, slain by Artegall.

Irena

minor

Also known as the faire Irena

A lady whose kingdom is usurped by Grantorto, rescued by Artegall.

Mercilla

minor

Also known as Mercilla

A queen representing Mercy, who judges Duessa.

Adicia

minor

A hag representing Injustice, wife of the Souldan.

Sansfoy

minor

Also known as Even stout Sansfoy

A Saracen knight representing Faithlessness, slain by Redcrosse.

Sansjoy

minor

A Saracen knight representing Joylessness, defeated by Redcrosse.

Sansloy

minor

Also known as the bold Sansloy

A Saracen knight representing Lawlessness, enemy of Una.

Coridon

minor

Also known as the shepheard Coridon

A shepherd who loves Pastorella but loses her to Calidore.

Meliboe

minor

Also known as old Melibœ, the good old Melibœ

An old shepherd who fosters Pastorella.

Tristram

minor

Also known as young Tristram, Chyld Tristram

A young squire who becomes Calidore's page.

Sir Turpine

minor

Also known as Turpine, the coward Turpine

A discourteous knight who attacks Calepine and Serena.

Briana

minor

Also known as the sad Briana

A lady who demands a lock of hair from passing knights.

Crudor

minor

A cruel knight who forces Briana to collect hair for him.

Alma

minor

Also known as gentle Alma

The lady of the House of Temperance, representing the soul.

Philomela

minor

A mythological figure referenced but not a character in the poem.

Medina

minor

A temperate lady who hosts Guyon and debates with her sisters.

Perissa

minor

Also known as young Perissa

Medina's intemperate sister who represents excess.

Elissa

minor

Medina's other sister who represents deficiency.

Sir Huddibras

minor

Also known as Huddibras

A knight who fights with Guyon over a lady.

Orgoglio

minor

A giant representing Pride who imprisons the Redcrosse Knight.

Despair

minor

A wretch who tempts knights to suicide in his cave.

Fradubio

minor

A knight transformed into a tree by Duessa's sorcery.

Aeolus

minor

Also known as Dan Æolus

The god of winds who appears in the Mutability Cantos.

Mutability

supporting

A Titaness who challenges the gods' authority over change.

Dame Nature

minor

Also known as dame Nature, Nature

The judge in Mutability's trial before the gods.

Jove

minor

Also known as almightie Jove, high Jove

The king of the gods who opposes Mutability's claim.

Cynthia

minor

Also known as fayre Cynthia, faire Cynthia

The moon goddess, also called Phoebe or Diana.

Faunus

minor

Also known as Dan Faunus, silly Faunus

A satyr who spies on Diana bathing and is punished.

Molanna

minor

Also known as this Molanna

A river nymph who helps Faunus spy on Diana.

Diana

minor

The goddess of the hunt and chastity.

Venus

minor

Also known as Fayre Venus, dame Venus

The goddess of love who aids her son Cupid.

Cupid

minor

The god of love who appears in the House of Busirane.

Busirane

minor

An evil enchanter who tortures Amoret with love spells.

Malecasta

minor

Also known as faire Malecasta

A lustful lady who tries to seduce Britomart.

Guyon

major

The Knight of Temperance, protagonist of Book II.

Charissa

minor

Also known as faire Charissa

A lady representing Charity in the House of Holiness.

Fidelia

minor

A lady representing Faith in the House of Holiness.

Speranza

minor

A lady representing Hope in the House of Holiness.

Celia

minor

Also known as Dame Cælia

The matron of the House of Holiness.

Contemplation

minor

A hermit who shows the Redcrosse Knight his vision.

Mordant

minor

Also known as Sir Mordant

A knight poisoned by his wife Acrasia in the Bower of Bliss.

Amavia

minor

Mordant's wife who dies of grief after his poisoning.

Acrasia

minor

The enchantress of the Bower of Bliss, representing intemperance.

Genius

minor

Also known as Old Genius

The porter of the Bower of Bliss, a figure of natural generation.

Phaedria

minor

A wanton lady who ferries knights on the Idle Lake.