Darius (circa 380–330 B.C.) King of Persia, one of the territories that Alexander conquered.
David the great king of the Israelites, only a young shepherd boy when he fought for King Saul against the Philistine giant, Goliath. David's refusal of Saul's armor appears in I Samuel 17:38–40.
Dido founder and queen of Carthage: in the Aeneid she falls in love with Aeneas and kills herself when he leaves her.
Duke Filippo Filippo Maria Visconti (1392–1447), Duke of Milan. Francesco Sforza's rise to power in Milan is described in Chapter 2.
Duke of Ferrara actually two dukes, Ercole d'Este (1431–1505), who lost territory to the Venetians in 1484, and his successor, Alfonso d'Este (1476–1534), who managed to stay in power despite the opposition of three different popes. The d'Este family had ruled Ferrara for almost four centuries.
Duke Valentino Cesare Borgia was often referred to as Duke Valentino or Duke Valentinois, a title he was granted by Louis XII of France.
Empire the Holy Roman Empire, in west-central Europe, comprising the German-speaking peoples and northern Italy.
Epaminondas a famous Theban general. Philip II of Macedon (382–336 B.C.) was not a mercenary but an ally of the Thebans.
