Catherine de Montsalvy


Muhammed VIII Caliph of Granada called the Poet-King	To get Arnaud back, Catherine entered the Al Hamra where she gave herself to Caliph Muhammad (she had no other choice!) - he called her Light of Dawn and was spellbound by her beauty.	After the death of his sister, Princess Zobeida - the Caliph wanted to take revenge. He proposed to Catherine to become his Sultana and his wedding gift would be the "act of mercy" that she may kill her husband, instead of suffering a terrible death! With the help of their friend Abou-al-Khayr, they were able to escape out the palace.
Princess Zobeida Woman ambasssador of Granada sister of Caliph Muhammad	Very beautiful Moorish princess who took Arnaud de Montsalvy prisoner in the town of Toledo. Her doctors were able to cure Arnaud - who thought himslef a leper - instead it was some other malady.	Extremely jealous of her Frankish Lord, she held prisoner in the Palace of Al Hamra. She treated him like a prince and did not want to let him return to France. Sensed as soon as she saw Catherine in the harem - that there was something about this "yellow-haired woman. Ordered that she be killed - by the bite of a snake. Died during a struggle with Arnaud de Montsalvy.
Mansour-ben-Zegris Cousin of Sultana Amina, wife of Caliph Muhammed VIII Owner of a palace and lands in Fez (Morocco)	When Arnaud and Catherine, were prisoner of the Caliph of Granada (Arnaud was condemned to die, he had killed Princess Zobeïda) - their old friend Abou-al-Khayr made Lord Mansour-ben-Zegris believe, Amina the woman he loved secretly, had been poisoned, so she might accompany her enemy into death. He attacked the Al Hamra at precisely the moment when the Caliph ordered Catherine to kill Arnaud with the "Montsalvy dagger"!	Loosing the battle, Lord of Mansour-ben-Zegris, had to leave Granada. He agreed to take along Catherine, Arnaud, Josse, Marie Vermeille and Gauthier to Almeria - so they may take a ship to France. On their flight, they were attacked by Faradj, a famous bandit. Arnaud de Montsalvy, barely healed from his grave wounds, sprang out of the litter, tore off his blue draperies and joined Lord Mansour - calling for a horse and weapon. Impressed by the Frankish Lord he called him a valiant fighter and the same time, offering to take Gauthier in his service as his lieutenant.
Fatima Bath Attendant at the Hamman	When Catherine arrived at Granada, she went quickly in search of her old friend Abou-al-Khayr. Abou-al-Khayr sent Catherine to Fatima, an enormous Ethiopian, bath-attendant of the Hamman in Granada. After her trial to arrive in Granada in search of Arnaud, she was in a sorry state! It was his opinion that she needed a bit of a brush-up before she was ready to fight against a beautiful enemy like Princess Zobeïda, whose prisoner Arnaud de Montsalvy was at that moment!	When Catherine was brought to her, Fatima believed that Abou had bought her off a barbarian ship anchored in Almeria, to make her his mistress, that she be his comfort in older days!! It was said that Fatima was the ugliest of women in the eyes of Abou-al-Khayr - but she was more skilful than anyone, to change a work-worn mule into a sprightly mare with a gleaming coat! She set to work and called Catherine "Light of Dawn". She told Catherine she would not leave, until she was fit for her masters bed! Though having the Caliph in mind! read more in the Lexicon about Fatima...
Morayma Keeper of the Harem in Granada	Informed by Fatima, the bath-attendant, Morayma, came for "Light of Dawn" - to see if she was worth to become one of the caliph's women. Before she agreed to take Catherine, she treated her like a "horse" bought on a fair! Catherine swallowed her anger - her goal was to enter the Al Hamra at all cost! Clever Morayma saw at first sight, that "Light of Dawn" was a real pearl for her master the Caliph.	She brought Catherine to a room with about 50 women!. She warned them, that no "harm" should come to Light of Dawn! She introduced her to the Caliph, who chose her as his new "favourite". She was given the rooms of Anima, the Sultana, who did not live in the palace anymore. Her rooms were guarded, because the Caliph was afraid something might happen to her! As the new favourite, Morayama watched over Catherine, and did everything so Light of Dawn should be happy and please her master! She was afraid of the Caliph's sister Zobeïda!
Gauthier de Chazay Son of Contran de Chazay & Marie-Adelaide de Saint-Rivey Orphan his château was burned down.	Is sent by his greedy uncle to Paris to study at the Collége de Navarre. Is freed out of the Bastille - with the help of Tristan l'Hermite - who was asked for help by Béranger. Is taken into Catherine's service as her squire.	Proves himself worthy of her trust many a time. Is like an older brother to young Béranger. Saves Arnaud de Montsalvy's live, when he gets wounded at Châteauvillain. When Catherine returns to Montsalvy - he remains in her household. Together with Béranger, they bring Abbé Bernard back to Montsalvy - to help Catherine, who was then forbidden to enter her castle at Montsalvy - or leave it when the pest raged in Montsalvy.
Comtesse Mathilde Roquemaurel de Cassaniouze. widow of Ausbert mother of Renaud, Amaury, Béranger	The family of the Roquemaurel was once very rich and powerful. But the great "passion" of her deceased husband Ausbert, for drinking and brawls - which his two elder sons had inherited from him - left the family poor. However, Dame Mathilde did not let her guests suffer for that. Her hospitality was superior.	Comtesse Mathilde, a corpulent lady with a warm heart, did fully understand Catherine, when she refused to to take "revenge" on Arnaud de Montsalvy because of his behaviour towards his wife! She had promised to look after Catherine's children Michel and Isabelle - in case she would not return from Montsalvy, where the Black Death had entered.
Béranger de Roquemaurel of Cassaniouze. Son of Ausbert and Dame Mathilde.	Joined the Montsalvy household as a page, at the age of fourteen. Has two elder brothers " Amaury and Renard" known for their fighting and drinking - wheras Béranger is a dreamer - and secretly adores his fifteen year old cousin "Hauvette de Montarnal"	Accompanies his lady to Paris - to warn Arnaud de Montsalvy. Despite his youth - his a very brave and faithful lad, who would die for Catherine. Is in awe of his lord Arnaud de Montsalvy. Was almost killed by "Robert de Saarebrück's men at Châteauvillain.
Amaury & Renaud Roquemaurel of Cassaniouze. Sons of Ausbert and Dame Mathilde.	Childhood friends of Arnaud de Montsalvy. They lived also in the Auvergne, together with their mother Mathilde. The brothers thought very highly of their liege lord Comte Arnaud de Montsalvy. They had followed him gladly to Paris - to be freed of the English	Renaud, lord of Roquemaurel gave Sara and Catherine's children refuge, after Arnaud de Montsalvy had returned to Montsalvy with a bunch of cutthroats. Was not afraid of his friend Arnaud who had threatened him - yelling at him Catherine could stay at his castle as long as she liked - reminding him of the day he had to leave for the Valley of Calves and of all his wife had done for him. Saying: You have a short memory Montsalvy, and you give me desire to vomit"...
Josse Rallard former begger and thief from the streets of Paris. Becomes steward in the Montsalvy household.	Meets Catherine on the road to Compostela. She saves twice his life and does not betray him - for stealing the rubies of Sainte-Foy. Swears to serve her from that moment on. Accompanies her to Granada - to free Arnaud, who is prisoner of a Moorish Princess.	Falls in love with the beautiful Marie Vermeille and marries her. Is now stewart in Montsalvy . Is left at Montsalvy- to protect the women and old, when their Lord goes to Paris to fight against the English. Shows himself worthy of their friendship when the pest is at Montsalvy. Going with Catherine and Sara to Montsalvy, while the pest has arrived there.
Marie Rallard Marie Vermeille/Aïcha Waiting lady in charge of Catherine's wardrobe and laundry at Montsalvy	Young girl from Burgundy, daughter of a Beaune wine-growner. Ran away from home with her cousin - who sold her to a slave-merchant - lands in the Caliph's harem - where she met Catherine - after Catherine and Arnaud's escape out of Granada - they take Marie with them to Montsalvy. Where she eventuelly marries Josse Rallard.	Warns Catherine to be careful of the beautiful Azalaïs. When Montsalvy is attacked by the d'Apchier - flees with Sara and the children to Carlat. Finds refuge later at Roquelmaurel with her husband, Sara and Catherine's children - when the lord of Montsalvy returned and was not himself. Is expecting a child from Josse Rallard, whom she married and is very happy.
Elisabeth of Görlitz Duchess of Luxembourg aunt of Philippe of Burgundy through her first husband	In search of the false Jeanne d'Arc - Catherine comes into the city of Luxembourg. She asks for an audience by none other than the Duchess Elisabeth. She receives the Comtesse de Montsalvy more than unfriendly not wanting to believe that this Jeanne she was supporting - could be an adventuress!	The Duchess, began to believe Catherine when she realized who Catherine had been, before she became the Comtesse de Montsalvy. Claude des Armoises was unmasked - the Duchess was extremely disappointed and sent her into exile. The only reason she did not put her into the deepest dungeon, was that she loved Seigneur Robert des Armoises, Claude's husband very much, who was a brave and valiant knight.
Claude des Armoises the false "Jeanne d'Arc" wife of Robert des Armoises	Catherine hears the first time of the "false Jeanne" when she meets her husband at "Châteauvillain". Her husband who has joined the terrible Le Damoiseau (thinking he is condemned to death now called "Captain La Foudre" telling her, he is again serving her! Even though Catherine reminds him that they saw her being burned at the stake in Rouen!	Catherine who has gone in search of this so called "Jeanne" - and proofs to the Duchess of Görlitz, that Claude/Jeanne is an impostor. She asks the young girl where they have med the first time and under what circumstances! Claude's answer is wrong - she cannot know that it was Jeanne d'Arc who saved Catherine's live at Orléans.

Jean de Blaisy
Abbot of Saint-Seine
cousin of
Ermengarde de Châteauvillain

Escaping from Garin de Brazey her own husband - Catherine finds refuge at the Abbey of Saint-Seine, which was a place of asylum. The prior is the aristocrat Messire Jean de Blaisy, a man of boundless charity. The Countess Ermengarde also goes to join Catherine and Sara and pleads for her case. She explains him sharply, that the best way to make himself an enemy of Philippe of Burgundy, would be to hand over Madame de Brazey to her "charming husband"!

He explains to Catherine that her husband has every legal and religious claim over her and if he demands her return, he could not refuse. Yet when he understands the whole situation and that Catherine's life is in danger - he supports and protects her against Garin. His monastery is besieged by Garin and brigands he brought with him. Just in time, Jacques de Roussay arrives with the ducal guard! It was Landry, her childhood friend who went in search of him. They defeat Garin and his men and her husband is taken back prisoner to Dijon where Duke Philippe sentence him to death on charge of high treason.

Jean Son
chief-mason
cousin of Brother Etienne

Catherine and Arnaud, disguised as poor relatives, coming from Louviers enter Rouen, where Jeanne d'Arc is held captive by the English. He supports their plan to rescue Jeanne out of the clutches of Bishop Pierre Cauchon.

Thanks to Jean Son's, "certain" relations with the English - he can save Catherine and Arnaud out of the Seine. They had been condemned to die together, by the order of Bishop Beauvais (Pierre Cauchon) (bound into a sack) in the river. He provides them with a little boat, and advices them to go upstreams to Pont-de-l'Arche - to reach Louviers. (in the TV-Adaption of Catherine, it is Barnaby who saves Catherine and Arnaud out of the river Seine)

Lady Nicole Son
wife of Jean Son
laundry-seemstress

When Catherine and Arnaud arrive in the "Rue aux Ours" in Rouen, they are not greeted very friendly by Dame Nicole. She orders her maid Margot to give them something to eat and to show them their meager lodging in the attic.

Even though Dame Nicole has a sharp tonque - it was she who informed the Duchess of Bedford, that Jeanne d'Arc's goalers's had tried to violate their prisoner. Whereupon the gaolers were exchanged and received strong security arrangements.