The Duke and Duchess A pair of decadent, high-ranking nobles who become amused by Quixote and Panza, orchestrating lavish and complex pranks as a source of amusement. They are frequent causes of pain and humiliation for the pair from La Mancha.
Cid Hamet Benegali The Arab translator of Don Quixote. Appearing as a satiric character, he is constantly being accused of dishonesty by Cervantes in authorial asides.
Cardenio ("The Ragged Knight of the Sorry Countenance") A young man whose heart is broken when his lover, Lucinda, marries Don Fernando. He and Dorothea apprehend Don Fernando at the inn, late in Book I. Cardenio ends up with Lucinda in the end.
The priest A good friend of Quixote, who tries to be supportive but who also engages in plans with other of Quixote's friends, notably the barber, to bring Quixote to his senses.
The barber Another friend, interested in Quixote's well being.
A barber Not Quixote's barber friend. "A man on horseback, who had on his head something which glittered, as if it had been of gold," he is, in fact, wearing a basin on his head because it is raining. Quixote attacks this barber and steals the basin, believing it to be "the helmet of Mambrino."
Dorothea ("The Princess Micomicona") A woman who has been deceived by a man, Don Fernando, who promised to marry her, but married Lucinda instead. Disgraced, Dorothea leaves her village disguised in men's clothing. She conspires with Cardenio to hunt down Don Fernando, and she also helps the priest and barber bring Don Quixote home. She pretends to be the Princess Micomicona, winning Quixote's promise to slay a giant so that she might regain her kingdom. With the Princess's help, the priest is able to get Quixote under his control.
Tinacrio the Wise and Queen Xaramilla Father and mother of the Princess Micomicona.
Lucinda The woman Cardenio hoped to marry. She instead marries Cardenio's friend, Don Fernando, who is the son of a Duke. Lucinda marries Don Fernando to appease her parents but she truly loves Cardenio. Lucinda and Cardenio are reunited late in Book I.
