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Coco: An important naval captain
Cyprian: An ambassador for the court, bastard nephew of Constantine
Giustiniani: An Italian, Constantine’s most important military advisor
Helen: A citizen of Constantinople, Coco’s mistress and Nazira’s friend
bey: A governor of an Ottoman province
boyars: Wallachian nobility
censer: A metal ball with slits or small holes into which one puts burning incense, then swings through the air on a chain; used during religious processions and worship
concubine: A woman who belongs to the sultan and is not a legal wife but could produce legal heirs
dracul: Dragon, also devil, as the terms were interchangeable
fosse: A ditch dug around the exterior of Constantinople’s walls to prevent easy attack
Galata: A city-state across the Golden Horn from Constantinople, ostensibly neutral
galley: A warship of varying size, with sails and oars for maneuvering in battle
Golden Horn: The body of water surrounding one side of Constantinople, blocked off by a chain and nearly impossible to launch an attack from
Greek fire: A method of spraying compressed, liquid fire known only to the Greeks and highly effective in battles
Hagia Sophia: A cathedral built at the height of the Byzantine era, the jewel of the Christian world
harem: A group of women consisting of wives, concubines, and servants that belongs to the sultan
Hodegetria: A holy relic, said to have been painted by an apostle and used for religious protection in Constantinople
infidels: A term used for anyone who does not practice the religion of the speaker
irregulars: Soldiers in the Ottoman Empire who are not part of officially organized troops, often mercenaries or men looking for spoils
Janissary: A member of an elite force of military professionals, taken as boys from other countries, converted to Islam, educated, and trained to be loyal to the sultan
liturgy: Religious worship performed in Latin or Greek, depending on whether the church is Catholic or Orthodox
metre: Loud music performed by Janissary troops as they attack, extremely effective at demoralizing and disorienting enemy troops
Order of the Dragon: Order of Crusaders anointed by the pope
pasha: A noble in the Ottoman Empire, appointed by the sultan
pashazada: A son of a pasha
postern: A small gate designed to let troops in and out of Constantinople through the inner walls
regent: An advisor appointed to help rule on behalf of a king too young to be fully trusted
Rumeli Hisari: A fortress built on one side of the Bosporus Strait as companion to the Anadolu Hisari
spahi: A military commander in charge of local Ottoman soldiers called up during war
Transylvania: A small country bordering Wallachia and Hungary; includes the cities of Brasov and Sibiu
