Aide: A representative of a crystalline race from the far distant future, allied with Belisarius. Originally developed as an artificial intelligence by the Great Ones to combat the "DNA plague," the crystals became instrumental in the formation of the Great Ones themselves. Aide is sent back in time to counter the efforts of the "new gods" to change the course of human history.
Great Ones: Originating out of humanity, the Great Ones are a completely transformed type of human life. They no longer bear any physical resemblance to their human ancestors. Indeed, they are not even based on protoplasmic biological principles.
Link: An artificial intelligence created by the "new gods" of the future and sent back in time to change the course of human history. It exists in the form of a cybernetic organism, transferring its mental capacity from one human host to another as each host dies.
New gods: A quasi-religious cult from the far future which is determined to prevent the various mutations and transformations which humanity has undergone during the millions of years of its spread through the galaxy. There being no way to overturn that present reality, the new gods decide to stop the process early in human history. They send Link back in time to create a world empire based in northern India, organized along rigid caste principles, which will serve as the basis for a eugenics program to create a race of "perfect" humans.
Agathius: Commander of the Constantinople Greek cataphracts who were led by Belisarius in the opening campaign against the Malwa in Mesopotamia.
Anastasius: One of Belisarius' bodyguards.
Anna: Anna Saronites, wife of Calopodius the Blind
Anthony (Cassian): Bishop of Aleppo. He brought Aide and Michael to Belisarius.
Antonina: Wife of Belisarius.
Ashot: An Armenian and one of Belisarius' bucellarii, his personal household troops. He becomes one of the top officers in the Roman army during the war against the Malwa.
Belisarius: Roman general.
Bouzes and Coutzes: Twin brothers commanding the Army of Lebanon, later top officers in Belisarius' forces.
Calopodius: A young Greek nobleman who serves as an officer in Belisarius' Indus campaign. Later becomes Belisarius' historian.
Cottomenes: Attached to Anna's Service
Cyril: Commander of Constantinople Greek troops.
Eusebius: A young artisan employed by John of Rhodes in creating the Roman armaments project. Later an officer in the Roman navy.
Felix (Chalcenterus): A young Syrian soldier promoted by Belisarius. Eventually becomes an officer, commanding musketeers.
Gregory: One of Belisarius' commanders; specializes in artillery.
Hermogenes: Roman infantry commander.
Hypatia: Photius' nanny; later married to Julian.
Illus: Attached to Anna's Service
Irene (Macrembolitissa): Head of the Roman spy network.
John of Rhodes: Former Roman naval officer, in charge of Belisarius' weapons project.
Julian: Head of Photius' bodyguard.
Justinian: Roman emperor.
Koutina: Antonina's maid.
Mark of Edessa: Another young officer promoted by Belisarius.
Maurice: Belisarius' chief military lieutenant.
Menander: A young Roman soldier; later a naval officer.
Michael of Macedonia: A monk who first encountered Aide.
Photius: Antonina's son and Belisarius' stepson.
Procopius of Caesaria: Antonina's original secretary.
Sittas: An old friend of Belisarius and one of the Roman empire's generals.
Theodora: Justinian's wife and the Empress of Rome.
Valentinian: One of Belisarius' bodyguards.
Eon: Kaleb's son.
Ezana: Eon's bodyguard; later commander of the royal regiment.
Garmat: A top Axumite royal counselor.
Kaleb: The negusa nagast (King of Kings) of Axum.
Ousanas: Eon's dawazz; later, aqabe tsentsen.
Rukaiya: Arab princess, bride of Eon.
Wahsi: Eon and Rukaiya's son, named after Eon's bodyguard, new negusa nagast of Ethiopia
Baresmanas: a Persian nobleman (sahrdaran), of the Suren family.
Khusrau Anushirvan: King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran.
Kurush: Baresmanas' nephew; a top Persian military leader.
Tahmina: Baresmanas' daughter; Photius' bride.
Ajatasutra: Malwa spy and assassin; Narses' right-hand man.
Balban: Malwa spymaster in Constantinople during Nika revolt.
Damodara: Malwa military commander.
Holi: "Great Lady." Skandagupta's aunt; vessel for Link.
Indira: Rana Sanga's half-sister; to be married to Toramana.
Mirabai: Rana Sanga's daughter.
Nanda Lal: Head of Malwa spy network.
Narses: Roman traitor; Damodara's spymaster.
Rajiv: Rana Sanga's son.
Rana Sanga: Rajput king; Damodara's chief lieutenant.
Sati: "Great Lady." Vessel for Link.
Skandagupta: Emperor of Malwa.
Toramana: A Ye-tai general; subordinate to Damodara.
Venandakatra: "The Vile One." Powerful Malwa official.
Baji: Dhruva's infant son.
Bindusara: Hindu sadhu.
Dadaji Holkar: Malwa slave freed by Belisarius; later peshwa of Andhra.
Dhruva: Dadaji's oldest daughter; Malwa slave.
Gautami: Dadaji's wife.
Lata: Dadaji's youngest daughrer; Malwa slave.
Maloji: Rao's friend and chief military lieutenant.
Namadev: Shakuntala and Rao's infant son.
Raghunath Rao: Maratha chieftain, leader of the Maratha rebellion. "The Panther of Majarashtra." "The Wind of the Great Country." Shakuntala's mentor, later her husband.
Shakuntala: Last survivor of the Satavahana dynasty; later Empress of reborn Andhra; "The Black-Eyed Pearl of the Satavahanas."
Kungas: Commander of the Kushans guarding Shakuntala; later king of the reborn Kushan kingdom.
Kanishka: Kungas' troop leader.
Kujulo: Kungas' troop leader.
Vasudeva: Commander of the Kushans captured by Belisarius at Anatha.