The Alchemist's Apprentice

GLOSSARY

androne a ground-floor hall used for business in a merchant’s palace atelier a studio or workshop barnabotti impoverished nobles, named for the parish of San Barnaba

Basilica of San Marco the great church alongside the Doges’ Palace ca’ (short for casa) a palace calle (pl. calli) an alley campo an open space in front of the parish church cavaliere servente a married woman’s male attendant (possibly gigolo) chaush an equerry of the Turkish sultan

Circospetto popular nickname for the chief secretary to the Council of Ten clarissimo “most illustrious,” form of address for a nobleman

Collegio the executive, roughly equivalent to a modern cabinet-the doge, his six counselors, and the sixteen ministers

Constantinople capital of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, now Istanbul corno the distinctive cap worn by the doge

Council of Ten the intelligence and security arm of the government, made up of the doge, his six counselors, and ten elected noblemen doge (“duke” in Veneziano) the head of state, elected for life ducat a silver coin, equal to 8 lira or 160 soldi, and roughly a week’s wages for a married journeyman laborer with children (unmarried men were paid less) fante (pl. fanti) a minion of the Ten felze a canopy on a gondola (no longer used) fondamenta a footpath alongside a canal

Great Council the noblemen of Venice in assembly, ultimate authority in the state kapikulu (pl. kapikullari) a servant (in effect a slave) of the sultan khave coffee (a recent innovation)

Leads prison cells in the attic of the Doges’ Palace lustrissimo “most illustrious,” honorific given to wealthy or notable citizens messer (pl. messere) my lord

Missier Grande chief of police, who carries out the orders of the Ten

Molo the waterfront of the Piazzetta, on the Grand Canal

Piazza the city square in front of the Basilica of San Marco

Piazzetta an extension of the Piazza, flanking the palace

Porta della Carte the main gateway into the Doges’ Palace salone a reception hall salotto a living room sbirri constables soldo (pl. soldi) see DUCAT

Ten see COUNCIL OF TEN

Three the state inquisitors, a subcommittee of the Council of Ten

Tuscan the language of Florence, which eventually became modern Italian

Veneziano Venetian language, similar to Italian

Vizio Missier Grande ’s deputy

Wells prison cells on the ground floor of the Doges’ Palace