Book 1
Acamapichtli—first “ruler” of the city of Tenochtitlan (Mexico), an historical figure (r. 1372–91) who served the Tepaneca faithfully. In the book, his fate is quite different.
Adihanin—Kadohadacho (Caddo)—Smoking Mirror’s Kadohadacho name.
Al-Razi—Persian physician working in Baghdad who clinically described and distinguished measles and smallpox in AD 910.
Amantacha—Wendat (Huron), second in command of the Snake Ordu and later named administrator of Anahuac.
Atabeyra—Taino fertility goddess.
Bela IV, King of Hungary, 1206–1270. His army was crushed at Mohi by the Mongol invasion of Europe in 1241.
Bimiibatod Omasus—Anishinabe (Chippewa), second in command of the Wildcat Ordu, who becomes the governor of the Purepecha (Tarascans).
Carpini , John of—a Franciscan friar sent in 1245 as an envoy by Pope Innocent IV to find out about the Mongols, to protest their invasion of 1241, and to enlist them in a war against the Muslims. He returned in 1247.
Chekika—Calusa observer, younger brother of the main chief. He rises through the ranks to become a tumen commander.
Chico Ocelotl—Smoking Mirror’s son’s birth name, he later becomes Tepeyolotl.
Chingis Khan—(1167–1227) founder of the Mongol Empire, conquered Northern China, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkistan and much of Southern Russia.
Cho Yi—Koryo (Korean) physician who immigrates to the Salmon Ordu. He helps ameliorate the measles epidemic.
Christina—daughter of a Nestorian priest and Karl’s mother.
Christina—eldest daughter of Karl’s brother Henry (1365–1403).
Christina—eldest daughter of Mathilde and Seagull, (1391–1455).
Cuacuauhtzin—son of Tezozomoc and first ruler of Tlatilulco, an historical figure who closely tied his city to his Tepaneca. In the book, he dies in battle.
Cuchiyaga—Calusa principle chief.
Curicaueri—principle god of the Purepecha (Tarascans). He seems to have been a fire or volcano god.
Daldal—Da-a-gelma’n (Takelma) widow, marries Ignace, Karl’s second son. Daldal is the name of a mythical hero of her tribe.
Donduk—second in command of the Ordu under Kaidu, organizes the forest Ordu, and leads them in the forest theatre of the second Hotcangara (Chiwere Sioux) Campaign and in the Mingue Campaign. He also serves as governor of the Mingue lands, trains the Pigeon Ordu and finally the Alligator Ordu, serving as the first commander of both. He dies in 1381.
Doqus—wife of Henry, Karl’s brother.
Gagewin—Anishinabe (Chippewa) chief who shows Karl an alternate iron ore deposit (the Mesabi Range in Minnesota).
George Waldmann—(d. 1368) grandfather of Karl, works as an ironmonger in Khanbalikh and sees to Karl’s education.
George Waldmann—Karl’s first son (1371–1432), succeeds him as Khan of Anahuac.
Givevneu—shaman of Kaidu’s tumen. He is originally from the An’kalym (Chuckchi), a people from northeastern Siberia. His original name is Blocknot. He dies in 1381.
Henry Waldman—Karl’s father, works as a swordsmith; moves to the northeast frontier of the Khanate with Kaidu, commander of the tumen stationed there.
Henry Waldman—Karl’s brother (1340–1405), works as a swordsmith.
Henry—Henry’s eldest son (1360–1411), also a swordsmith.
Henry—first son of Mathilde and Seagull (1395–1446).
Huitzilopochtli—“Southern Hummingbird,” the principle god of the Mexica (Aztecs). He was a war god.
Ibrahim—a Muslim chemist, one of Karl’s teachers in Khanbalikh.
Ignace—Karl’s second son (1375–98).
Inoli—Ani’ Yun’-wiya (Cherokee) member of Karl’s staff during the Huaxteca campaign who is made governor of the first town that surrenders.
Isadowa—Kitikiti’sh (Wichita) guide, son of Howitscahde, led Karl to the Kadohadacho (Caddo). He is commander of the Horse Ordu during Karl’s second Southern Campaign.
Jelme—Juchi’s second son and successor (r. 1415–45).
John—Henry’s second son (1363–1422), also a swordsmith.
John—Karl’s youngest son, (1395–65), a physician and father of Karl, the Crow.
Juchi—grandson of Kaidu, son of Kuyuk, explorer and frequent companion of Karl. He goes on to become the 3rd Khan of the Blue Sky (r. 1398–15).
Kaidu—Mongol officer appointed commander of the tumen stationed on the northeast frontier of the Khanate. He pares down his tumen and leads them to America. He becomes the first Khan of the Khanate of the Blue Sky. He dies in 1382.
Ushesees—Ani’ Yun’-wiya (Cherokee) chief of the town Kituhwa, where Karl meets with the assembled tribal representatives several times while they consider joining the Mongols.
Karl Waldmann—(The Raven) narrator of Book One, born in Khanbalikh (modern Beijing) in 1350, in the final decades of the Yuan or Mongol Dynasty. Son of Henry and Christina. He becomes the first Khan of Anahuac.
Karl Waldmann—(The Crow) narrator of Book Two, youngest son of Karl (The Raven’s) youngest son, John. Born in Cuauhnahuac (Cuernavaca) has a most varied career.
Katalsta—Ani’ Yun’-wiya (Cherokee) original name of Smoking Mirror’s wife, Mazatl.
Katan—brother of Yesui, early teacher of Karl.
Kiliahote—Pansfalaya (Choctaw) shaman who advises the tribe to join the Mongols. He makes some disturbing predictions.
Kuang Tung—a Chinese engineer and one of Karl’s teachers in Khanbalikh.
Kubilai Khan—5th Supreme Khan (r.1260–94), conquered the rest of China, founded the Yuan Dynasty. He was the Khan visited by Marco Polo.
Kuyuk Khan—3rd Supreme Khan (r. 1246–8), visited by John of Carpini.
Kuyuk—oldest son of Kaidu, becomes head of the Owl Ordu and later succeeds Kaidu as 2nd Khan of the Blue Sky (r. 1382–98).
Kwesh—a distinguished chief of the Titskan watitch (Tonkawa) who joins the Mongols with his band and helps bring in the rest of the tribe also.
Leo—second son of Mathilde and Seagull (1396–1461).
Ludmilla—Karl’s second daughter (1381–98).
Mangku—Kaidu’s second son, becomes leader of the Hawk Ordu. He dies in 1381.
Mathilde—wife of Padraig, a descendant of Breton adventurers, related to Pierre Boucher.
Mathilde Waldman—first daughter of Karl (1373–99).
Mato Anahtaka—Ocheti shakowin (Dakota Sioux) leader who is the second commander of the Pigeon Ordu.
Mazatl—Ani’ Yun’-wiya (Cherokee) daughter of Ostenako and wife of Smoking Mirror. Her original name is Katalsta.
Menawa—Kofitachiki (Cofitachiqui—an independent city-state of the Muskhogean people who were known as the Creeks in historic times) high chief.
Metztlaconac—Ani’ Yun’-wiya (Cherokee) first wife of John, Karl’s youngest son. Her original name is Wurteh.
Michikinikwa—Twanhtwanh (Miami) member of Karl’s staff who is appointed governor of Texcalla (Tlaxcalla).
Migizi—Anishinabe (Chippewa) metalworker who works on muskets.
Miriam—second daughter of Mathilde and Seagull (1393–1413).
Mixcoatl—principle god of Texcalla (Tlaxcalla), a hunting god.
Motsoyouf—Dzitsiista (Cheyenne) recruit who urges his tribe to join the Mongols, later becomes a mapper.
Mukali—Juchi’s eldest son, who leads and dies during the Isthmus (Central American) campaign.
Munche Canche—Peace Chief of the Hotcangara (Chiwere Sioux) who surrenders their main city (Cahokia—is the current name; what they called it is unknown) to the Mongols.
Nahtahki—Siksika (Blackfoot) aunt of Seagull who helps Karl and Paula with the children after her nephew’s death.
Naukum—Givevneu’s brother, head of his native An’kalym village.
Nial—one of Padraig’s sons.
Nitsiza—Kawchodinne guide who leads the migrating Ordu through Tinneh country (the Mackenzie River Valley), then joins them as their first native recruit. He later runs a yam station north of the Hawk Ordu.
Odinigun—Anishinabe recruit who leads Karl to copper and iron ore and later becomes a metal worker.
Ogedai—younger brother of Juchi, first commander of the Salmon Ordu, he dies during the smallpox epidemic of 1388.
Okuh-hatuh—Dzitsiista (Cheyenne) who studies under and succeeds Givevneu as shaman of the Eagle Ordu.
Ollikut—Nimipu (Nez Perce) chief recruited by Karl, and who favors confederation with the Mongols.
Ootoyuk—Inuit adventurer from Taukujaa’s village who goes as far east as the mouth of the Mackenzie River.
Opiyel-Guaobiran—dog deity of the Taino, he apparently guides the dead into the next world.
Ostenako—Ani’ Yun’-wiya (Cherokee) chief of the revered town, Itsati.
Padraig O’Byrne—(1348–1425) a soldier (descended from Irish adventurers) who joins Karl and the Ordu of Kaidu after the fall of Khanbalikh.
Patheske—Hotcangara (Chiwere Sioux) who becomes the second governor of Murenbalikh (Cahokia).
Paula—daughter of an itinerant Polish merchant, Karl’s wife.
Paulina—second daughter of Ignace and Daldal (1397–1461).
Peter—Karl’s maternal grandfather. He is a Persian and a Nestorian Christian priest and helps educate Karl.
Peter—second son of Ignace and Daldal (1395–1442).
Pierre Boucher—goldsmith at the court of Kubilai Khan.
Pinopias—Ben Zah (Zapotec) wife of George, Karl’s oldest son.
Quetzalcoatl—the “Feathered Serpent” god of wind, rain, or earth to many of the tribes of Mexico.
Quinatzin—ruler of the Alcolhua, an historical figure who kept Tezozomoc’s ambitions in check as long as he lived. In the book, Kuyuk treacherously kills him.
Ruth—first daughter of Ignace and Daldal (1394–1455).
Sakaceweskam—Kensistenoug (Cree) commander of the Rabbit Ordu during Karl’s second southern campaign.
Sanukh—distinguished chief of the Titskan watitch (Tonkawa), who joins the Mongols with his band and eventually brings in the rest of his tribe.
Sarah—third daughter of Mathilde and Seagull (1397–1465).
Sartak—son of Tului, cousin of Juchi, head of the Falcon Ordu, conspires with his father against Juchi’s accession.
Seagull—Siksika (Blackfoot) soldier, member of the Antelope Ordu, who marries Mathilde, Karl’s daughter.
Sensondacat—Ka-i-gwu (Kiowa) commander of the Monkey Ordu during Karl’s second southern campaign.
Sharitarish—Chahiksichahiks (Pawnee) chief who sets up a meeting of the tribal confederacy with Karl.
Simon—first son of Ignace and Daldal (1393–1448).
Skolaskin—Salst (Salish) minghan commander in the Salmon Ordu, the first husband of Paula, Padraig and Mathilde’s youngest daughter.
Smoking Mirror—“brother” of the chief of the Kadohadacho (Caddo). He is sent to observe the Mongols for a year and eventually joins them and becomes a close friend and frequent companion of Karl. He is appointed governor of Uluumil Kutz (Northern Yucatan). He is later made governor of all the Maya lands (d. 1425).
Steek-cha-komico—Southeastern Tribe (Creek) chief of a group of towns just east of the Pansfalaya (Choctaw) on the East Union River (Black Warrior River).
Talaswaima—Hopitu-shinumu (Hopi) guide, the only member of his tribe to join the Mongols at first. Accompanies Karl on first trip south.
Taska-abi—Pansfalaya (Choctaw), first commander of the Pheasant Ordu.
Tariacuri—legendary founder of the Purepecha (Tarascan) Empire.
Tatanka Ska Koda—Ocheti shakowin chief who joined the Mongols when first recruited and goes on to become governor of Murenbalikh.
Taukujaa—Inuit (or Eskimo) guide, accompanies Karl and Juchi across the Bering Sea to his native village on the Seward Peninsula.
Tayhah nea—Hotcangara (Chiwere Sioux) war chief, leads ambush against the Mongols in the second battle during the first Hotcangara Campaign and dies during the second campaign.
Techotlalatzin—Ruler of Texcoco and the Alcolhua after Quinatzin, an historical figure whose fate in the book is more benign.
Temur—second in command of the Wolf Ordu under Karl during the Mingue Campaign. He commands them during and after the third Hotcangara Campaign.
Tengri—“The Blue Sky” principle god of the Mongols.
Texcatlipoca—“Smoking Mirror,” a Toltec god, revered mostly in the Mexican high plateau.
Tezozomoc—ruler of the Tepaneca, an historical figure who eventually conquered most of the Valley of Mexico before the rise of the Aztecs. In the book, his campaign is derailed, but he remains a problem, true to his nature.
Theodore—Karl’s third son (1380–1453). He becomes the first Khan of the Clouds (Western South America).
Timugen—cousin of Juchi and member of Karl’s staff during the Southern Campaign. He marries one of the daughters of the ruler of Cuauhnahuac (Cuernavaca).
Tlacuectli—Chalca merchant, father of Smoking Mirror.
Tlaloc—rain god revered by most of the natives of Mexico.
Toghon Temur—(r. 1333–70), last Yuan Emperor of China, driven out of China in 1368 by the founder of the Ming Dynasty.
Togun—a cousin of Kaidu and first commander of the Kestrel Ordu.
Toolhulhulsote—Nimipu (Nez Perce) commander of the Vulture Ordu during Karl’s second southern campaign.
Tsakaka-sakis—Hewaktokto (Hidatsa), second commander of the Owl Ordu.
Tsu Chi’a—Karl’s last teacher in Khanbalikh.
Tului—Kaidu’s youngest son, becomes head of the Eagle Ordu. He later moves to the Crane Ordu and conspires against the accession of Juchi.
Tustenuckochee—Southeastern Tribe (Creek [Alabama]) chief of the town of Albayamule and its satellite towns.
Ushesees—Ani’ Yun’-wiya (Cherokee) chief of Kituhwa, one of their sacred towns.
Ussu—Mongol Doqus’ brother, accompanies Karl on first westward trek. He temporarily commands the Wildcat Ordu.
Wabokieshiek—Hotcangara (Chiwere Sioux) war chief who leads the ill-fated revolt crushed by the Third Hotcangara Campaign.
Wahsakapeequay—Kensistenoug (Cree) wife of Juchi.
Wanbli Sapa—Ocheti shakowin (Dakota Sioux) scout who goes on the reconnoiter of the Hotcangara (Chiwere Sioux). He is the second commander of the Fox Ordu.
Wihio—Dzitsiista (Cheyenne) member of Karl’s staff who is made governor of Panuco, the first Huaxteca town to surrender without a fight.
Wurteh—Ani’ Yun’-wiya (Cherokee) first wife of Karl’s son John. She is related to Mazatl.
Xayacamachan—ruler of Huexotzinco, an historical figure who makes his city the most powerful in the Valley of Puebla. In the book, he dies defending his city.
Xipe Totec—“Flayed One,” a spring god of most of the Mexican tribes.
Xolotl—a legendary figure who ruled the entire Valley of Mexico in antiquity. Both Quinatzin and Tezozomoc claimed their hegemony over the valley because of their decent from him.
Yacateuctli—Toltec merchant god.
Yesui—a Mongol widow, second wife of Henry, stepmother to Karl.
Yeyi Calli—Smoking Mirror’s daughter.
Yi Mongju—Koryo (Korean) merchant from Songjin on the northeast coast of Korea who trades with the Mongols.
Yi Songgye—Koryo (Korean) general, an historical figure who deposed the king and took over the government, founding his own dynasty.
Yocahu—principle god of the Taino, probably connected with a volcano.
Zhu Yuanzhang —(r. 1368–98), founder of the Ming Dynasty, reigned under the name Hung-wu.