Medallion
A Concordance for John M. Ford's The Dragon Waiting
Topics A-E F-K L-Q R-Z

German: "specialized knight," roughly.

The title is held by Gregory von Bayern. It appears to exist so that engineers and scientists can wield authority in German society; see p271.

Other fiction:

In the Klingon society of Ford's The Final Reflection, the most distinguished military title is "Thought-Admiral." Like "Fachritter," this title connotes a role which has expanded beyond its original military structure, becoming something distinct, powerful, and unbounded by rules outside itself.

On: p113-114, 145, 179, 271, 288

An Italian messenger. He claims to be working for the Sforza; in fact, he is an agent of the Medici.

On: p106-111, 117, 123, 127, 130-133, 136-137, 162, 238

Seventh (highest) rank of the Mithraic mystery cult. (Latin: Pater)

On: p45, 50, 209

(1422-1477 Dragon history; 1422-1482 our history)

Mercenary, and later Duke of Urbino. Father of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro. His daughter Giovanna married the nephew of Francesco della Rovere.

Our history:

Federigo was actually involved with the Pazzi conspirators, who attempted to kill the Medicis in 1478. However, this was not known when Ford wrote TDW. See p97.

On: p62, 89, 91-96, 98, 243

(1433-1477 Dragon history; 1433-1499 our history)

Neoplatonist philosopher and astrologer.

On: p63-66, 68-70, 86-90, 97-99, 140, 230, 234
On: p66, 174

One of the great city-states of Italy. It is referred to as the "Florentine Republic," although in the era of TDW it was essentially ruled by the de' Medici family.

On: p61-99, 157-158, 180, 234, 249, 334, 340, 380

(1957-2006 our history)

Ford was not so simplistic as to place himself within TDW. However, a few story elements have some direct connection with his own life.

On: p87, 97, 113, 187-188, 363, 375, 377

(1414-1484)

Our history:

Became Pope Sixtus IV in 1471. He sponsored the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican -- it is named for him.

Dragon history:

Ruler, or more accurately Governor, of Rome on behalf of Constantinople.

On: p72, 81-82, 380

Norse goddess of fertility and love.

On: p338

A theme.

On: p39, 53, 59, 61, 146, 156, 186, 216, 222

(1449-1478)

Brother of Edward IV of England and of Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Married to Isabel Neville. Son of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and Cecily Neville, Duchess of York.

George supported Henry during his attempt to recover the throne in 1470; however, George jumped back to Edward's side at the Battle of Barnet. (See p147).

After this, he made a steady nuisance of himself -- accusations of sorcery and bastardy against Edward, the execution of some servants for supposedly murdering his wife (see p150). Eventually Edward had George attainted (see p192-193). He died in prison -- according to tradition, by drowning in a butt of malmsey wine (p195).

On: p146-153, 159, 161-162, 170, 175, 178, 183, 186-188, 192-196, 200, 311, 334, 336, 380-381

A mercenary from Alsace.

On: p215-217, 226

Senile old porter in the Tower of London.

On: p295, 303-304, 316, 320, 322, 342, 344

(1453-1477 Dragon history; 1453-1478 our history)

Son of Piero de' Medici. Brother of Lorenzo de' Medici.

On: p62, 69-78, 86, 97-99, 158, 380
See: Owain Glyn Dŵr

The world of TDW is wildly polytheistic. The Byzantine Empire maintains a rigorous policy that all faiths are tolerated, and all have equal standing in law. (See p33.) This has produced a melting-pot Empire in which Greek, Roman, Gallic, Egyptian, and other gods are held by people of every heritage. Jews and Christians also exist, though not as any great proportion of the whole.

The Empire is enough of a cultural influence that the same polytheism exists outside its borders.

Pantheons are found across Europe; the greatest of these is the Pantheon Kyklos Sophia in Constantinople (see p16).

Gods who are mentioned:

Humans described as being, or having become, gods:

But it is stated (p88) that many Roman emperors, and probably later rulers, were deified.

On: p4, 7, 17, 19, 22-25, 32-33, 37, 39, 42-50, 52-54, 65, 68, 76-77, 82, 84-85, 87-88, 91-92, 95, 105-106, 113, 118, 156, 159, 164-165, 168, 173, 176-177, 183-184, 187-189, 193, 202, 207, 211, 213, 215-216, 219-220, 223, 226, 230, 237-239, 243-244, 247-248, 253, 255-256, 269, 281, 298-299, 307, 319, 326, 328, 334, 336-339, 353-356, 376, 378-379
On: p66-74, 87-89, 99, 113, 132

German engineer and vampire.

One of the four protagonists of TDW, although the narrative does not take his point of view until p265, several chapters after his introduction.

His title is Fachritter, or specialized-knight; his specialty is guns, bombs, and artillery.

Before he became a vampire, he was an associate professor at the University at Alexandria.

On: p106-108, 111-115, 117-121, 123-125, 128-129, 131-136, 139-155, 159-161, 163-170, 173-184, 189-192, 194-196, 201-202, 204-205, 210, 215, 217, 223, 227, 244, 256, 265-272, 288-290, 299-306, 309-313, 316, 320-323, 328-330, 340-345, 351, 357-360, 362, 364-365, 367-368, 370, 376

(1472-1508 our history)

Son of Federigo da Montefeltro.

Dragon history:

Guidobaldo must have been born rather earlier than he was in our history. He is portrayed as an adult when he appears (p62, which takes place in 1477).

On: p62, 89, 94, 96, 243

French wizard.

On: p167-170, 183-184, 253

Welsh: "blood-letter"; that is, vampire.

On: p124, 144, 236

(76-138; r.117-138)

Emperor of Rome. Ordered the construction of Hadrian's Wall in Britain.

On: p269
See also: p269 (divine Hadrian)

(~1430-1480 Dragon history; ~1430-1483 our history)

Chamberlain to Edward IV of England. Married to Katherine Neville, a sister of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.

Hastings was a loyal servant to Edward throughout his reign. After the King's death, when Richard challenged Elizabeth and the Woodvilles over control of the young Edward V, Hastings supported Richard. However, Richard and Buckingham had him executed shortly thereafter. (See p306-307.)

On: p265, 273-274, 289-295, 299, 302, 306-309, 312, 314, 323-324, 336, 338, 350, 381-382

Greek goddess of sorcery and the wilderness.

On: p88

An alias of Dimitrios Ducas. Captain Hector is a mercenary, employed (as of chapter 4) by Milan.

The name, of course, refers to Hector, prince and warrior of Troy. It is unclear whether Dimi meant the reference to be sincere (Hector was lauded for his nobility) or ironic (Dimi himself is Greek, and the Trojans were the opponents of the Greeks.)

On: p104-106, 109-112, 115, 122, 126, 145, 158, 162, 214-216

Norse god; watchman and guardian of the Bifrost Bridge.

On: p211, 328
See also: p328 (hold on tight)

The Norse goddess (or giantess) who rules the realm of the dead.

On: p220, 223, 307
See also: p223 (Hel rode)
See: Solar Courier

(1133-1189; r.1154-1189)

First of the Plantagenet kings. He acquired a great deal of French territory through his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitane, and ruled over an Anglo-French Angevin Empire. Henry famously clashed with Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dragon history:

Henry signed a treaty with the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnene, agreeing to divide Gaul (France) between them.

Other fiction:

Randall Garrett wrote a series of stories, the "Lord Darcy" stories, about an Angevin Empire that lasted through the twentieth century.

On: p36, 146, 154

(1366-1413; r.1399-1413)

(Or "Henry Bolingbroke.") Seized the throne from Richard II. Contended with the uprising of Owain Glyn Dŵr.

On: p12

(1455-1480 Dragon history; 1455-1483 our history)

Influential English nobleman. Married to Catherine Woodville, the sister of Elizabeth Woodville and Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers. (This was a political marriage, arranged without his consent; see p294.)

Our history:

After Edward IV's death, when Richard challenged Elizabeth and the Woodvilles over control of the young Edward V, Buckingham supported Richard. He soon changed sides, with Morton, to support Henry Tydder. (See p335, p352.)

Shakespeare's plays:

Buckingham's revolt is described in Richard III, act 4, scene 4. His execution is in act 5, scene 1.

On: p260, 272-285, 294-296, 305-310, 312, 316, 323-325, 327-328, 335, 349, 381-382

(1457-1480 Dragon history; 1457-1509 our history; r. 1485-1509 our history)

(Or "Tudor." In Shakespeare, he is "[the Earl of] Richmond." In our history, he becomes Henry VII of England.)

A descendant of Owain Tydder and dowager Queen Catherine (the widow of Henry V); see p350. Nephew of Jasper Tydder. Son of Margaret Beaufort, and stepson of Lord Thomas Stanley.

After Richard III became king, Henry mounted two assaults upon England. (Just one, in Dragon history -- see p352.)

Dragon history:

Henry was slain at the Battle of Bosworth Field; see p374.

His badge while challenging Richard was a red dragon.

Our history:

After achieving the throne and marrying Elizabeth of York, Henry adopted the Tydder rose as a symbol of the united houses. See p374.

As Henry VII, he faced down two different rebellions under the banners of pretended Yorkist heirs: Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck.

On: p350-352, 356-361, 363-366, 373-374, 381-382

(1387-1422; r.1413-1422)

Solidified the unity of the nation, after the strains of Owain Glyn Dŵr's rebellion and his father's conflict with Richard II. He conquered Normandy, and staked a claim for his heirs for the throne of France.

On: p6-7, 12-13, 208, 350

(1421-1471; r.1422-1461 and 1470-1471)

Henry began as King of England and France, but he was not a strong ruler. The French rival claimant, Charles VII, slowly retook France (with the aid of Joan of Arc -- see p354-355). Henry attempted to regain peace by marrying Margaret of Anjou. However, his hold on the English throne slipped as well, until he was deposed in 1461 by Edward IV. (See p146-148.)

In 1470, Margaret and Warwick organized an invasion on Henry's behalf, allying with Louis of France and George Duke of Clarence. Henry wound up back on the throne (the "Readeption"). But just a year later, Edward pushed him off again.

Henry died in prison in 1471. It is not known who killed him; see p186.

On: p6, 146-148, 151-152, 170, 177, 186, 201, 246, 275, 279, 295, 381-382
See: Henry Tydder

Greek goddess; wife of Zeus.

On: p25, 164
See also: p164 (Lamia)

Greek messenger and trickster god.

On: p42, 44

An alias of Hywel Peredur.

The name refers to Horus, the Egyptian god. Horus had the head of a falcon (thus "Peregrine"), and had only one eye.

On: p144

Butler to Cecily Neville, Duchess of York.

On: p175, 178, 183, 300, 315

Welsh wizard; one of the four protagonists of TDW.

On p3, his birth year is given as 1414 AD. He is an orphan. He is related by blood to Owain Glyn Dŵr (see p19).

Other fiction:

Diana Wynne Jones wrote a book, Howl's Moving Castle, about a Wizard Howl.

On: p3-24, 104-155, 159-161, 163-170, 173-188, 192-194, 203, 212, 215, 228-261, 280-281, 283, 285-286, 297, 308-310, 312, 315, 317-319, 323, 333-335, 343-345, 350-356, 358-360, 363, 365, 368, 371-376

An alias of Colin.

On: p213, 218, 223, 225-226

Wife of Cosmas Ducas; a Ducas by marriage.

On: p25-26, 29-30, 34-35, 46, 48, 50, 53

(1451-1476)

Wife of George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence. Daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. Sister of Anne Neville.

George was deeply suspicious about Isabel's death, and he charged several people with murdering her. (See p150.)

On: p150, 187-188

Babylonian mother goddess.

On: p53, 159, 164-165, 337

Egyptian mother goddess.

On: p68
See also: p68 (Stella Martis)

(1453-1488; r.1460-1488)

Brother of Alexander Stuart, Duke of Albany.

Spent his reign planning alliances with England and invasions of the Continent, neither of which ever amounted to anything.

Our history:

In 1482, James was briefly displaced from the throne by his brother Albany and Richard of Gloucester, leading English forces.

Dragon history:

Byzantium blocked Albany's alliance (see p225-226), so that invasion could not occur.

On: p211, 215, 225-226
See: Tyrell, James

(~1445-1527)

(Properly named "Elizabeth Shore," but commonly called "Jane.") Mistress of Edward IV of England, and of William Hastings. She was accused of treason, along with Hastings, when Richard took over; but she was eventually released and led a long life.

On: p291-292, 294, 308, 312, 324, 334, 336-338, 343-345

Roman god of doorways and transitions.

On: p298, 326
On: p28, 82, 145, 207

(1442-? Dragon history; 1442-1513 our history)

Married to Margaret Neville, a sister of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.

Oxford's father was a supporter of Henry VI, executed after Edward took the throne. Edward allowed the son to live, and even hold office, as a gesture of conciliation to the Lancastrians; but Oxford got into repeated conspiracies against him. In 1470 Oxford fled England to take up with Margaret of Anjou and Warwick, in their bid to reestablish Henry as King.

Oxford was one of the commanders at the Battle of Barnet, where Warwick was killed (see p361). He continued raiding England until he was captured and imprisoned in 1474. In 1484, Oxford escaped to join Henry Tydder; he was Henry's commander at Bosworth.

In our history, he continued his career after Henry gained the throne, helping to defeat Lambert Simnel's rebellion of 1487.

On: p359-361, 364, 366-367

(~1425-? Dragon history; ~1425-1485 our history)

Supported Richard when Edward IV died. As a reward, he was given the title "Duke of Norfolk," which Prince Richard had carried from his marriage (p185) until his illegitimization (in Dragon history, his death).

One of Richard's commanders at Bosworth Field. In our history, he died there.

On: p351, 357, 360, 362, 364, 367
See also: p362 (box)
See: Morton, John

(~1390-1453)

Lieutenant of Ireland under Henry VI of England, and earlier under Henry IV. In between, he fought for Henry V in France. Died in battle.

On: p5-7, 208
See also: p6 (War Hound)

Chief of the Roman gods.

On: p7, 156

(331-363, r.361-363)

Emperor Julian (called "the Apostate" by historians in our world) was raised Christian, but converted to a Greek mystical philosophy called Theurgy. As described in TDW, he passed a law of religious tolerance; he attempted to revitalize pagan tradition and restrict the newly-dominant Christianity that Constantine had championed. The difference between TDW's history and ours is that, in TDW, Julian made paganism stick.

On: p33, 50, 53, 66, 79, 82, 110, 207, 378-379

(100BC-44BC; r.49BC-44BC)

Emperor of Rome.

Caesar began his rise as a general, conquering Gaul for the Roman Republic. He then led his army back to Rome and pushed his way into complete control of the state. He was eventually assassinated by a conspiracy of Roman senators, who could not tolerate his increasing autocratic power.

On: p4, 7, 26, 28, 32, 35-36, 51, 53, 59

Another name for Jove. (The name is literally "Jove Pater," give or take an Anglicization.)

On: p156

(~482-565 our history; r.527-565)

Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. Husband and co-emperor of Theodora.

Dragon history:

Both Justinian and Theodora extended their lives unnaturally, through vampirism. (See p379-380.)

On: p298, 379-380
See: Ptolemy

Swiss innkeeper.

On: p103-104, 106-111, 116, 119-123, 125-128
Topics A-E F-K L-Q R-Z