other characters

Lady de Winter - A mysterious, beautiful, dangerous, and ultimately evil Cardinalist agent. D'Artagnan becomes obsessed with her, but eventually she and the Musketeers become fierce adversaries. Milady has a secret, and she kills anyone who finds it out--her left shoulder is branded with the Fleur-de-Lis, a mark put on the worst criminals.

Madame Bonacieux - Wife of Monsieur Bonacieux and lady-in-waiting for Queen Anne. Madame Bonacieux is loyal to the Queen through and through. D'Artagnan falls in love with her, and in doing so gets involved in the Queen's secret affairs.

 

Cardinal Richelieu - The King's most influential advisor, Richelieu is the most powerful and important man in France. He is furiously self-absorbed, but also an extremely effective leader of the state. Richelieu works hard to maintain the reputation and power of the king, since this is the stock on which his own status is based.

 

Queen Anne - Queen of France. Anne is Spanish, and her loyalties are divided between her Spanish heritage, her position as Queen of France, and her love for George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham. The King does not trust her, or particularly like her, and the Cardinal hates her. Anne leads an unhappy life in the court.

 

Duke of Buckingham - Favorite and Minister of War for King Charles I of England. Buckingham is the perfect English gentleman, handsome, witty, brave, wealthy, and powerful. He is desperately in love with Anne of Austria, who, more reservedly, returns his affections. Throughout the novel, Buckingham's only motivation is to see and please Anne.

 

Comte de Rochefort - The Cardinal's private spy, a dangerous man.