Cast of Characters
NOTE: We chose to use the titles of most of the Mughal characters rather than their given names because those titles and names are either the only way they were identified in the historical record or are the names most familiar to readers.
The Mission Principals
John Dexter Ennis: USE TacRail veteran and titular leader of the Mission. Technology specialist for the Mission.
Rodney Totman: NUS Army Medic, former college football player. Medical expert for the Mission.
Priscilla Totman: Paramedic, married to Rodney. Medical expert for the Mission.
Bobby Owen Maddox: Up-timer and USE second lieutenant of TacRail Unit, security specialist for the Mission.
Ricky Wiley: Up-timer and USE second lieutenant of TacRail Unit, security specialist for the Mission.
Randy Baldwin: Up-timer and USE second lieutenant of TacRail Unit, security specialist for the Mission.
Ilsa Ennis: Down-timer, married to John Dexter.
Gervais Vieuxpont: Down-timer and one-time con-man, skilled linguist and father of Monique.
Monique Vieuxpont: Down-timer and one-time con-woman, skilled linguist and daughter of Gervais.
Bertram Weiman: Down-timer, spy for the USE, and distant relation to Don Nasi.
Lønsom Vind crew
Captain Rune Strand: Danish captain with experience at the Dutch trade in the Far East.
Mate Loke: Long-service Danish sailor, Rune’s second.
The Mughal Royal Family
Shah Jahan: Emperor of India, Sultan of Sultans.
Asaf Khan: Father-in-law of Shah Jahan, General and Governor in his own right.
Nur Jahan: Wife of Jahangir, Shah Jahan’s father.
Jahanara Begum: Eldest daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
Dara Shikoh: Eldest son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
Shah Shuja: Second son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
Aurangzeb: Third son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
Roshanara: Second daughter of Shah Jahan.
Murad: Fourth son of Shah Jahan, child.
Guaharara: Third daughter of Shah Jahan, toddler.
Umara and other Notables of Shah Jahan’s Court
Mullah Mohan: Orthodox mullah of renown and repute, one-time student of Mian Mir.
Mukhlis Khan: General and Umara in Dara’s princely establishment but imperial employee.
Baram Khan: Noble of Jahangir’s court that served Nur against Shah Jahan’s bid for the throne.
The Harem
Diwan Garyan: Chief eunuch and manager of Shah Jahan’s harem.
Firoz Khan: Eunuch harem manager.
Smidha: Jahanara’s eldest and most trusted advisor.
Gargi: Nur Jahan’s advisor.
Tara: Gargi’s chief lieutenant.
Atisheh: Chief among the female harem guards.
Gulruhk: Female harem guard.
Umida: Female harem guard.
Ratna: Harem astrologer.
Prasad: Eunuch, harem slave entrusted with Jahanara’s personal messages.
Sahana: Harem slave purchased by the court from Jadu Das to serve as translator.
Gopal: Jahanara’s mahout.
Navin: Stableboy of the royal household.
Dara Shikoh’s Princely Household
Nadira Begum: Dara’s wife and cousin.
Suleiman: Dara’s infant son.
Talawat: Gunsmith, part of Dara Shikoh’s princely establishment.
Kwaja Magul: Eunuch advisor employed by the emperor to serve Dara.
Mohammed: Captain of Dara’s personal guard, appointed by Shah Jahan.
Suleiman Khan: A captain of Dara’s forces and his foster brother.
Aurangzeb’s Princely Household
Mahabat Khan: A captain of cavalry troop.
Carvalho: Portuguese artillery captain and mercenary.
Samarjit Khan: Rajput commander and zamindar.
Sikhs
Hargobind Singh: Sixth Guru of the Sikh religion.
Bhidi Chand: Disciple of Sixth Guru.
Others of note
Amir Salim Gadh Visa Yilmaz: Afghan adventurer who returns to India with up-timer histories, student of Mian Mir.
Iqtadar Yilmaz: Afghan cousin of Salim.
Tariq Yilmaz: Afghan kinsman of Salim.
Angelo Gradinego: Venetian con-man, now debt-slave to Surat’s Diwan.
Jadu Das: Hindu merchant in Agra, old ally of Salim.
Dhanji Das: Hindu merchant in Surat, sibling of Jadu.
Mian Mir: Sufi Saint, teacher to two generations of Timurid princes and friend to the Sikhs.
Kashif Khan: Eunuch Diwan in charge of Jahanara’s affairs in Surat.
Murad Reis: Dutch convert to Islam and pirate.
Zuberi: Swahili trader and resident of Moçambique.
Joao De Melo: Portuguese New Christian kinsman of Bertram and Nasi, trader in Moçambique.